anaheim-gazette 1907-10-24

LETTER FROM PHILIPPINES Howard Gates Writes of His Experiences as a Soldier in Uncle Sam’s Service Frack S. Gates is in receipt of a letter from his son Howard, who is with the army in the Philippines, from which we are permitted to take the following extracts: Fort Wm. McKinley, Sept. 6, 1907. Dear Mother and Father: I was at Angel Island only six days before the boat sailed. The recruits are treated very poorly on the island. We sailed on Monday, August 5, at noon, and four weeks later at 8 o’clock Sunday morning, we tied up to the Manila dock. The voyage was fine. The first day out I was seasick and spent five days in the hospital. I was in the hospital when we reached Honolulu, and so could not get ashore. We were there a day and a half. The soldiers all had twelve hours shore leave and all went crazy over the beauty of the place. But one fellow told me he thought Pasadena was just as pretty. I got filled up with bananas there. The hospital was in the stern of the boat, and most of the hospital corps was ashore, so they pulled bananas through the portholes from little boats below. They were small, but very sweet. We left Honolulu Thursday, and a week from the following Tuesday we arrived at Guam. The second day out we ran into a little storm and it made me sick again. There is a beautiful little harbor at Guam. The ships sailed clear to the far corner of Guam was lined with bamboo, barren tall grass. When we arrived they gave us the glad news as soon as we could wash we ate. It was fine—vegetables, meats, iced tea, plum duff, cake puffs and apple sauce, sugar and things we didn’t see on the ship. That night I strolled to a Rio or native village by the called Guadalyse. It was a lot of bamboo and nipa huts among nanas. This is a pretty country quarters are two story, large, airy, cool, clean and comfort every way. The barracks are actually alike. There are always two regiments of one of cavalry and several hospital and signal services. There is the majority of five of infantry here now. There exchange and fine Y. M. C. letters with library, reading tables, bowling, gymnasium tennis courts, handball, chess. The membership is per year. The native women come into with fruit and eggs. Prices on nanas 10 cents a dozen, coconuts, mangoes three for 5 cents an anges three for 5 cents. After has been here a couple of months they will stay on jambone—that is, his prom when payday comes. I was lucky of them will trust me already carry little book and have your name, amount and page remember you, too; I got yesterday and some more when she gave me the boots down the amount she opened right page. We shall start drilling new We left Honolulu Thursday, and a week from the following Tuesday we arrived at Guam. The second day out we ran into a little storm and it made me sick again. There is a beautiful little harbor at Guam. The ships sailed clear to the far corner of Guam and then doubled back between a high cliff and a beautiful reef. The reef is several miles long and almost reaches the top of the water. The waves break over it and the water is varicolored, so it is called "rainbow reef." We got in right after daylight and staid until 4:30 p.m. We could not dock, as the greater part of the harbor is full of reefs, so staid about a mile from shore. There are only about ten thousand people there, mostly natives and Philippinos. Most of the land is too mountainous to cultivate. The natives came out with fruit to sell—bananas cost 10 cents a dozen, cocoanuts 5 cents. One of them came on board with about 65 green bananas and everybody was afraid to buy them because they were so green, so I bought them for 15 cents and laid them under my clothes. The next day they were all ripe. Two days later I sold thirty for 30 cents, so I doubled my money and had plenty left. I bought three cherimolas for 5 cents and saved the seed; the fruit was delicious. I will draw $15.60 here, together with clothing, rations and medical attendance. A soldier is entitled to have one-third of his salary advanced as canteen checks, to use in the post-exchange which sells notions, clothes, stationery, tobacco and edibles—no liquors. On the Saturday before we arrived at Manila we got in sight of land, the island of Samar. All Sunday we were within a few miles of land on both sides. We went around the southern end of Luzon, and Monday morning were in Manila bay. The Logan carried twelve companies, 65 men each, of infantry one troop colored cavalry and a number of cabin passengers. We woke at 6 a.m. At 6:30 first mess call; 7, second mess call; 8, guard mount and concert; 9, recruit drill; 11:30, first mess call, dinner; 12, second mess call; 2:30, setting-up exercise; couple of months they will stay on jambone—that is, his promo when payday comes. I was lucky of them will trust me already carry little book and have your name, amount and page remember you, too; I got six yesterday and some more time when she gave me the boots down the amount she opened right page. We shall start drilling new our quarters are crowded now are two companies where should be, but in a few days go back to the states. It from the barracks