Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1904-07-21
A FINE COLLECTION
OF CuriOs Brought From the Phil
ippine Islands.
Elmer wingar, Recently Returned
Brought Them From That Far
Away Country.

Elmer Wingar. son of Mr.. and Mrs.
c. M. Wingar, and who recently re-
turned to his home in this city from
the Philippines, brought with him a
remarkably fine collection of curios
from the islands.
He enlisted in Grand Rapids three
years ago last June and was assigned
to the 2Sth regiment and went out as
member of the band belonging to
that regiment. Elmer was only 10
years of age at that time and his
parents did not want him to go, but
he desired to have taste of war in
the Orient and could not be dissuaded
from his purpose. The enlisted mer
went directly to Vancouver, Washing
ton. and from there to San Francisco,
where they took the large transport,
Grant, which carried about 1900 men.
The voyage consumed about 35 days
continuous sailing. The sick among
che soldiers were landed at Manila,
but the boat continued on to Mindanao
Island where the regiment and band
10 which he belonged were stationed.
During his stay in the Philippines he
had an opportunity of seeing much of
the country and getting all of the
taste OF army life he wanted and his
experience there was an interesting
one.
Mr.. Wingar tired somewhat of
blowing a cornet in the military band.
of the monotony OF dress parade, at
tending military functions, etc. and
when Gen. Leonard Wood wonted vol
unteers to go with him to Jolo Island
to suppress the natives who were giy
ing trouble at that point, he was
among the first to ask for permit to
go. This gave him taste of the real
thing, such as long marches oyer
rough country, standing guard all
night on lonely outposts with the
fear that some treacherous head
hunting native might throw spear
into him from one of the trees or
strike him in the back with bolo
He was in several engagements where
bullets flew thick and fast and un-
comfortably near, one grazing the
side of his face.
1t was here that several towns and
many shacks had to be put out of
commission entirely and wherever an
opportunity offered Elmer would pick
up a relic from burning shack or an
article that had been dropped in
hasty flight.
His collection consists largely of
weapons of barbaric warfare, spears,
bolos, knives and old Spanish swords,
all of which haye been in service and
undoubtedly have bloody histories.
Two swords with wide blades used by
the official headsman for cutting off
heads are fierce looking weapons. He
secured number of highly colored
sashes, Filipino dresses and head gear
One of the sashes he prizes highly as
it was worn by one of the chief men
or Sultan of town, and he managed
to get it, he will not say how, but
that it is genuine there is no mistake.
Shells and cannon balls that were
thrown into the Cavite forts by Ad-
miral Dewey are also found in his col
lection and tell only too plainly the
story of the fight that carried tidal
wave of CONSERVATION into the hearts
and souls of the misguided Spaniards
A large piece of coral which he Sc
cured by diving Is feet into the sea
is also much priced curio.
The regiment with which he was
connected returned on the transport
Sheridan making stop or two in the
lands of the Japs and the Russians
and also at Honolulu arriving In San
Francisco last December. He re-
ceived his honorable discharge in
June and is glad to again be at home
among his friends