First Hand Accounts of the Philippine Insurrection in Marinduque

First Hand Accounts of being in Marinduque during the war

Letters home helped to document what the
soldiers saw while they were in Marinduque.
There were also correspondents from weekly
magazines that visited and wrote about what
they saw.

The Outlook Magazine New York CityAugust 18, 1900 The Occupation of
Marinduque By Phelps Whitmarsh Special Commissioner for The Outlook in the
Philippines

After a man has given the romantic years of his life to the sea, has served a full apprenticeship, and has
earned the title of sailor, he never feels the heave and send of even the smallest of craft beneath him that
he does not at once become confident, and at once become what we call at home. And to the man who
has forsaken his boyish ideal and taken up the more complicated life of a landsman, every whiff of salt
water stirs his memory as no perfume can, revives his romance, makes him a boy again. More than all,
perhaps, is the comforting knowledge that he and the sea understand each other-that they are old friends. It
was with much content, therefore, that, after so much of the mountains and the plains, I found myself aboard
the transport Indiana, leaving the sweltering Bay of Manila for a cruise to the southward. I say cruise
because our ports were by no means definite, nor could they well be so; for, in addition to landing army
supplies at various points, we carried an expeditionary force-a battalion of the Twenty-ninth Infantry, U. S.
V., and, though the orders were supposed to be secret, we all knew that they were going out to take
islands. What and where these islands were we did not know; but it was certain that the vessel was under
Colonel Hardin's orders until the mysterious islands were in American hands. All of which was rather
interesting.

At the long table in the saloon some sixty of us sat down to dinner. We were placed in the usual military
fashion, according to rank. The Colonel and the ship's captain had the head of the table, and then, in turn,
came the majors, the captains, the lieutenants, the contract doctors, the interpreter and Visayan pilot, and,
lastly, the few civilians not connected with the expedition. Hello, Benguet said a voice as I was passing to
my seat. It was Lieutenant Fuqua, under whose escort our party had passed through northern Benguet, and
whose blanket I had shared on not a few cold nights. Well, tramp! Bet you don't remember me, said the
next man, holding out his hand. I think I do. Dr. Herrmann, isn't it ? Met you in Cuba. You gave me a much
needed breakfast at Sancti Spiritus at the smallpox hospital a year or so ago. Yes. I have a pencil-sketch
of your beautiful mule still. A little further on I got a gentle poke in the ribs and the salutation, Hola, amigo I
Quetal? This from the patriotic and big-hearted Dr. Xeres y Burgos,'the friars' friend, whom I had known in
Manila for some time. Almost opposite Dr. Xeres, I recognized Chaplain Miller, of the Fourth Cavalry, the
broadest of parsons and the best of fellows. And when, at last, I sat down, it was to find in my right-hand
neighbor another friend. Thus it is in the Philippines-one gets to know everybody.

In the good old days when expeditions sallied forth to conquer islands and things, I suppose they
experienced all kinds of hardships, were very uncomfortable, and all that sort of thing; but as I looked along
the table, lighted and fanned by electricity, furnished with an unlimited amount of that great Philippine
luxury, ice water and supplied from the refrigerator with American fowls and meats, vegetables and fruits, I
felt that things had changed. It was very pleasant, but it upset one's notions about war. There was not even
a suggestion of war. It reminded me of what I saw in Angeles when General MacArthur took me round the
firing-line and I saw hot soup, beef, potatoes, and rice-pudding being served to the men from a carabao
cart. Imagine it! Hot dinner served on the firing-line! I have seen a good deal of the United States army in
the Philippines, and I am convinced of one thing-that it is the best fed, the best paid, and the best supplied
army on earth.

The Indiana did not get under way until late that night, but the cool, delightful breeze kept most of us a wake
until the Cavite lights had gone out and the steady glare of Corregidor was far astern. Then, the cabins
being insufferably hot, we brought up our blankets, and camped under the stars. On the port side, so close
that we could hear the unseasonable crowing of cocks and barking of dogs, and could catch the subtle,
earthy odor which rises with the night dew, rose the bold shore of Cavite Province. Soon all was quiet.
Nothing but the regular throb of the engines and a gentle rustle over the bow gave evidence that the vessel
was moving. It seemed as if she were feeling her way along the coast alone. Early next morning we
dropped anchor in the Bay of Batangas, in sight of Taal Volcano, where we remained three days
discharging commissary and quartermaster's supplies.

