The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-08-19
From The
Philippines -.
? G. X. Shafer writes
5 Interestingly to
; Review ReaderS....

which was contest at recovering wound
ed or exposed soldier from in front OF the
enemy and getting him on or behind the
saddle and riding back full gallop. firing
coming and sgoing One man got his leg
broke in the race, but the ambulance with
hospital men were at hand in few min
utes, and the unfortunate fellow was care
fully attended to, The NEST amusing to
foot. All the contestants shoes were plac-
ed in sack at the turning point and the
first one there picked up the sack and ram
throwing the other fellows shoes right and
left. Of course he got in O. X, but there
was lively scramble and doubt if all
the shoes are recovered yet.
Last april an American was murdered
in the vicinity of questionable resort. A
filipino confessed the deed and before long
there was open talk CT lynching him. The
Jail was poor and the policemen not too
nervy, and thought sure that this exam
pie of civilizing q as practiced by Amer
leans would be accomplished. For lack
of proper leadership, or something else,
it did not materialize and about 9 o'clock
a strong company of marines was march
ed to the jail! The town cleared of mar
ines who were marched to their quarters,
and constabulary guard placed on the
street corners, the disturbing crowd then
melted away
Ladron bands n this province are yet
active as occasion offers This spring
several towns were held up and. the
inhabitants robbed. The band seldom
makes wrong calculation either. The
police are usually disarmed and their
arms and ammunition confiscated. The
bands seem to disburse after raid and
mingle once move with their brethren so
that the soldiery has a hard time to catch
them.
A few nights ago about dozen of the
prisoners in the Constabulary guard house
escaped through back exit while the
sentry was asleep. Some were in for
long terms and so far only 3 or have
been recovered.
School has been in progress here for
two weeks. The vacations here are usual
ly from March till June For five weeks
there was Normal School of instructions
here in Cavlte attended by Filipino
teachers and prospective guiders of the
int r
prissd to see how well the majority could
express themselves in English. The in
structors were American teachers from
this province and would teach for two
weeks. when another would take his place.
Each teacher would provide five questions
for the examination.
Only four or five of the sunken Spanish
vessels are yet to be raised The flag
ship, the "Reina Christina was the most
difficult to get up but she is safely up and
anchored now was amused to read in
the States paper and magazines how she
was raised and 'beached" and how eighty
skeletons were found on her. 1t was so
published out here also and for awhile we
believed the last part of it too for there
was SO much in the papers about sending
the remains of bones back to Spain etc
that we thought it must be So But it
was fake pure and simple Then she
was never beached and isn't yet. She lay
less than quarter of mile from our Of
flee but is out farther now. | have been
on her twice to look for souvenirs, and
then did not find much. 1t is reported
that none of the vessels were sunk by our
fire but was scuttled by the Spaniards to
prevent US from getting them. The ease
; with which some of them were pumped
out and raised would lead one to think he
report was not without foundation of fact.
When the vessels are raised they are
cleaned of barnacdes and painted to pro-
tect from further injury by the atmosphere.
We have had the usual church festas
and professions this year, but l believe
no new features were added. But the
natives seem. to enjoy it. Then every
once in awhile clubor society will hire a
strong lunged brass band and march the
streets at all unseenly hour and dispense
music and noise with a free hand
Last April Spanish company gave the
Passion Play" in the local theater II
was we'll attended. understood very
] little and yet it seemed as if some Of the
conversation was very expressionless
t Now l would like to see the play in Z
e ''shure huff" theater,
e We are getting occasional showers now
t which gives relief to the low water in some
d cisterns The trees are full leafed anc
y the grass is nicely green. where there il
S any. Mangoes are vet to be found in tn,
P market for thirty 10 forty Mexican, T;
o dozen.
A number of our clerks have been OF
G vacations to. Volcano Taal or to Hong Konl
P and Canton. China, others are looking t,
e 90 home this fall. There is prettv sur