Arizona republican., 1906-04-28
THE ANNIVERSARY
 OF A FESTIVlTY
Many Phoenix Boys Recall Event at
 Manila Seven Years Ago.

There are number of Phoenix boys who will remember as long as they live May 27, 1899, just seven years ago yes II terday. They were members of the II First Colorado volunteer regiment and II were quartered in the city of Manila. It was after the insurrection had brok . 1 en out and during the days that to be l a soldier meant much more than petty l guard duty and willing away the hours in humdrum camp life It was during | the days when every company of the | regiment was out where school kept {" as they put it. and where. to use the slang of the day, there was something doing every minute" That such excit- | just exactly what made the particular | date such an easy one to remember. 1t was a Thursda.. and just three days | following the birthday of Queen Vic 1 toria of England.
 | It was the custom of the officers Tn command to take from the firing line every ten days one of the companies of | the regiment and post it in town to do the less active duty of guarding the quarters, the company in the city be- ing placed back on the battlefield. It | happened to be the turn of the com pany of the regiment in which most of
 
 of them who fought with the Colorado troops, to be in Manila on the date re- ferred to. A celebration of the birth day of England's queen had been plan ned for the night it should have been held Monday, May 24, but the arrange ments had slipped cog and the cele- bration was set for three days later
 The climate at that season of the year in Manila was very much the same as it has been in Phoenix the past few days, according to Arthur Davenport, one of the members of the company. In the harbor of the city there were battleships of three foreign countries and of the United States, and each joined in the celebration by deck ing it's vessels from stem to stern with flags and electric lights. A band com posed of members of three regimental i bands played music during the day and at night And it was at night that the 1 real festivities of the celebration were planned. Fireworks were touched of. | a grand ball was given and general i holiday sports were indulged in Tae company doing guard duty in the city | was cut down to ten men and the rest of the company were allowed to enjoy the evening as they chose.
 The tackles from the boats were aI- lowed to come ashore and mingle with the soldiers, and all of them attended the ball The handsome senorftas Were naturally the center of attraction. | for it was the first social event held in Manila the Phoenix boys had an oppor- l. tunity to attend, and it was something like what they enjoyed. This alone with the days celebration would have made ii an event worth remembering. but that was not the reason.
 In the midst of it all the bugle call was sounded, calling the soldiers back to their quarters. Two hours after the sound of the bUsle nearly every avail able man was part of a silent march ng army, moving to the front of battle The insurrectiOnists had learned of the celebration and had planned an attack 1n the city while the festivities were at I heir height. What had once been iov md gladness was turned in three short tours into sorrow and sadness. for while the black men of the island had C 'een met and driven back many mem | 'ers of that company who had been iancing light heartedly but so short a I while before were dead on the field of | 'attle. Those who lived and were there | will always remember the date. It was 2 even years ago yesterday, in the isl $ nds of the Philippines.
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