The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-03-01
SOLDIER BOY !
WRITES TO HIS SISTER
FROM PHILIPPINES
AN INTERESTING LETTER
Telling Of Conditions IN
Island Possessions.


Mrs. Lottie C. Zimmerman, of 606
Washington avenue, recently received
a letter from her brother, George J.
Henry, who is soldier in the Philip
pines. The letter is full of interesting
information and extracts of It are given
as follows
Camp Jassman, Guimaras, p. l.,
January z, 1904.
Dear Sister--We had very nice trip
coming over here, as we had very
large boat and there were only head
Quarters band, four troops and few
consuls on board. so we had plenty OF
room and with a drill daily and the
band playing in the evening, time
passed pleasantly.
The weather was quite cold leaving
the United States and the first two days
out most all hands were seasick, as
there was a heavy sea going It ar
fected me very little and remained on
deck as long as land was in sight. We
arrived in Honolulu August 8 and
there all hands were given shore
leave of "a hours and most all took In
the city. II was the first land sighted
lsince leaving the United States. Hon
olulu is quite a nice city. We LETT
there at noon August II. Our next
stop was at the Midway island. which
is small, low sandy island with only
a cable station. We stopped there only
about five hours to receive dispatches
and during the stop we spent the time
killing sharks.
We passed several small islands be-
tween Honolulu and Midway all of
which were thick with seagulls. The
largs guns were fired at one small IS
land which was rocky and set high
out of the sea. The shots must have
killed many birds. as the sky was
black with them after the second shot.
Our next stop was at Guam, Ladrone
islands. where we laid over for 2t
hours, but did not get to see the city,
as we laid off about three miles. Our
next stop was at Manila, where we ar
rived on August 80, and the same day
disembarked from the Sheridan to the
transport Ingals and left Manila for
this place. So we were en- route one
month and one day and travelled by sea
about $500 miles. We arrived at lloilo
island of Fancy, at II a. m. September
l, where we relieved the other cavalry
that had been stationed there. This
camp is located on small island which
is about the center of the Philippine
group. 1t is almost all swamp, but our
camp is located upon high sandy
plain. 1t has been raining daily since
we were here with the exception of II
days. The island has no resources ex-
Icept little sugar cane. There are
plenty Of coca nuts and a few bananas.
The natives do very little fishing as
there is no sale for fish. We are not al
lowed to eat fish, as there is no telling
how old they are or from what in
fected place they may have come.
There are few chickens, turkeys
and ducks to be had. Chickens sell at
10 cents each. turkeys at $l25 and
ducks at so cents each, U. S. coin. AS
there are no cattle there is no fresh
milk or butter to be had, but both can
be bought in cans, imported. With the
Exception of a few caraboa, Australian
steers and few ponies, there is no
stock upon the island and other is
lands are in about the same fix The
Icocoanut tree comes in for many uses
as it furnishes eating, drinking and
material for building huts. Also there
is liquid taken from the same place
where the nut grows that is called tuba
and Is a great native drink. It looks.
tastes and has about the same effect
as cider when 1t is working. There is
also another native drink called bino.
1t is made of both nepa, a native plant,
and rice, and looks, tastes and has the
same effect as apple jack, and is the
cause OF many human wrecks.
Bino sells at % cents a half gallon
and tuba at cents per gallon. There
are not many natives on the island
what are here coming from the Philip
pine group.
When we first came here we went in
to canvas, but on October 20 began
building our quarters and moved into
them on November %. They are built
mostly of bamboo and neapa, native
materials. ! have been on special duty
in connection with building our quar-
tiers, SO | am almost an expert in work.
ling bamboo and peapa.
Our living here is quite good, as we
get our ration the same as in the states,
and besides am in charge of our mess
and spend about $75 month for
canned stuffs. Our beef comes from
Australia and II fine. 1t comes In cold
storage. We have an Ice plant that
furnishes about all the ice we need.
4 thanksgiving and Christmas we had
fine turkey dinners.
On December 27 ! went into the hos
pital with fever, but came out again
on New Years day and am well again.
1t was my first sickness since coming
here.
There were few American saloons