Though Batangas is the second port in Luzon, there were absolutely no facilities for loading or unloading
vessels. Everything was landed on the beach in long, narrow dugouts-three armed guards and four boxes
being the usual load. Batangas is called the worst town in the worst province. The people are Tagalogs,
rather darker than those of the middle provinces, and decidedly less reconcilable to American rule. With
Dr. Xeres I visited the leading natives of the town, and, owing to my companion, I had an opportunity of
hearing a truthful expression of their views. All, even though they were under military protection, and
diplomatically professed friendship, were most bitter in their denunciation of the Americans. It was patent
that these people, like the majority of the inhabitants of Luzon, submitted only when there was no
alternative; and that in their hearts enmity toward the white race, for it is no longer solely the American, is
strong. Seven months, I believe, the town had been occupied by United States forces, and yet the greater
part of the people were still in the mountains; no municipal government had been established, for no one
would accept office; schools were unthought of, guerrilla warfare was rife throughout the province, and no
white man was safe one hundred yards beyond the outposts. It. is such things as these, such glimpses of
native sentiment as this, that make one believe that an army, aye, and no small one, will be necessary in
the Philippines for a generation to come. Batangas, before the last insurrection, was a rich town, the center
of-the best sugar district in Luzon, and also the largest coffee-growing district. Batangas coffee is of
excellent quality, only equaled by the Benguet product. At the time of my visit, however, most of the coffee
plantations were ruined-partly by neglect brought on by war, but principally by the visitation of an insect
which killed the trees; sugar production had been reduced by more than one-half, and the population of the
town had shrunk from twenty thousand to three thousand. While we were being driven through the
grass-grown side streets, we came upon a part which had been burned, and we asked our driver about it.

No, he said,it was not an accidental fire. The Americans had done it. What for? I inquired. I do not know,
senor, he replied. It is not possible that so many houses would be destroyed without good reasons. But it is
true, senor. All they found was one soldier lying between the houses. An American soldier ? Yes, senor.
Was he wounded? No, senor, he was not wounded. He had no head. This was by no means a joke-for the
Filipino is not given to joking-but was told us in the most grave, matter-of-fact way.

The utility of that homely, snail-like, exasperating but indispensable animal, the carabao, was clearly
exemplified in Batangas. The beasts were harnessed to rude bamboo rafts furnished with runners and
freighted with raw sugar, and driven down the river to the sea. In the shallow parts of the stream they
dragged the rafts; in the deeps they swam. Nor did they stop at the river-mouth, but continued along the
shore until they reached the landing bancas. A carabao, with only its nose and horns out of water, towing a
pile of sugar with a half-naked boy perched atop of it, who steers with a line made fast to the animal's
nose-ring, is a novel and an amusing sight. By using the riverbed instead of the poor roads, the native
brings all the powers of his amphibious beast of burden into play, and saves himself a good deal of time
and trouble. In such ways, in anything which will lighten his own labor, the Filipino is ingenuity itself.
While we lay in Batangas Harbor, the United States ship Helena and the gunboat Villalobos came in and
anchored near us. It soon became known that these two ships of war were to accompany us, and that the
expedition's first work was to take the island of Marinduque. What opposition the insurrectionists, who had
a government of their own for nearly two years, were likely to offer no one knew. It was reported, however,
that the beach near Boac, the capital, was well intrenched, and that the most determined fighters in the
island were there to be found. Toward Boac, therefore, the three vessels were headed, the Helena being in
the lead and the Villalobos following us.

The cloud-bank which at daybreak next morning darkened the east became land when the sun rose behind
it; at seven o'clock it was a tropical island teeming with vegetation, and right ahead of us lay a strip of
yellow beach with a cluster of nipa-thatched houses nestling beneath a roof of tossing cocoa-palms. By the
time the anchors of the little fleet went rattling to the bottom of the bay the line of trenches was visible, and
we could see many white-shirte'd figures scurrying about among the trees; also a solitary man on
horseback. B and C companies piled into the landing boats, there was not a little excitement, and the
burning question of the hour was, Will they fight? Before a start was made, however, a lone native came
running down to the end of the sand-spit, and, mounting an overturned banca, he took off his white trousers
(his only garment) and waved them at us. At this the hopes of the Twenty-ninth died; for, although a man
who takes off his coat may mean war, he who unbreeches himself is invariably pacific. Notwithstanding the
novel flag of truce, the landing was made according to the original plan, and a very pretty landing it was, in
spite of the fact that not a shot was fired. Led by Colonel Hardin, the men leaped from the boats as they
neared the shore, and, deploying, they took the trenches both on the flank and in the rear. Then, with a shrill
and distinctively American yell, the Stars and Stripes went up, and the rule of the insurrectos in Marinduque
was ended. It was all very pretty, but, unfortunately, as the Twentyninth said, very tame. It was neither as
exciting as a sham battle at Aldershot, nor as interesting as a comic opera, though it was suggestive of
both.