to the river is only about 250 feet very swift and deep. The grief about six feet here; it is seven miles to Manila. An elephant runs there and it only takes minutes to go. I haven’t been ill yet. These little uarrids here dont amount to much. This is the middle of the son. It has rained every some of the days. It is not mer than our own winter. We don’t wear blue clothing everything is Khaki. We tailor suits for $4.50. The get them because they last longer the issue suits and they can the clothes allowance. This land is very rich—I der the Japs want it. In fact they would be rich if they did it as they do Japan. HOWARD E. G. Co. G 29th Reg. Infantry, McKinley, Rizal, P. I, Fort Wm. McKinley, P. I., 1907. Things are going all right We have unpacked most of company stuff and have been taking easy for the last few days. has not been turned in for but expects to be in a few days is when I shall sweat learning and orders. The 30th regime we are to relieve, will start Leavenworth, Kansas. in about This reservation is quite large about three miles long and wide. The Pasig river runs within a few miles of land on both sides. We went around the southern end of Luzon, and Monday morning were in Manila bay. The Logan carried twelve companies, 65 men each, of infantry one troop colored cavalry and a number of cabin passengers. We woke at 6 a.m. At 6:30 first mess call; 7, second mess call; 8, guard mount and concert; 9, recruit drill; 11:30, first mess call, dinner; 12, second mess call; 2:30, setting-up exercise; 3:10, recall; 4, recruit drill; 5, supper; 6:30, retreat; 8 to 9:15, band concert; 9:30, lights out; 10, taps. They had nine recruits from G company drilling with rifles twice a day for an hour. We learned the manual of arms fairly well. The food was fierce. It was stew or hash three times a day; poor quality, bad cooking, little nourishment. It was a disgrace to the government, which pays enough, to—there is a great graft somewhere. Whenever the mess call would sound the soldiers would sing to the music: "Come, soldier, come, and get your slum." I have fine food and plenty of it, here. On last Monday morning they brought six cascals alongside the ship and loaded two battalions with guns and valises into them, four companies in one battalion. Then they put a little tug on three cascoes and towed it up the Pasig. We passed under the Bridge of Spain and turned and twisted through the lowlands for five and a half hours before we arrived at McKinley. Then we shouldered our blanket rolls and hiked a mile into the center of camp to our camp. We made quite a sight, eight companies of soldiers marching four abreast and the band playing Yankeee Doodle. The road pany stuff and have been taking easy for the last few days. has not been turned in for but expects to be in a few days is when I shall sweat learning and orders. The 30th regiment we are to relieve, will start Leavenworth, Kansas. in about This reservation is quite large about three miles long and wide. The Pasig river runs side and a large creek on The Pasig is only about 200 wide and from 10 to 20 feet wide and from 10 to 20 feet too dangerous and muddy to It connects Manila bay with lake a few miles above here are lots of little steamers run and down it. The government number of small tugs that the hauling supplies to the fort. Plies are loaded on cascoes and cascoes are large native boats with bamboo thatch, and all sides are runways where they walk while poling them up to They are 75 feet long and and feet wide and can carry enormous Four companies in heavy mariner and grips were loaded into them and one would never know anything in them. They lined on both sides with little barrios, all the way to Manilla morning the natives load their dugout cascoes with/cocoanut nas, rice, mangoes, oranges things, and paddle to the nearest market in Manilla, and in the they paddle back. They are expert at paddling. I have seen one in a canoe with only a one paddle, paddling only on one s with bamboo, bananas and When we arrived at quargave us the glad hand, and we could wash we ate dinner. vegetables, meat, milk, alum duff, cake pumpkin pie sauce, sugar and butter— didn't see on the ship. I strolled to a little barative village by the river, adalyse. It was a collection and nipa huts among the banis is a pretty country. Our are two story, large, light and clean and comfortable in The barracks are all exe. There are always state two regiments of infantry, navalry and several hundred and signal service men. The majority of five regiments here now. There is a post and fine Y. M. C. A. quarlibrary, reading room, pool swling, gymnasium, chapel, arts, handball, checkers and the membership is only $2.50 women come into the post and eggs. Prices are, bavents a dozen, cocoanuts 10 gooes three for 5 cents, orne for 5 cents. After a man ere a couple of months and goo trading with them he can is for about half what they or a man has been here a months they will sell things that is, his promise to pay day comes. I was lucky; two will trust me already. They book and have you sign amount and page. They you, too; I got some fruit and some more today, and gave me the book