Evening journal., 1902-05-14
WILMINGTON BOY
HOMH ON VISIT
Spent Eighteen Months in
Philippine Islands
Tells Interesting Stories Of iiiS Fx-
perience and About Natives.
Their Mode OF Living


In honor of the return of his son
from the Philippine islands where he
ihas been serving in the army, Will
liam w. Hickman. assistant station
master at the p, w a b. station. last
evening gave a big reception In his
home, No. Ill West Thirteenth street.
The parlors and dining-room were
beautifully decorated with flowers and
palms and the many guests who were
present spent Il pleasant evening play
ing various games. and a musical pro-
gram was given. AT seasonable hour
the guests We're invited TO tho dining
room, where q tempting undh had
been served
Mr. Hickman was in Company c. OF
the First United States Infantry. and
was eighteen months in the service. lie
was stationed on the island of Samar.
where he contracted an illness who
put him In the hospital for about ten
months. He then was sent home on
furlough, which expires the last OF
May
Mr. Hickman then will report for
duty at San Francisco, but he does not
know where he Will be stationed.
Raymond e. Maxwell, of Ohio, who
served In the same company with Mr.
Hickman, and who was sick and fur
loughed at the same time. is spending
few days in this city with Mr. Hick-
man.
Hickman and Maxwell both speal,
The Spanish language nuently. They
also haVe a large number of relics from
the islands. and some from Japan and
China, both of which they have vis-
tied.
When asked about the islands and
the people, Mr. Hickman talks inter-
estngly. and can entertain pleasantly.
In speaking OF the country he sand:
'Samar is a bad country aud very
unhealthy The country is desolate.
and nothing but rice Is raised That
! is not cultivated, but allowed 10 grow
wild. Rice and Wild pigs and chick
ems are the only things that the ma
tiyes subsist on
did you have any fghting?'
Yes, VIC had a skirmish every time
we went out, no matter whether it was
DAY or night was among the fifty
American soldiers who rescued Captain
Shields. of the Twenty-ninth, and his
- men from the insurgents prison. We
men from the insurgents prison. We
were on the transport Sommers, ana
were escorted by two gunboats. The
\ lsunncrs located the enemy on the
side of a hin and opened FIRE. We ef-
/ fected "a landing under cover of thl
gunboats. and then rushed the Fiji
pinos.
I'VE captured them. and when w,
came up we could hardly iell on
! American brothers from the encmv
They were sunhurned almost black
Ihoir boards had grown very long aut
their clothes had been removed ano
rags given them to wear. They were
delighted to get among civilized peOnl,
lonce more. Several of the men were
wounded, and Captain Shields was
wounded twice
"The life and country is interestlng
to study. and the experience is great.
but l would not care TO repeat il. Dur
ing all the engagements / was in /
was not wounded"
What do you think of the people ?'
The men are about as lazy as any
l ever saw. They make the women do
all the work and take life easy"
What of their living?"
They live in houses made OF ncpa.
palm leaves and bamboo. and a house
can be erected I'm one day. When the
natives move all of their belongings
are tied up and thrown over their
shoulders. 1t consists of a blanket.
pillow and a mating. The houses
have but one room. All eatablas are
cooked together and eaten with The
fingers"
What is your opinion Of the Japa-
nese?"
They are a very interesting people.
and show remarkable signs of adj
vanced education They would make
an interesting study for anyone who
could devote the time TO them.
Mr.. Hickman can converse for hours
ON the Philippines, and the different
countries he has been in. as he is a
close observer. and fluent end p!cas-
ing cOnvesationalisi.
3e somebody; have something. A
good thing is a lot at THE CcdarH