The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-09-23

throw stone from the ship to the
beach. These islands are covered
with ii thick growth Of bananas,
cocoanuts, mangoes. bamboo and
other tropical fruits and trees. In
some places the trees are covered
with flowers and in d good many
cases the trees will not have leaf
on it, but the sun cannot shine on its
trunk at midday as the flowers are
so thick. / remember one place the
shore was very steep and was cover
ed with vines and flowers which had
grown all together so as to make it
difficult for one to tell which the diff
ferent flowers belonged to. It re-
sembled an unkept flower garden Of
some country mansion.
We came in sight of Manila little
after sunrise on the morning of Feb.
25th. cast anchor about one mile
from shore at twelve o'clock; came
ashore the next morning and was
stationed in Quartet De Espana.
This Quartet was used as a prison by
the Spanish. The barracks are made
of brick, with galvanized iron roof
ing; and are equipped with all mod
ern conveniences for soldiers quar-
ters. The cuartel is in the north
eastern corner of the wall city.
Manila is divided into two parts,
the wall city and new Manila. The
wall city is on the southeastern shore
of the Pasiag river. New Manila is
on the opposite shore. The buildings
in the wall city are of stone, with
tile roofing. The windows are all
covered with iron bars, which gives
every house the appearance Of a
prison. The streets are very narrow
ard are paved with stone. New Ma
Mia is very different from the wall.
city; the houses are constructed
mostly Of wood; that is, in the busi-
ness part of the city, but the out
skirts are constructed of "neipa" or
grass. The city is lighted by cleo
tricity. The two cities are connect
ed by three bridges-the Spanish,
Santa Cruz, and a suspension
bridge. The first was constructed by
the Spanish; the second by the
Americans and the,last by a private
There are a good many places for
one to seek pleasure, as there are
three or four theaters each week and
band concerts at the different parks
each night. The Luneta is the fa-
yorite park with Americans. 1t is
on the bay front and has seats for
nearly every one. While one sits and
listens to the concert you are kissed
by the gentle breezes from the bay.
After spending an hour here we take
a walk down the Malcome drive.
This drive is the most beautiful
street in the city. 1t extends along
the beach for about half Its length,
then to the left and through several
parks to the Santa Cruz bridge. This
street is macadamized and has three
rows of cocoanut palms. one on each
side of the street and one between
the sidewalk and the driveway.
Hundreds of people can be seen on
this drive every afternoon. The ma
tives are very intelligent. Some of
them speak English as we'll as Span
ish, Chinese and Filipino. Their
chief articles of food are fish, rice.
and fruit. My company has had less
sickness over here than in the States,
we have only had two or three cases
of fever which only lasted for few
days.
On the 10th Of July we had very
sad accident to happen. One of the
men was cleaning his rifle when it
accidently went off and the ball
struck his "bunkie." His last words
were for his conrade.
The rainy season has commenced
and there is not an hour through the
day but what we get shower. Well,
I guess I had better close for this
time as you may get tired and never
finish reading this. Hoping you and
your subscribers the best of success
1 remain, yours truly,
Corporal GEORGE L. GRAHAM,
10th Co. Coast Artillery.