As we marched through the pretty village of Lai Lai, in the shade of a lofty palm grove, the few people who
had not fled hastily threw out little white flags, shirts, handkerchiefs, chemises, floursacks, any rag, indeed,
that was or had once been white. Except this show of fear, they made no demonstration whatever, and it
was impossible to judge from their appearance what our reception would be at Boac, which lies three
miles inland. Everywhere as we progressed we found model trenches and other evidences that a
determined resistance had been planned; but since these model trenches were empty, and the scouts and
flankers stirred up nothing more than a few grazing carabaos, it was also evident that the plans at the last
moment had been abandoned.

In all parts of the Philippines it is the same. Trenches, splendid ones, guard the seacoasts, the roads, the
towns, the river-crossings, and the mountain passes; the work that has been done in thus preparing for war
is, for these people, enormous, and at the same time ridiculous; for if they do not leave their defenses
before the enemy's approach, which is usually the case, the first American yell produces a vision of flying
shirt-tails. When one sees the magnificent opportunities the Filipinos have had, and thrown away, it quite
makes one out of patience with them. Bravery, even though it be wrongly applied, has ever in it something
admirable, but one can have nothing bu.t contempt for the man who is both a fool and a coward.

An hour's march along a road arched with glossy mangoes and nangkas, cocoa and betel palms,
bread-fruit, cacao, coffee, pomegranate, a species of citrus laden with large green spheres, and other
profitable fruit-trees, with occasional glimpses of rice-flats and hills of foliage, and sundry bursts of color
from the poincianas and hibiscus, brought us to the charming little town of Boac. At first we thought it
deserted, for the streets and the square were empty and every door and window closed; but we had hardly
come to this conclusion when we were hailed from an upper window in our own tongue and welcomed to
the town by an Englishman-the inevitable Englishman. Inevitable, because it does seem as if he were not
to be avoided. Probe into the heart of the darkest continent, land on the most desolate island, explore the
least-known region, climb the highest peak or descend the ocean depths, and an Englishman rises before
you and, in the most matter-of-fact way and with an unmistakable accent, bids you good-day. The Boac
Englishman, being of a speculative turn, had sailed over from Luzon in an open boat with $5,000 in silver
(300 Ibs.) for the purpose of buying hemp before the ports were opened. After fighting a school of sharks
en route and passing thirty-six hours without food, water, or shelter, he arrived off the beach at Lai Lai and
was at once made a prisoner. In this condition he had remained until our arrival, when he was placed in the
house of the richest native as a protector; the natives knowing well that a house with a white man in it would
neither be fired upon nor sacked. To the credit of the natives of Marinduque it must be said that, though
guarded, he was allowed to carry on his business and was not robbed of a single cent.

In the rapid search that was made of the town, a few old muzzle-loading rifles and flint-locks were found, a
great store of new bows and arrows, and an evil-looking Recoleto friar, who had been held prisoner for two
years. As soon as they could be found, messengers were dispatched to the neighboring country with
assurances of good will and promises of protection to all those who would return to their houses. The next
day the frightened inhabitants began to come in, and within three days, by means of a diplomatic
correspondence opened up between Colonel Hardin and the representatives of the so-called Filipino
Government, Martin Lardizabal, the Governor, appeared. A conference was held aboard the Helena, which
resulted in four out of five of the island towns-being peacefully surrendered. Santa Cruz, the remaining
town, was taken without opposition by Major Case, who marched across the island, while the fleet sailed
round to the same point.

While these things were going on, I had an opportunity of seeing something of Marinduque. The island
rises in the center of a number of tree-clad mountains, and is throughout a delightful jumble of vales and
peaks of surpassing greenness and beauty. Roughly speaking, it is about twenty-five miles square. It is
divided into five townships-Boac, Santa Cruz, Mogpog, Gasan, and Torrijos-and has some forty-five
thousand inhabitants, all of whom are Tagalogs, though their language is slightly mixed with Visayan and
Bicol. Unlike the Tagalogs of Luzon, however, the people are a peaceful, humble lot, submissive to
authority, and unusually diligent. They are, moreover, lighter colored and physically superior to their tribal
relatives. In many respects, indeed, Marinduque is an exceptional island. The chief product, hemp, is of a
quality unequaled in the archipelago. It is known as kilot, and is an unusually fine, white, and strong fiber,
which brings five to six dollars more per picul than ordinary hemp. Kilot is used wholly for weaving into
fabrics. Primitive hand-looms can be seen in most of the houses, and the greater part of the clothes worn
are made by the women from material woven by themselves. Marinduque also produces a fair quantity of
rice, copra (dried coconut), and arrowroot. Though the island has never been prospected for minerals, and
the natives are ignorant on the subject, it is asserted that copper, gold, and lead are to be found in the
mountains. I was shown specimens of galena which proved the existence of one large vein. Hot sulfurous
springs, which are panaceas for native ailments, exist in many parts, and petroleum, also, is said to be
present. Caves of great size are common, not only in Marinduque, but in the adjacent islands. In the group
known as the Three Kings, Gaspar is said to be undermined by one immense cavern. From the many
skeletons discovered in these caves it is generally supposed that in some former age they were used as
burial-places; and the gold fillings in the teeth of the skeletons, the gold ornaments made in the shape of a
leaf, and various kinds of pottery also found seem to point to an ancient civilization of no mean order. At
least they open up a world of speculation. The island abounds in animal and bird life-of pigeons alone
there are thirty species-and the butterflies were especially noticeable.

