The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1902-03-07

PhilIpplse Letter from Corporal 7. Insle,
. Volunteer from Dubois County.
BuTUAN, p. l., Dec. 26, 1901
Kind friends: No doubt you will
be surprised to hear from me, but
as | have a great many friends who
are readers Of this paper, l take this
means OF writing to all at once.
My health at the present time is all
right, and the same with most OF
the boys who are in my outfit. Our
regiment is all split up and sent out
to different parts Of this island. u
am here with a detachment OF 90
men. Our company is split up in
three parts. We have had several
Iskirmishes with the Filipinos. But
as they are behaving in hall way
decent manner now, we have more
opportunity to enjoy the various re.
creations which are at our disposal
at the present time. We have been
here nearly 8 months, so are getting
used to the place. We are 500
miles south OF Manila, and find it
much warmer, and very different
from the country around Manila.
All we have here in the line OF build
ings is bamboo shacks.
There are a great many different
tribes OF these Filipinos. There is
one tribe Of them that are canni-
balls; they stay out in the noun
tains. There is another class which
are called Moros, who are q very
treacherous tribe Of people. They
do all their fighting on the sneak; q
short time ago we had man all cut
to pieces on outpost. They have a
large knife which is called bolo
that they fight with. But hey
don't stand for much when they
run up against our tools OF war
But there are a great many old guns
scattered throughout the islands.
A few nights ago We were attacked
|, and several shots were fred through
our quarters, but no one hurt.
In regards to a soldiers lie,
must say that it 10 not the most fas
ciuating one that man can lead
although there is nothing tha
broadens . man, and qualities hin
to assume the important function
, of life, as much as to travel in Tor
, sign parts, and to fearlessly ant
equarely perform the strenuous dut.
of q soldier. l have seen goot
many wonderful sights and had
(, whole lot OF actual experience. l
lis very warm here and rains nearl..
: every day. 1t would be almost i'm
> possible for me to explain this coun
.try and it's people. There are
I. great many wild animals, such a
large snakes, alligators, tarsntula
and centipedes, and a great man.
others that / don't think have eve
. been named. We get all the frui
: we want, such as cocoanuts, ba
!, nanas. pineapples, and several 9th
i ers that cannot name. The peo
pie are all Catholics, and there ar
q lot Of Spanish priests in the is
: lands, and these people think the.
are Gods. Now, 1 don't like to 50.
anything against any kind OF re
|ligion, but actually it is q circus :
J, !, watch these people some times
! They are about 1900 years benin
the times. They live on rice an
> sleep; they are the LATEST class {
people l ever seen; why they al
: worse than a soldier, 80 you ca
guess the rest This island hs
some 6ne timber on it, but it wi
be some time yet before this cour
!. try will be civilized enough to 60
3, working at this timber. Well,
b think when my time is out | sha
n be willing to come back to q civi
}. lied country, and live as q civilia
.: once more.
d | hear that they had Q poor crc
lin the States this year. But yo
people are in paradise, If you onl
a.. knew il; wait till you have to 8
( |out on q hike for 10 or ID days az
/. have to pile down in mud up to
n fellows knees to sleep, and live Z
4. bacon and hardtack, and when ye
: n.|lay down to sleep have . belt Co
!. tanning 100 rounds Of ammunitit
= around you, then you can say il
i. hard times.
e Well, yesterday was Christine
We had corned beef, baked bean
|hsrdtack and coffee for dinner.
no Was on guard, and it rained hard
To- day, 80 you may know | had
lie pleasant Xmas. But from what
.. have already seen ! guess We .
not out on . pleasure trip. I ha
heard people talk about going 2
lst west, but / have came 90 Tar ~
he that I am in the far east. We arc
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