Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-24
is A PHILOSOPHER
Tommy" curran Takes Misfortune as
Part of Soldering.

Tommy Curran, who is well
known and pleasantly remembered by
thousands of Ottumwa people, is a
philosopher, and in letter written
from Malabang, p. l., where Tommy
is soldering to his brother, City
Treasurer James V. Curran, he eXhib,
its this characteristic Tom was in
the hospital as the result of a fall
from his horse when he wrote the
letter, December II, 1902, and even
there he was not dismayed, but took
the misfortune and the poor quarters
with good grace and in a true sol
dierly manner. His letter contains a
mention of Win Buddhu, who was for
merly resident of Ottumwa.
These two are now togeth-
er in the Philippines, Curran as
soldier and Buddhu as a hospitai
nurse and attendant
Curran's letter consists in part of
echoes from his ward in the hospital.
and is interesting throughout 1t fol-
lows.
Malabang, MIndanao Island. p l.
December II. 1902.
Dear Brother:-As l am in the hospital
surgical ward for n few days as the result
drill, ! am able to give you little de.
scripton of the hospital on an easy scale.
The building Is long ntpa shack with
bunks and accomnlod tons for about 100
patients, 1t is a rough looking place for
the sick but much better than the old
place in the Spanish fort. OF course one
must do a good deal of considering on the
battle field
In the morning. when You are n candi-
date for the hospital you go up on sick
report tell your troubles and If it is
very bad case or YOU have been up several
| times before and have II rabbits foot with
YOU you may get marked quarters or
sent 10 the hospital: or maybe get a qui-
| nine pill, All of our doctors have con
tracts and one cannot blame them for be-
/ ing glutf and showing little pity. for so
/ many try to beat the game TO get out OF
doing duty.
! In the bunk on my left is Smith Of Com
| pany 9, Twenty seventh infantry, shot
4 through the leg on outpost duty, On my
/ right Is llazelton, Of Il, signal corps. lie
| Is a young fellow and makes lots of noise
| lie spurred himself while climbing tele-
| phone pole He is the boy that allied for
| the Good Lord to help him when the doc
tor iabbed the knife into him
| Across the way Is old Burleigh of Com
| pahy u, Twenty seventh infantry, with
a few pieces of bamboo in his leg. He is
al right now though and is room orderly
/ toht3.' Il lithk- iSINdHl. from company II,
| of the same regiment, is telling me his
sad tale of being up and running from the
| medical ward all night. DO you think
look BETTER he asks.
! Sure
Il ate piece of toast and drank some
milk this morning and / feel much better"
20, yOul be all right"
They say one of the lads came in on a
stretcher this morning. Sweetman, beat
| ing II for transfer. ] guess he is n mix
ionaire's son, all right
| Brogan, of Company y, Twenty seventh
is calling me over to show me a few slugs
taken out OF hls carcass. They're the size
of pea and were shot from bamboo
cannon He's II game ladgane to the
core. There is Cabill from Company II,
! Eleventh infantry coming from the oper-
ating room. Now comes Will Buddhu, our
nurse and ward tender He is mighty
| fine fellow, Is good-hearted and does all
| he can for the fellows he is watching But
he is under orders and daies not give us
| bread and solid stuff when we are on d
liquid diet. Buddhu and | are very good
chums lie at one time lived in ottumwa.
Cholera Abroad.
The deadly cholera epidemic has broken
ont at the lakes Forty natives died yes
terdaN. II II ever gets Il start among the
1000 soldiers it will go hard.
Looking for a Fight.
The military road is finished through
from Illigan, cutting oil the Morros re-
treat in the rear Action win commence
about the first of the year 1903 Bacood
I the Moro's last stand. will soon 20 an
| with but few Americans lost, This fight
/ or battle viii he the last on this island
and If get to go on this expedition guar
| antee that will be where the bullets are
| thickest-under the ammunition wagon.
| ! Will write the particulars of this fipht