The Republican journal., 1911-10-12
The News of Brooks

Mrs. Higgins recently received letter from
her husband, who is stationed at the summer
capitol of the Philippines -Bagnio Mountain.
some fifty miles from Mania-extracts from
which follow and will be of interest to their
many friends in Waldo county.
Camp John Hay, Bagnio Mountain, Benguet
Province, P. I.
The glorious weather which we have enjoy
ed up here in the mountains for several
months past was broken by terrible typhoon,
which has ragged for eighteen days. All COM
munications have been cut off and they have
just tried getting mail to the west coast by an
Igorrote runner, where it is hoped we can
catch coasting vessel that will take it to
Manila.
The expensive and beautiful Benguet road
that was built up here through the mountains
to the summer capitol at a cost of nearly half
million pesos, has been utterly destroyed.
All the magnificent steel bridges swept away
in the flood as if built of match wood Many
natives who were employed by the govern
ment have lost their lives. Transfers who
were quartered at relay stations between here
and Camp One just managed to reach the hills,
saving nothing but what they stood in. Some
of the mules which were in harness were cut
loose and a few got to the hills all the rest
were drowned, and wagons, harnesses, food,
everything swept off in boiling torrent that
came tearing down the canyon fifty feet high,
so those who escaped said.
This is probably about correct, as at
Klondyke, about three miles this side of
Camp One, where suspension bridge cross
ed sixty feet above the river, the flood
swept all the flooring off. The railroad be-
tween Manila and Camp One is destroyed to
such an extent that it is estimated it will be
four months before train ear run.
Now, on top of ali this, with men cut off
from here. and my storehouse almost de-
pleted, waiting my monthly supply of stores,
the town of Bagnio is all out of supplies and
calling on the army commissary to help them
out. have been almost crazy with worry.
They are now trying to get a man to the
coast to reach Manila and send supplies to
San Fernando on the west coast, and then
pack them in on the backs of Igorrotes. God
only knows what would have done without
them white man in these mountains will
get lost ten miles from camp, but these little
bare legged fellows are right at home and it is
d great time for them, they are making good
money packing supplies and carrying
sages. l enclose two reports on Camp John
Hay which will interest you, but when you
will get this don't know. AS soon as we can
get any news from outside | will have better
idea of conditions. l am sending this out by
party who will try to find trail to the coast
that pack train can come over.
All the runners sent out the first two or
three times came back and said they could not
get through Dut peterson, a SWede, VINO mas
lived among these people long time, in
terpreter, and in charge of all Igorrote work
men, took the last two and gave them
unmerciful beating and started them out
the second time. Six days after they came
back with the report from Camp One, a
copy of which l enclose to you. Any
one else lay hand on the little fellows and
they take to the hills and refuse to come near
white men, but Peterson they think is all
right, and if he gets angry, they feel they
must be very bad indeed.
He has always been their friend, getting
them medicine when sick, giving them money
and food when out of work.
We have been lucky in being able to buy
beef on the hoof at 25c per pound Give weight)
comotes, cabbage, cucumbers. bananas and
some potatoes; they are small and scarce, but
good quality.
Every morning l have to open up the COM
missary and fight everyone rushing me for
food, as l must make what would ordinarily be
one months supply last two or three,
There will be some lank stomachs in these
hills if the Igorrotes run out of vegetables
Everyone here envies me that | am going
back to Gods country this fall for retirement.