The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1905-08-03

Paper Read Before the ChautaoQua Circle.
"HE Philippines, comprising a
thousand or more islands lying
to the southeast of Asia, were
ceded to the United States in
1898. Manila, the capital of the group,
is located on the island of LuZon. AS
nearly everyone is familiar with
Manila and its immediate vicinity, l
will pass by this important point and
endeavor to interest you with some OF
my experiences two or three hundred
miles south, beginning at Iloilo, on the
island of Pany.
This island, together with the islands
of Negros, Cebu, Samar and several
smaller ones of less Importance. con-
stitute what is termed in military par
lance, the "Dept. of the Visayas." The
headquarters of this department is at
the city of Iloilo.
Arriving in the harbor of IlOilo we
were transferred to steam launches and
taken ashore. There are no dock
facilities for ocean steamers in any of
the ports of these islands. On land
ing we were marched to the convent
and assigned to quarters, where we re-
NAMED about two weeks Iloilo is the
second city in size and Importance.
and is port of call for steamers going
north or south, in fact most of the
business of the southern islands is
transacted at this point. The city
proper covers about three square miles,
comprising many native huts besides
the Chinese quarter. Owing to the
bombardmenti it received from our navy
in 1898, there were only two or three
buildings in the business portion that
were not partially or wholly destroyed.
These were the church and convent
and building owned by the British
banking association.
This was strange sight for us, one
to convince us of the training of
Uncle Sans gunners. Picture, if you
can, two buildings standing uninjured
in the center of the business portion of
the city, and everything around them
laid in ruins by shells from a navy
and 1 think you will agree with me
that the impression you will receive, is
that the gunners of our navy have nc
superiors and few equals.
The natives of this island belong tc
the Malay race, and are classed az
Visayans. There are few Chinese
and Spaniards on the island, but the
business is largely carried on by tht
Chinese. Outside of the few Euro
peans, they are the only industriou'
people in the whole group. In 1loilt
there were two or three restaurant
owned by Spaniards, a few wine par
lors, and last but not least, the cockpit
These people are born gamblers, ant
are always ready tovisit the pit whel
any birds are matched. There are yer,
few towns without the cockpit.
There were two drinks in common
use among the natives of the Visayal
group, namely, vindo and TUDOR. rh
first is drink of an almost deadl
kind, the one that sent great man
of our men home to the insane asylum
and many to their death. 1t had
pleasant taste and delightful aroma
The second was less pleasant to th
taste, but was considered benefit
those who wished to drink it. It
taken from the cocoanut tree and
very sweet at first, but within ten {
twelve hours becomes very sour.
became quite popular drink, as
could be found everywhere.
From Iloilo we were sent to Sa
Augustene barracks, a distance of tW
miles from the convent. Arriving ,
the barracks we were issued two hui
dred rounds of ammunition, relieve
of surplus articles and ordered to ste
in the barracks under arms, and th
only two miles from the city. o.
barracks had been the residence of
Spanish planter. During the bombar
ment of the city he retired to b
hacienda, and when the city sure
dered. our soldiers took possession
his residence for military use.