The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1902-01-03
LIEUT. FOULOIS IN THE PHILIPPINES.
Cottobato, Mindanao, P. L.,

nave mad chance to write. And now
that l am beginning to settle down
again, l shall be able to write with
greater regularity. We have had cutie
number Of changes in the past two
weeks, and also little excitement for
the past few days, which 1 will tell
you about later. A few days before
we left Manila, my captain was trans
ferred to the 22d Infantry, so 1 was
put in command of the company again.
We broke camp September 10, and
while we were moving our property
down to the wharf, we felt a pretty
fair sized earthquake. Three or four
of US were standing together, when it
occurred: and we didn't know what
had struck us for few minutes. We
went aboard the "Buford' on the 18th
and the next day at noon we left
Manila for the South. The Fitzpatrick
left at the same time, and the two
boats raced with each other all the rest
of the day, with our boat in the lead
at dark. The next day we lost sight of
her entirely. We had quite a number
of passengers aboard, bound for New
York, as the "Buford" takes the 23d
Infantry back via Suez; hence the trip
down was very pleasant. We arrived
at Zamboanga on the Island of Min
danao on September 10, and I immedi-
ately obtained permission to go ashore
to see Maj Smith. l was directed to
bis house, and on the way there, met
man on the street, whom 1 felt sure
was the major, SO I introduced myself,
and sure enough, it was Maj Smith.
He took me up to his house, and we
had long talk about my old captain.
He showed me several pictures that
Mrs Smith had sent him, and also a
picture of Senator Platt. l staid to
lunch with him, and then had to get
back to the boat again, as we only
stopped there long enough to leave our
headquarters and one company. 1
liked the major very much and will
probably have a chance to see him
quite often, as he will be the paymas-
ter for our troops. Well, we left Fam
ooanga at daybreak the next morning,
and after sailing all day, came in
sight Of the place where we were to
land. We were quite close to shore,
when the first thing we knew we ran
aground. 1t was quite dark at the
time, and the engines had been STOP
ped. SO no one knew anything about it
until the engines were reversed, but
the boat wouldn't bulge. So the CAP
tain of the boat sent up rockets, to,
attract the attention of the people up
at CottobatO, town about six miles
up a large river near where the boat
had run aground. About 9 O'Clock a
small gunbOat named the ''Panay''
and launch cane down from COtto-
bato, and tried to move us, but it was
no use. The next morning the COM
handing officer telegraphed for tug
that was at Zamboanga, and that same
morning my company and two of the
others, disembarked, and went up the
river to Cottobato, where we relieved
two companies of the 23d Infantry.
Yesterday the tug arrived from Fam
boanga, and after she had pulled for
two hours, she had to give it up. Then
they telegraphed for the s'Lawton, "
the transport that brought the other
companies Of our regiment down.
This morning large vessel was sight,
ed from our lookout, and we thought
that it might be the "Lawton, but it |
turned out to be coast1ng steamer,
that had been sent down to give what
help they could. We have had no
news to-day as to how they are getting
along, but they will probably have to
take out nearly all her cargo, before
she will move. don't think that the
boat. is damaged at all, as she went |
aground so easy that no shock was
felt. 1 think they will have her afloat
in two or three days, and you will |
probably receive this letter in New
York some time before Christmas. l |
thought that / had my hands full
when l was put in command of nv
but have more to think
about now. Yesterday 1 was appoint
I'd Inspector of Customs and Collector
If Internal Revenue, and if I come
nome, gray headed, you will know
What caused it. was very glad that
had some experience in Cebu with
;he customs, as it will help me out a
great deal. We haven't much society
1ere at present. Our commanding
officer, Maj Febiger, has his wife and
TWO daughters with him. And count
ng newly married couple who came
rom Manila with us to teach school
here, they make up all of the white
population, with the exception of our
;hree companies. We are right in the
1eart of the Moro country, and this
own is full of them. They are a saw
lge looking crowd, and will steal any,
hing they can lay their hands on.
will have some interesting pictures to
end home soon. I don't suppose we
will receive mail more than once in
'wo months, as we are farther awav
rom Manila than ever.-[Ben Foulois.
A TMAsCELEBRAT1ON.
On Christmas night, the Swedish
church held very inter-
roo.