The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-05-08

friend Of the regiment and the agent Of
the American Commercial Company,
which had just established an agency for
beer and canned goods in the city, visited
the Quartet. He was about the size and
peculiar build of Davis, and was mis-
taken for him. Only the vigorous work of
the Sergeant of the Guard saved him
from some lively experiences until his
identity became generally known.
Davis was frequently subjected 20 oral
remarks of an untlattering nature by the
men when they saw him in public, but
he never had the temerity nor the hardi-
hood to visit the Oregon quarters again.
l remember while we were on the Morone
campaign the following June, he rode
along the column on a horse, and the re-
marks of the Oregon boys as he passed
along must have given him a very un>
pleasant quarter of an hour. One day at
the Preside, only the day before we We're
mustered out, | saw a great cOmmotlOn
and running in camp. Men rushed into
their tents and grabbed their blankets and
rushed out again. / inquired what was
the trouble, and was informed that Davis
had been caught in camp and they were
going to toss him and otherwise have a
little fun with his portly person; but it
proved TO be another man again, and the
disappointment of the men was keen.
So far as the officers were concerned,
they took no part in these demonstrations,
nor encouraged them in any way. They
simply ignored him whenever they hap
pened to meet him, as they did more or
less in social gatherings while stationed at
Manila. He WAS the only press CORE
spondent with the army who wrote home
untruths and carping criticisms of the
volunteers, many of whom had abandoned
better positions than he ever filled in or
der to fight for their country at $3.50
month. and lived on bacon and hard
tack, while he was drawing a good salary
and supporting his excessive avoirdupois
on the latest the land afforded, and abus-
ing the army that was protecting him
from the enemy.
The splendid service and gallant deeds
of the Oregon regiment and the entire
Eighth Corps during the capture and
policing of Manila and the long campaign
of the following Spring showed how false
and shallow were the structures passed
upon the volunteers by this violater Of
their inequalities. and added new luster
to the untarnished name Of the Ameri-
can volunteer.
AGUINALDO AND HIS ARMY.
A few days after we landed at Cavite
paid visit TO Aguinaldo. affectionately
known TO his countrymen as lei Libre-
dor" There were two Of us, actuated
solely by curiosity to see the head of the
lnsurrectiOnary movement and be able to
form some opinion about the Filipinos and
their cause and capabilities.
We had already become considerably
disguised with the common Filipino as we
had observed him. whether civilian or al
legged soldier, and we wanted TO know
something about the better class. Of which
AguinaldO and his immediate advisors
were supposed to be fair samples So
NJ. H,l ELL
revolver at our side, we presented our
selves al the foot of the stairs leading up
20 the sacred precincts, and made known
our desire to call upon the General to the
sentry, who, no doubt impressed by our
blue clothes and gallant array Of weapons
of destruction, made lud!crous attempt
at a salute and then abandoned his post
and rushed up stairs, no doubt to an
nounce that some high officials desired
audience with "El LibredOr"
The Insurgents had not at that time
| learned the meaning OF the insignia of
rank worn by American officers. and the
two bars on our shoulders signified to
them a rank not less than that of field
officers of much importance. Stars were
common with them. and they had little
respect for Gen. Anderson, because he
wore but one when they first saw him.
why, young Sprig of Second Lieu
tenant in the Insurgent army sported
three silver stars, a First Lieutenant two,
and Captain one. A General who went
around with only one silver star could NOT
amount to very much, was the natural
conclusion of the ordinary Filipino. They
had occasion to change this hasty opinion
Of Gen. Anderson later. when, as com
mander of the Second Division, he held
the lines to the south and east of Manila
during that memorable fight the morn
ing after the Insurgent attack upon the
Americans in the city and gave them the
severest drubbing they received that day.
The house occupied by Aguinaldo was
the official Provincial Government Build
ing, situated in the center of Cavite. Its
architecture was of the invariabe Span,
ish type. The lower story was of cement.
while the upper was of hard tropical
wood. The entrance from the street was