In the way of architecture, the most interesting thing in Marinduque is the old fortified church and convento
at Boac, which occupies the summit of a small hill in the center of the town, It was built about 1690, under
the direction of the friars, as a protection against the piratical Moros, who until within almost recent years
looked upon these outlying islands as their lawful prey. It is less than thirty years in fact, since these
sea-robbers last landed in Marinduque and looted the town of Santa Cruz. Within the massive walls of this
island fort, which was intended to be both cannon and earthquake proof, the entire population of the town
can be gathered. It is one of the most picturesque structures in the Philippines, thoroughly mediaeval in
design as well as in appearance; for the ravages of a moist, tropical climate have clothed it with a growth
of parasites, mellowed and aged it far beyond its years. The church within the walls is a fine large building
in excellent repair. Twice during my stay in Boac I slept on its fine hardwood floor, with the gaudy pyramid
of wooden images that backed the altar in front of me, a famous black Christ to my left, and on my right,
done in wax, a veritable chamber of horrors. In spite of its well-appointed church, however, Boac had been
without a priest for several months. The last incumbent, a native, had robbed the people to such an extent
that they had forcibly ejected him. Not content with the usual church fees, which in such a parish must have
been large, he instituted a system of fines, one, for instance, for coming into church late, and forced
payment by refusing to confess, absolve, or perform any religious rite until the fines were paid. He was
worse, the people said, even than the friar before him. As a punishment for this wickedness, the
Archbishop of Manila had excommunicated the whole parish; and the people, overjoyed at the freedom
thus given, then declared themselves in favor of an American minister. They said freely that they did not
care whether he was a Catholic or a Protestant or anything else so long as he could perform the baptismal,
marriage, and burial ceremonies. All whom I talked with stated that they were willing to welcome anyone
but a fraile. To this one thing, if to nothing else, the Filipino is constant-his hatred of the friars.

While riding along the sandy, palm fringed road to Gasan one morning, I noticed several men pass with
great cane pitchers hooked over their shoulders, and I asked my guide what they contained. Upon learning
that it was tuba, the common drink of the island, I expressed a wish to try it. We pulled up, therefore, at the
next house in a coconut grove, and I seated myself in the grateful shadow of the fanlike foliage, while one of
the numerous boys of the household, with a bamboo slung over his shoulder, went aloft. Grasping the trunk
of the palm with his hands and placing his feet in the notches cut in both sides of the tree, he climbed or
rather walked up a perpendicular fifty-foot bole with as little exertion, apparently, as we would have in going
up-stairs. Just below the great shining leaves' there ran from tree-top to tree-top, and thus connected the
'whole group, a double row of bamboos-the lower one to walk on, the upper to serve as a handrail. By this
means the little tuba gatherer sped from one tree to another, emptying each receiver he came to until his
own measure was full. Then he came down, and, after the flies and insects had been strained out by
means of a bunch of hemp, I had my first taste of tuba. It is not at all an unpleasant drink when fresh;
something like small-beer-a little sharp and yet sweet. Though its natural color is a milky white, it becomes
brown when a ferment is used with it. Tuba is the sap of the cocoa-palm, and is obtained by cutting off a
leaf within a foot or so of the trunk and tying a bamboo receiver on the end. In Marinduque it is customary to
place a small quantity of powdered bichi bark in the receiver, so that as the sap drips it also ferments. The
end of the cut leaf requires occasional trimming, lest the pores clog and nature should heal the wound; but
beyond this no care is necessary. The contented native sits en cuclillas (on his heels) in the shade of his
grove, chews his beloved betel, and thinks (oh! happy mortal) of nothing. Meanwhile the fruit falls to his
hand, his wife works, and free beer is always on tap.

How, I asked my host, whose name was Anastasio, how do you live? He answered nothing, but pointed
with his lips (a common Filipino fashion) to the trees above. Is it possible that you can keep a family, and I
see you have a horse as well, on so small a grove as this? You cannot have more than two hundred trees. It
is possible, senior. What sized family have you ? Nine children [he checked them off on his fingers], my
wife, my wife's sister, my son's wife and baby, and a cousin altogether fourteen. How much money do your
trees bring you in during the year ? I do not know, senor, but sufficient. And you are contented ? His little
black eyes opened with indolent surprise; then, slowly emptying his mouth of a lake of red saliva, he
inquired, Why not?

