Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-06-03
FROM THE PHILIPPINES.
PARANG, p l., March SOth, 1902.
Editor HdGSdu Pilot,
Hdusau, WIS.

/ A<ttetOS NUttSUQ 4 .Ayt.
Wdusau, WIS.
SIR
! Since coming to the Philippine Islands
| have often thought about sending a
short letter to you, giving des-
cription of the islands and of the peo-
pie living here. Having a little leisure
time this P. NJ will do so, trusting you
can find space for it in the columns OF
your valuable paper. The Twenty
seventh Reg. q. S. Infantry left San
Francisco, Cal, on the transport Sheri-
dan, on jan lst, and after very pleas
art trip of twenty-six days sailed into
Manila Bay. We dropped anchor about
one mile from shore and after visit
from the quarantine Dept. were ordered
to 60 to the quarantine station at Mar
villes, about thirty miles from Manila, at
theAnouth of the bay There we were
all given medical bath aud had all
our belongings disinfected and were
then sent back to Manila and pnt on
shore. We marched through the city
and went into camp at Camp Wallace,
on the laplaza facing the bay. 1t is a
very fine location and about 1000 men
were there waiting transportation to
the states. Some of them had seen
very hard service and showed it in
their looks.
On Friday, February 7th, all the
troops in Manila were reviewed by
Maj. Gen. Chaffee. About 10000 men
were in line, consisting of the 10, 13, 90
%, "A, (colored) and 9th Inf, the. 18th
Cav, the 9th Light Art, and Co B Engi-
neer Corps. After the review we were
sent on board the transport, Crook, to
sail to the southern islands and relieve
the 18th Inf. After a nine days sail,
leaving men at several places, we
dropped anchor at this place,
where the headquarters, band
and Co. G, of the n inf,
went on shore This is small rlace of
about 200 natives and two companies of
U. S. A. troops. Itiso the south coast
of the island of Mindanao about $50
miles south from Manila. This island
is second in size and has about the same
area as the state of Ohio The natives
are all Moros under the Sultan of Sulu
and are dark brown, small race Be-
ing all Mohammedans, they have no
liking for Christian and consider it a
great glory to die in battle. They are
divided up into many different tribes
and are continually at war with each
other They are not to be trusted at
all, as your friend at morning, may
be the very one to cut you down at
night with bolo. They live on rice
and fish cooked in the crudest manner
and live in rough huts built of bamboo
and palm leaves. AS far as l can see
there is no family distinction, as they all
live together in heap. On account
of the intense heat here from 95 to 1lO
in the shade, continuously they don't
wear any clothes to speak of, and walk
bare-footed where whiteman can
scarcely go with shoes on.
On Sunday, March 9th, Private Nor
ris, of company C, while Walking about
100 yards from post, was instantly killed
by being shot by native who was ly-
ing in ambush in the bushes. He
was struck by a bullet from an old
Remington at such close quarters that
his head was almost entirely gone. He
was buried the same day at sunset On
March 14th, detail of thirty-four men
from the 10Th Cav, who were cutting
a road to the lakes, were attacked by
about !, ,O00 Moros and forced to retreat
to the open country. There they
made stand and sent to the post for
reinforcements. A strong body of in
fantry went out and helped them in.
They had one man killed and lost their
horses, pack train and supplies. Our
colonel asked for men and an expedi-
ton viii start for the LAKES on April 1st.
1t will consist of Cos. B, e. f, +, q, II,
|, and L, of the 27tL Inf, and Co a, d,
and G, of the 18th Inf, troop A of the
10Th Cav, one company of engineers,
5000 friendly Moros under Dato Peang,
and the band and hospital corps of the
9th Inf. Col. f. d. Baldwin, of the
9th Inf, will be in charge. This is
the largest expedition for some time,
and by the time you receive this letter
things will be very warm here. As
there are about 10000 natives around
the lakes who have lever been subdued
by the whites, many of whom have
never seen white person, and as they
are strongly intrenched in a small val
ley the fight will be long and hard be-
fore they win give up. The coast MQros
say that there is lots of gold and silver
there and want to go and help us just
to get chance to loot They won't be
needed as the soldiers can do that part
as well as they can fight. 1t don't seem
just the right kind of fighting to wipe
them out entirely but they are so treach
erouS that is saves trouble and lots of
American lives to do it. | can, no
doubt, send you more interesting news
when l get back from the lakes.
This island is very fertile and is coy
cred with dense forests, so thick as to be
almost impasssble except by the cut
trails. M.,bogony, rosewood and other
valuable wood, are found here in great
quantities. and all tropical fruits grow
10 great abundance. haven't seen any
large snakes but the lizards are about
two feet long and very thick They
are harmless but are not pleasant to
look at. There are no mosquitoes but
the ants are as large as sparrows and
thick as feas The rainy season is
Just beginning and it rains nearly every
night. This with cool breeze from
the ocean cools the air enough 80 that
blanket is necessary to sleep com
fortabIy nights. We get our mail from
the states once a month and ii Is eager
ly looked for. We Keep fairly well
posted on Whist is going on 10 the world,
only it is about 3N days before we hear
Of it unless il is ves.y important Then