The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1904-02-18
CLARKSBURC BOY
WRITES ABOUT PHILIPPINES
Son of n M Bradford in Letter to his Father Tells
Many Things of Interest in Soldier Life and the
Country and people,

G. c. Bradford, who recently went to
the Philippines as soldier, and is a
private in Company B, First Battalion OF
Marines. writes his father, NJ. NJ Brad,
ford, here an Interesting letter. which is
worthy Of publication owing TO the in
formation it contains and the impress
sions a clarksburg boy has of army life
in the Philippines.
Among other things Mr.. Bradford says
they left the Dixie December $, and
went to camp Elliott, at Empire, Repub
lie of Pomona. The camp is "a miles
from Colon and 10 from Pomona. Young
Bradford is train messenger and goes
from camp to Colon in the morning and
returns on the evening train, carrying
messages between Leferne and Admiral
Coghlan.
He says he likes the place and the
country splendidly, but that there is lots
of rain. pouring down every afternoon
from 100 to 400 O'Clock. He comes in
contact with lots of Spanish people who
are polite and he has most his dealings
with them. He is learning their Ian.
guage very well.
One dollar there is worth some DAYS
$500 and goes down as low as 1920. A
live dollar bill will get hat full of
change. The largest denomination is
the Columbian half dollar. He has
made the acquaintance of Spaniard by
the name of De Jente, who is one of the
wealthiest men in Columbia and he has
been invited several times to see him.
This Spaniard has two ir-',htcr-
one son. The boy is first lieutenant III
the Pomona army and the girlspre about
as pretty as any Mr.. Bradford ever saw.
They all speak English very we'll
'rhere is one thing" he says, that
seems to be a regular routine with them
and that is, every time You go to see
them, they want you TO have drink
with them, and, II you refuse, they take
it as an insult. have noticed that
everywhere CO."
The railroad company certainly pays
good wages. They pay their American
engineers $l57 in gold per month, and
every 10 months they give them .
months furlough to the United States
under weeks pay and transportation
both ways. Mr.. Bradford thinks this
i good induccment to any American
engineer who is out Of employment.
Honestly, it is a shame the money
that has been expended and wasted on
the canal. There are close on to 100
small locomotives laying here in the rain
that they used for hauling dirt. / sup.
pose they would pull Is loaded box cars
and arr standard guage. There is also
a large number OF cranes that win lift
about 90 tons.
"l'he rest Of their heavy guns from
Colon have arrived. among which were
five field pieces, four Gattling guns and
eight rapid fire Colts of automatic pat.
tern. These Colts fire about a a cal
iber shell and shoot 800 times minute
The United States Steamer Atlanta,
which is second-class cruiser. is act
ing as scout on the eastern coast"
Mr.. Bradford says they can not get
any thing 10 smoke there but Spanish
and French tobaccos. which are too
strong for him. so he wants some Dukes
mixture.
"our accounts have all been transferr-
ed to the United States Steamer Prairie,
now at Colon, with five companies of
marines on board. SO our grub all comes
from there now instead of the Dixie.
Although we had extra good food on the
Dixie. we will, think. get better on
this ship. as She is said TO have the best
paymaster in the navy. He is Mr.. Lett
sig. The captain of the Maine is his
father"