Yes, indeed, why not? His innocent question set me thinking. Two hundred coconut-trees gave Anastasio
and his large family food, drink, raiment, and shelter. His house, save for the strip bamboo floor, which he
cut from the clump across the road, was thatched and fashioned wholly from his own palms. They gave him
oil for frying and for anointing the family hair, fiber for ropes, material for petates and hats, husks for fuel,
and tuba to exchange with the fisherman for fish and to drink his own and his friends' health. The sale of the
green nuts and the copra furnished him with enough money to buy rice, hemp, and cotton for his wife's
loom, a few luxuries, and still left him a little to gamble with. Half a dozen betel palms, a few buyo vines, and
lime burned from the coral rocks of the beach gave him the materials for his indispensable chew; his salt
he evaporated from sea-water; his fowls and pigs grew fat and multiplied upon food supplied by nature; his
children needed no clothes; he and his wife little more. He had no fear of hunger, nor of thirst, nor of cold;
no weight of cares or responsibilities; no religious doubts or, for that matter, beliefs to trouble him; no hope
for better things; no fretting ambition, no restless energy to wear him out, not even a conscience. I said to
myself as I mounted my pony and rode away. Yes, indeed. Why not?

The Daily Gazette Janesville Wisconsion April 20, 1901
SOLDIER LIFE IN THE PHILIPPINES
Charles Caniff Writes of His Experience Hunt'ing Up Filipinos.

Hope for a Skirmish.

February 5.—-Well the unexpected always happens and a boat showed up January 30 with orders for
both companies to go to the island of Marinduque, a small but fertile island, but to different places. F
company going to some small island of which I do not know the name and G going to regimental
headquarters at Boac. We now have most of our baggage and rations on board' and expect to finish by
tomorrow. The ship we are loading is an old German tramp freighter and has not even a bunk in it so we
have to lie down almost anywhere when night comes. We will only have about a week aboard so I guess
we can stand it. About half of each company-being aboard to do the work, the balance being scattered
from the dock to the barracks, a distance of about three miles doing general duty, loading lighters with
rations. Most of the active insurgents are at present on the island of Marinduque, so we hope for a few
more skirmishes.

After the Filipinos.

Well, we are at last at Boac with K. company of the second and have a fine barracks in an old ' Spanish
church inside a stone fort, and situated on a high hill. Here two companies could hold off ten regiments of
infantry. The people here are smarter, better dressed and wealthier than those at Binangonan and the
place is decidedly healthier as we have had comparatively no sickness in the short time we have been
here and K company has never had to amount to anything. About three hundred infantry in the mountains
are looking for insurgents. They started from all over the island and intend to meet in the mountains
somewhere. I guess we will keep after them in this island until they are all captured or killed.

Far Better Rations.

We left company F which we have been with so long at Gason a town twelve miles up the coast from
here. The people are not only healthier here but our rations are far better Fresh beef every day, onions,
Irish potatoes and good bread, also beans and boiled fruit of all kinds; where we only got bacon and salt
horse, poor bread, evaporated spuds and bean coffee the four months we were at Binangonan. Here we
can buy eggs,for 15 cents a dozen, chickens for 15 to 20 cents each, so I guess-we will be all O. K. for a
while. We had one man wounded the other day in a skirmish, the first one to get hit at all. F company had
one killed and two wounded in battle yesterday. I guess I am too thin to hit although I seem to be able to
hit them when I get a chance to shoot one. We have the band here now so we have music every day for
two hours. We had two batches of mail in four months at Binangonan, but here we have mail at least ouce
a week. I guess I will close. With best regards to old Janesville friends and hope to shake hands with
them all some time again.

Ever yours truly,

CHARLES CANIFF,
G. Company, 2d Infantry.

