The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1905-10-12
welcome us, escorted us to the con-
vent, and gave dance in our honor.

vent, and gave dance in our honor.
Siatou is located on the coast of
the Sula Sea and is surrounded
on three sides by high mountains, at
the foot of which are two deep rivers.
The Ladrones would stand on the hill
sides at night, and fire at the convent.
This made it very unpleasant for us.
The Ladrones, who were causing the
trouble, were class of religious IA
natics who wantonly tortured and
killed their adversaries. They lived in
the dense forests just back from the
coast, their rendezvous being called
Tolon. No white man had ever been
allowed in their settlements. The only
mark by which we could recognize
their houses, was cross which they
always burnt in tree close to them.
At any time when they saw us coming
they would yell "amigo," which all the
willy rascals had learnt would protect
them from harm. Our orders were to
capture as many as possible and destroy
their dwellings. We obeyed the orders,
but very seldom made any prisoners for
we had no place to keep them, and
even if we had we would not have been
bothered with them. They were con-
stantly shooting at us from ambush,
altho claiming otherwise. After TAX
ing the usual precaution, that of placing
running guard on, we strolled around
the village gathering what information
we could pertaining to the trouble.
We sent courier to Dumaguete with
dispatches and received an answer
from headquarters stating that a
months rations would be forwarded at
once and for us to obey our previous
orders.
For the first few days we had no
trouble; then Chinaman came to us
and asked for protection, stating that
the Ladrones had stolen his wife, mon
ey, and burnt his hut the night before,
which was true. Six of us, with the
Chinaman for guide, made search,
but failed to find any one. This kind
of work kept up for quite awhile, until
finally we captured four of them. The
corporal said it was too much labor to
hike thirty-two miles with four La
drones, so we took them out to the ant
hills and gave the ants meal. This
was an easy way to repay them in their
own medicine. We knew, however,
that as soon as we were out of sight
their friends would liberate them. A
few nights later one of our men was
boloed while he was on duty ss acting
corporal. He never knew what struck
him. Our corporal swore that every
Ladrone we took from then on would
perish, and they did. Every day part
of US would be hiking, but we seldom
found Ladrones. Their huts were emp.
ty and no sign of human beings any
where, altho we were sure that oul
every movement was watched.
During the next month our rations
gave out, and owing to the peculiar
condition of the country, no boats Of
any kind could reach us. We knew
this, for whenever we looked seawarc
we could see Waterspouts, in fact fol
five months it seemed to us as if there
was continual hurricane. When oul
rations gave out, we were forced tt
help ourselves to whatever we coul(
find, consequently we butchered ever!
billygoat that came within our reach
The natives did not like it, neither die
we, still we were under the impression
: that we had to live and cared little TO
what others thought.
Rice and young billygoats now be
r came our daily cepast. We were de
( MED the pleasure of bananas, mangoe
9 and other fruits owing to the climati
+ conditions, this being the rainy season
n As for rain, let me tell you that I hav
9 known it to rain for four or five day
q just as hard as it could, then stop fo
d an hour or two and start again, keeI
L ing this up for four or five month";
+ Within an hour after rain storm th
o earth would be as dry and suDbaked q
's it would have been If it had neve
lr rained.
o To add to our pleasures, we receive
D. orders to vaccinate every inhabitant {
It the village. We did SO and lost on
9. man. He was boloed as he stepped OF
It Of q hut. In this case / believe he We
70 to blame. for he had told the native