La Junta tribune., 1902-02-26

/
five teachers had it not been for
courtesy OF the manager for Smith,
Bell & Co., an English firm doing
business at Manila, with branches
at other leading places throughout
the islands. He kindly offered us
the use of several large rooms in
their very large building. The
quartermaster's department Of the
army kindly furnished army cots
and we were thus provided for
during our stay in Tacloban.
We had not been in town long
before we had practically seen all
the sights. They were not many,
however, and it did not take long.
There are number of good stores,
mostly owned by Chinese. rhe
army ops rates an ice plant and
also a plant for the distihation Of
drinking water. The officers quar-
tiers are especially fine, being
made especially for the purpose,
and situated on a hill overlooking
the strait.
On Wednesday night l learned
that there was to be band con-
cert in front OF the officers quar-
tiers, and in company with another
teacher went to hear it. We
found number Of teachers there
before us, and several came later.
we were soon all invited by the
officers to come up to quarters, an
invitation which we accepted.
The colonel, as well as the other
officers was very pleasant indeed.
The colonel asked each one OF us
in regard to where we had been
assigned, giving in nearly every
case some information gained from
personal experience. When told
him had been sent to Samar, he
could not at first believe "No,"
he said, ''they are certainly not
going to send any teachers over
there to that nest OF bolomen
When insisted that such was the
case, and that Basey was the place
he said, "Oh, Basey. That's a
good place. You'll have good
time there. It's pretty tough
place, though. A few days ago
three men were killed by bolomen
while out on short expedition,
It's all right though. While in
Tacloban heard more concerning
an attack upon an expedition OF
twelve soldiers from Basey, end
ing in the manner related above.
could see by the expression on
the faces OF tie other teachers
when they spoke OF the matter,
that they felt sort OF pity for
Latson and |.
Before leaving Taclohan we
learned that no English had ever
been taught in Basey. and that
when reaching here We should
have to begin at the very beginning.
We also learned that the civil
government had not been estab-
Iished, and that even the militar,
was having struggle to make it
self supreme-or account OF bands
of iadrones, who, calling them
selves insurrectos, had taken
possession oi the mountains OF the
interior of the island, and who
from those inland strongholds
were keeping the ignorant natives
in state of constant terror. We
also knew thar the ports of Samar
were closed to all commerce-a
| condition made necessary by tile
military situation Further than
this we knew very little III regard
TO the place, which, for We knew
not how long, would be our home.
IL was part OF Superintendent
Sherman's plan to send the teach
ers to their stations as soon as
means OF transportation could be
secured. Thus some lett raclo-
ban almost immediately, l>atson
and being among tile first TO 10.
| On Friday morning, September
27th, we learned thar there was a
boat from Basey at tine dock, and