P. S.—I receive the Gazette from
Janesville at least twice a week and
it is like seeing old friends from
home.

Lebanon Daily News March 19, 1901
From The Philippines Schaefferstown Mother has a letter from her soldier
son
The parents of George R Strickler, who reside at Schaefferstown, recently received the following letter
from their son, dated Jan. 7, 1901

Dear Mother: - I am sorry and almost ashamed for not writing any sooner and ask you to forgive me, but
to tell the truth I hardly had time to write as we are kept busy almost all the time. We left Paranaque Nov
28, marched to Manila, a distance of 12 miles; that night we slept on the decks. Next day we got on
board a German boat chartered by the government and lay I the bay five days: left manila Bay on the
28th, arrived at Boac Nov. 29. Boac is one of principal towns of Marinduque island, where we are at
present. We are quartered in a large stone church surrounded by a high wall. Marinduque is and island
about 25 miles long and 22 wide, and there is scarcely anything but mountains on the island. We go out
after Filipinos every week; sometimes we are out in the mountains four and five days at a time; that is
what we call a hike. The first time we went out we had one hundred men. We went across the
mountains to the other side of the island to a town called Santa Cruz. We left this place with one day’s
rations; were out three days in the mountains, two days without anything to eat. We got to Santa Cruz on
the third day and were almost starved; that was the hardest thing I ever went through in all my life and I
never want to go through anything like it again. The first night we slept on rocks in a creek between two
large mountains and the rain pouring down on us; the next morning we continued the march across the
mountains and about 4 o’clock in the afternoon we lost the trail and began creeping down a mountain
that was almost straight. We had to creep down by the roots and limbs of trees; we went down that way
for about 1,000 feet and when we got to the bottom there was nothing there but a creek and large rocks
and another mountain on the other side just as bad as the one we came down so we were hemmed in
and had to lie down on the rocks again to sleep and we were all wet and couldn’t even get wood to build
a fire and had nothing to eat. The third morning we continued the march for about one mile up the creek
then climbed the mountain again; about 10 o’clock we reached the top and came across a few houses;
the women gave us some rice and corn and we ate it raw. We kept on until about 4 o’clock when we got
to Santa Cruz where two companies are stationed. We stayed there one day; left Santa Cruz on the
morning of the fifth day and came back to Boac about 6 in the evening. It took three days to go and one
to come back, but we didn’t cross the mountains coming back. We burned about 150 houses on the trip
and killed about 200 head of cattle, many horses and carabous and got one Filipino prisoner. We didn’t
have any fighting so far, but we expect it any time. There are about 250 riflemen and about 1800 bolo
men on this island; bolo men are men armed with big knives. Just about three months before we came
here 50 men and Capt. Shields of Co. F of the 21st infantry were captured by the Filipinos; perhaps you
read about it in the papers. These people are not as ignorant as some of the Americans think, almost
all of them able to read and write, they have schools in all the small towns. I saw in the Lebanon papers
about Co. H being down to the Shenandoah coal regions on duty. I saw Paul’s name in the paper also.
Well I guess it’s all over by the time you get this letter. You asked once whether any of the boys speak
German, I should say they do, about the company are Germans of all descriptions, some are from
Lebanon, some from Lancaster, Philadelphia and from all over Pennsylvania, the United States and
Germany. There is one soldier from Lancaster by the name of Ruhl and one from Lebanon by the name
of Blseeing and one from Berks county named Gottshall. We four sit down in the evening sometimes
and talk German to beat the band, then some of the others hang around and ask us what we are talking
about. They call us Dutchmen but that don’t make any difference, we can speak English as well as they
can. I am feeling better just now than I did for the last year; I feel much better than I did in Cuba. I just
came from guard this morning. We have 52 Filipino prisoners just now; they caught thirteen more last
night. This is about the healthiest place in the Philippines, there is a large creek of fresh water running
past the place. I wish you could see the cocoanuts in this country. All we have to di is to go out and get
them, some of the mountains are covered with nothing but cocoanut trees. Well, I will have to stop for
this time, hoping that these lines will find you all well and contented. With love and respect to you all;
from your son, GEO. R. STRICKLER, Co. K. 2nd U.S. Inft., Boac, Marinduque Island, P.I.

New Albany Tribune, New Albany, Indiana August 16, 1901

Soldier’s Letter
Arch Norrington’s Impressions of the Philippines

Arch Norrington, of this city, who is a private in Company K, second United States
Infantry, now stationed on the island of Marinduque, P.I., has written a letter to his mother
in this city, portions of which will be interesting to the readers. He says:
Most of the hardest fighting now is being done on Southern Luzon Island, which is the
largest in the Philippine group. But I believe this island we are on is the roughest and has
more mountains for its size than any other. We have been over most all of them. People
in the states think it is nice to be in the Philippines, but I would rather be in old Indiana. It
is not so nice when your sleeping sound to be awakened about midnight to go on a “hike”
or in other words, a march, especially when you start with three days rations, consisting of
three pounds of bacon, hard tack and coffee, and be out in the hills and mountains for six
days, which was the case on our last march. For three days we had to live on wild sweet
potatoes. Neither is it so nice when night comes to have your clothes wet from wading
rivers and sometimes camping in a pouring rain. No its not so pleasant as one would
think.

The Philippine Islands ar nothing but a bunch of trouble gathered together on the western
horizon of civilization.