to put amount she opened it at the start drilling next week: up the river faster than the tugs were towing us. The government has large warehouses on the banks of the Pasig. The barracks are all on a large, low hill. Co. G barracks are near the middle of this and about a mile from the river, and they are very comfortable with kitchen, mess room, sleeping rooms, bathrooms, amusement room and library. There are large verandas almost all the way around both stories and cement sidewalks in front and hard macadamized roads in the rear. In front of each barrack is a narrow bed filled with varicolored leaves that I take to be crotons, fancy canes, small bamboos and palms. In the rear are banana plants and small shade trees just planted. There are two aligator pets a little larger than yours, behind our barracks. I went out for a stroll yesterday afternoon and went about two miles. It is about half a mile to the target range, and the road runs through a thicket of bamboo and strange trees, where the grass is about three to six feet high. Flowers are not plentiful, but there are lots of pretty birds and gorgeous butterflies. After I got about half a mile into the range the road played out and I had to follow native paths. Natives are called goo-goos by the soldiers, and everything native is either goo-goo or dobe, dobe rock, dobe cigars and cigarettes, goo-goo horses. Water was everywhere. I carried a poncho because it had been raining all morning. I went clear across the tar- get range to the creek, and before I got there I was in water to the tops of my leggins. Just across the creek was a goo-goo village. After resting I followed the creek along the target range through a thicket of banana and bamboo. The bamboo grows about fifty feet high and is very strong. I found some green fruit that resembled lemon guanas, which it may be. After a lot of trampling through mud and water body is donating 50c or $100 a barrel. Everybody with the way Co. L fed us rived. Every soldier here wears forms here with leggings, campaign hats. There waring here. The soldiers goined blue clothes, ones comthe chinks wanted clothes diers wanted edibles, and t ficient to make things live. It is very wet here; it night and often in the day always cloudy and always is fine and warm although are cool; but it is so humi sweats very badly in our riving. On the 5th of every month transport leaves San Franthe mails. I think one leaf middle of each month. Prescriptions a specialty Drug Store. MONEY can be borrowed favorable term SAVINGS, LOAN AND BUY ASSOCIATION OF than from an institution in A Home Institution conducted by home m If you want to borrow at a low rate to pay o present mortgage, or for a home or to improve present one, address or Fred A. Ba Secretary months they will sell things—that is, his promise to pay day comes. I was lucky; two will trust me already. They book and have you sign the amount and page. They you, too; I got some fruit and some more today, and gave me the book to put amount she opened it at the start drilling next week; hers are crowded now: there companies where only one but in a few days one will into the states. It is a mile barracks to the river. The only about 250 feet wide, but deep. The grass grows feet here; it is seven or eight Manila. An electric line and it only takes thirty go. I haven’t been to Man-These little uarrios around amount to much. The middle of the rainy seas rained every night and days. It is not much war our own winter. It wear blue clothes here, is Khaki. We can get bills for $4.50. The majority because they last longer than suits and they can save on allowance. is very rich—I don’t wontaps want it. In five years be rich if they cultivated do Japan. HOWARD E. GATES th Reg. Infantry, Fort Wm. Rizal, P. I, McKinley, P. I., Sept. 7, are going all right here now. Unpacked most of the comand have been taking things the last few days. The 29th been turned in for duty yet, is to be in a few days. Then shall sweat learning the drills. The 30th regiment, which to relieve, will start for Fort North, Kansas. in about a week.ivation is quite large, being miles long and almost as Pasig river runs along one morning. I went clear across the target range to the creek, and before I got there I was in water to the tops of my leggins. Just across the creek was a goo-goo village. After resting I followed the creek along the target range through a thicket of banana and bamboo. The bamboo grows about fifty feet high and is very strong. I found some green fruit that resembled lemon guanas, which it may be. After a lot of tramping through mud and water I was across the creek from another barrio. I got a goo-goo to take me across in a banco or dugout. It was quite a town, with little stores full of tobacco, fruit and other native products. The houses were all made of bamboo and nipa with thatched roofs and with large windows always open, haying cotton cloth for curtains and glass. Houses are all raised from the ground on bamboo poles like stilts. Pigs run loose all around. The houses are all surrounded by bananas, palms, sugar cane and flowers. The natives are very small, averaging about 100 pounds, brown