The natives of this country are very industrious. Their chief occupations being trench
building, the making of bolos and knives and the reloading of Remington cartridges. Their
sport consists mostly of cock fighting. The finest mahogany grows here that I have ever
seen. I have seen tress 6 and 7 feet through. One of them in the states would bring
$2,000 very easy.

The beast of burden in this country is the caribou. They are about as lively and active as
the proverbial snail. On a three mile journey the driver takes 10 days rations, and if the
journey is a hundred miles, the driver is in great danger of dying of old age before
reaching his destination. I used to think the long eared mule was the slowest animal in
existence but I have changed my mind since seeing the caribou travel and I believe they
are the ugliest creatures I ever looked at.

The natives live mostly on rice, they have rice stewed, rice fried, rice boiled, and rice.
The marriage of the Filipinos is very impressive, especially when the wife is given the
privilege of working as much as her husband desires. The clothing of the native consists
of a flour sack tied round their waists and anything under 12 years of age, waits until next
year for its clothing. I don’t think this country was ever intended for a white man to stop in
any longer than he could help. And I for one, will get out of it as soon as my time expires
and never stop till I strike Indiana once more. We have had several engagements since
we have been here and I have been in 3 of them. I have had the good luck not to get even
a scratch. The last scrap we were in we had one Corporal and one Private wounded.
But they are getting along all right and now are out of danger, for which we are all glad for
on of our men is worth a whole army of these black scoundrels they are fighting and don’t
know what for.

About two weeks ago we had a scrap lasting an hour and a half, but every time they
attack us we have no show at all. They are always up on the mountains, and we are
generally in the valleys or climbing up the mountains, so they can shoot right down on us.
But we will catch them napping some day. Up till last night I was out thirteen days. We
had just gotten in off a seven day “hike” one morning, that evening we started right out
again. Tomorrow is muster and we start out again tomorrow night. I think if we can get
after them once or twice more they will be willing to come in and surrender. They are
almost starved out.

The only pleasure we have over here is when we get a drove of them started over a
mountain, but they soon get out of our sight as they get over the mountains much faster
than we can, though we have the pleasure of dropping a few of them anyway.

This island we are on is only 22 miles each way and it is estimated there are 2,000
insurgents and only 450 American troops.

The chief exports from these islands are rice, sugar, and sick soldiers. The chief imports
are soldiers, ammunitions, arms, tobacco and beer.

I am yours very truly.
Private Arch Norrington
Co. K, 2nd Vol. Inf., USA Manila, PI

The Leavenworth Times, September 3, 1901
WORK OF THE FIRST INFANTRY IN THE PHILIPPINES
Regiment Has Seen Active Service Since Its Arrival
Constantly On The Move
On Arrival at Manila the Regiment Learned of the Capture of Captain Shields and Fifty-
three Men – Was transferred from One Transport to Another and Started on Rescue Trip
– Captain Getty in Command of Expedition Which Destroyed Filipino Barracks.

I must crave your pardon for my delay in mailing you the movements of this company,
since we left Leavenworth, Kan., but the fact is, we have been continually on the move
since we arrived in Manila.

We arrived at Guam Island on the morning of September 25 and anchored there just
long enough to transfer the mail, then set sail for Manila. We arrived at Manila, P.I., on
Monday morning, October1st, when we learned of the capture of Captain Shields and 52
. We were transferred from the transport Logan to the transport Sumner on Saturday
afternoon, October 6th, when we received orders to proceed to Marinduque Island, to
reinforce Company A, 20th Infantry and to re-capture the above named captain and 53
men. We sailed from Manila on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m., and arrived at Santa Cruz,
Marinduque Island on Monday morning at 8 a.m., where Company B disembarked. We
then proceeded to Tryos (Torijjos) where Companys F, G, and H disembarked. We then
proceeded to Gazan, where Companies D,E, and a detachment of Company C
disembarked, (50 men commanded by Lieutenant Pickering) then Company A, the
remainder of Company C, and headquarters, transferred from the transport Sumner to
the “Venus” (chartered by the United States).

From there we started to Boac, but a typhoon arose and we were ordered back to Santa
Cruz. In the meanwhile, General Hare (who is in command) issued an order to the
Filipinos that if they failed to deliver up their prisoners with forty-eight hours he would
destroy every town on the island. We then left Santa Cruz, for Boac, and while enroute
sighted a flag of truce at town by name “Buena Vista”. We started in and anchored and
the gunboat “Bennington” sent in a number of small boats where a few of the Filipino
officers surrendered their prisoners; Captain Shields was then taken on board the
gunboat as he was slightly wounded the rest of the men were taken aboard the “Venus”
and sent to rejoin their companies. We then proceeded to Boac, arriving there on the
morning of October 18, and had a two mile march to the town where we were quartered
in the government palace.

We started on an expedition on the morning of October 20 to destroy a Filipino barracks;
we started at 6 a.m. with a detachment of Company A, 29th volunteer infantry, and three
days rations. We crossed a stream (one of the boys counted it) 80 times. We were
traveling in a zig-zag fashion, and struck parts of the trail where the sun never shone.
We waded one river the current was so swift it was with difficulty we could keep our
footing. After crossing the streams we struck the mountains, and were climbing them for
a whole day. We had Chinamen with us acting as pack horses, they were continually
playing out, which was a God-send to us, as we were on the verge of giving out
ourselves, as we had to carry the Chinamen’s luggage when they gave out. We
managed to creep on until about 5 p.m., when Capt. Getty (who was in command of the
expedition) ordered a halt, and we camped for the night, throwing out-posts all around
the camp.

Reveille sounded at 4 a.m., and we continued on our march for the Filippino barracks.
After taking three prisoners where we halted the night before and while en route to the
barracks. One of the men in the rear guard set fire to one of the houses. After a while
one of the guides discovered that we were on the wrong trail so we turned around and
retraced our way until we came to the house which was fired, when we captured two
natives making an effort to extinguish the flames; after four or five more hours of
marching we reached the barracks but found the deserted. We then set fire to it and
started on our return march. We ran across a number of goo-goos (as we call the
natives) and fired on them, but they escaped and we arrived in town about 4 p.m. after
three days hard marching, having accomplished our mission.

On the afternoon of the 23rd of October we started on another expedition to destroy a
town (name not known), we arrived at a town by the name of Mog Pog, capturing about
100 natives. We then marched about five miles west, then for some cause unknown
retraced our way back to Mog Pog. We then drove the natives out of their huts and took
possession for the night. We started again at day break and the march was uneventful
until we reached the town and found it deserted, the natives having but just fled, as we
could see traces of recent occupation. We then destroyed the town, had dinner and
started on our return march. We arrived at Mog Pog at 3:30 p.m., and destroyed the
town, leaving the church. Then resuming our march, we arrived at headquarters about
dusk.

On the morning of October 31at a terrible storm swept the island, tearing down houses
and destroying cocoanut groves. The natives were terror-stricken, as it was the most
destructive typhoon that had swept the island for a number of years. News came to us
of serious outbreaks on Samar Island, about 300 miles south of Marinduque when we
received orders to proceed to reinforce two companies of 2nd Infantry, two companies
29th volunteers and 1st battery of artillery. We left Boac on the morning of the 9th of
November boarding the German tramp steamer Petrarch (chartered by the United
States). We started with 400 prisoners to a small town opposite Santa Cruz, where the
prisoners were turned loose. We then proceeded to Tryos (Torijjos), taking on board
companies F, G, and H, but previous to our departure the town was discovered to be in
flames. We then proceeded to Samar Island.

Charles W. Pons Company C, 1st Infantry

The Covington Republican, Covington, Indiana, November 8, 1901
The Philippines
Don Adamson, a Covington Boy Writes
An Interesting Letter
Manila, Sept. 29, 1901.

Marinduque is entirely a different island, very small, and lies near the coast of Tayabas
province. It was here, a year ago that one whole company of 29th Inft. Vols., was
captured. After their release and more campaigning the insurgents were induced to
surrender, and soon everything was peaceful.

I landed at Boac, the capital where two companies of the 30th inf. U.S. Army is
stationed. Here I found a very pretty little city. A large, magnificent church rested upon a
high hill which overlooks the town in which the soldiers are garrisoned. Marinduque has
civil government, their own governor, treasurer and secretary, police force and insular
constabulary, and American schools. Here I found a very intelligent community and
every one eager to learn the English language. There is a crowd of about forty young
ladies who go together and they all can speak English exceedingly well. The girls school
has over two hundred and the boys and equal number.

Boac is about two miles inward from the coast. From Boac I drove eighteen miles south
along the coast to Gazan, a very pretty little coast town. Here were two companies of
soldiers, but it also had local government.

About fifteen miles around the south coast is another garrisoned town called Treons
(Buena Vista). I did not go there. Near Treons is a very fine sulpher spring.
One other important town on the island is Santa Priuz (Santa Cruz), near the east coast.
Marinduque is a much favored island. It has the distinction of producing the finest hemp
in the world. It also is rich in cocoanut groves. The hills, streams and valleys contain
wealthy deposits of sulpher, iron, and gold ore, which, when developed will make the
island more important. Much fine timber is to be found among the mountains, and many
cattle are raised. Marinduque is only a few hours run from Lucena, Tayabas Province
and from Tayabas City I used to see it every day.

Don Adamson
Checker, U.S. Transportation Service.