eyes, black curly hair. The men dress in a shirt and gaudy trousers, with slippers like the Chinese. Often they go barefoot and wear a G string instead of trousers. The women wear loose cotton clothes reaching from the arm pits to the knees. Little children run naked or wear a short dress, and men, women and children all smoke cigarettes and cigars. Tobacco is cheap, good cigars being four for a nickle or $1 a hundred. Cigarettes are 5 cents for a package of 30—one grade sells 50 for 5 cents. Natives carry everything on their heads; they wrap a cloth into turban shape and then place a wide, handle-less basket filled with ten or twelve dozen bananas, a half dozen cocoanuts, some mangoes, eggs and oranges on their heads and walk into the post. Their money is, peso (50c) media peso (25c) peseta (10c) media peseta (5c) centaro or clacker (1-2c). Their money is marked just double ours; a peseta is twenty centros, a media peseta ten centros. When they mean U.S. currency they say gold. On one side of their money is a shield with an eagle over it the words U.S.of America, Philipine Islands. On the reverse is a design symbolic of the islands and the value. Natives will work for a peso a day and have been taking things one last few days. The 29th seen turned in for duty yet, has to be in a few days. Then shall sweat learning the drills The 30th regiment, which relieve, will start for Fort North, Kansas. in about a week. Evation is quite large, being miles long and almost as Pasig river runs along one large creek on the other. is only about 200 or 300 feet from 10 to 20 feet wide and is gross and muddy to swim in. Manila bay with a large miles above here. There little steamers running up it. The government has a small tugs that they use in supplies to the fort. The suploaded on cascoes and towed; the large native boats covered boo thatch, and along the runways where the natives poling them up the river. 55 feet long and about 15 and can carry enormous loads. Canies in heavy marching orips were loaded into three of one would never know they being in them. The river is both sides with little native in the way to Manilla. In the natives load their little cooes with/cocoanuts, banamangoes, oranges and such paddle to the nearest marnilla, and in the afternoon back. They are very exdling. I have seen many canoe with only a one-bladed dbling only on one side, come Their money is, peso (30c) media peso (25c) peseta (10c) media peseta (5c) centaro or clacker (1-2c). Their money is marked just double ours; a peseta is twenty centros, a media peseta ten cen-taros. When they mean U.S. currency they say gold. On one side of their money is a shield with an eagle over it the words U.S. of America, Philippine Islands. On the reverse is a design symbolic of the islands and the value. Natives will work for a peso a day, but most of them seem to get all they earn. Everything practically grows wild; trees planted and the natives sit around and smoke till it is time to climb a tree to get something to eat. They use carabous to plow. The horses are about the size of a Shetland pony, possibly smaller, and are generally driven in two wheeled native cabs called carametas. They are strong and make fair speed. I have seen several of the little hump-backed sacred Indian bulls being driven about hitched to heavy carts. Natives are very fond of music and dancing and they manufacture instruments similar to our own mandolins and guitars, which they can play very well. At the barracks there is a native who shines our shoes. We can have as many shoes shined as many times as we want for a peso a month. He does fine work, having worked here four years. The laundry is done by a Chinaman for 2 pesos a month. Just before the 13th sails we, Co.G will give Co.L. 13th, a banquet and smoker. The company fund will pay for the spread, the captain and lieutenant will pay for the cigars and the boys will buy the refreshments; every- In the Superior Court in and for the County of Orange, State of California. In the matter of the estate of J. J. McWilliams, deceased. Notice of hearing of petition for probate of will. Notice is hereby given that the petition of Louisa McWilliams for the probate of the will of J. J. McWilliams, deceased, and for issuance of letters testamentary thereon to her will be heard at the court room of the Superior Court, in the City of Santa Ana, County of Orange, State of California, at 10 o'clock a.m., on the 25th day of October, 1907. W. B. WILLIAMS, County Clerk. Kendrick, Knott & Ardis, Attorneys for Petitioner. YOU CAN EARN $12 TO $50 A WEEK SOLICITING SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR PICTORIAL REVIEW Every woman should have it. We wish a permanent representative for this town and county. Experience not necessary. References required. Mention "The Gazette." WRITE TODAY Dept. C. P., Pictorial Review 853 Broadway, New York If you are going to build consult Lagman & Kruger Look at this: A five-room house modern in all respects complete for $800. Call and see the plans at 312 Center street, city. CLOTHING Fall and Winter Suits and Overcoats now here. 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