The following very graphic personal narrative is from a letter written by an officer living on a steamer chartered by the U.S. Government, lying in Manila Bay Speaking briefly of the hostilities still going on about Manila between the Ame-neons and Philippine insurgents, from the beginning we have witnessed and heard most of the firing, only lately the American have driven' them so far back, that only the very distant report of field-piece: can be heard and fires seen in the distant towns, for they are burning up all the bamboo shacks as they go along and thera has not been aday or night since it first started that one could not count from one. toa dozen fires, and lately there have been several very large ones inside of Manila, mostly set by the insurgents, as they have threatened to lay the whole of Manila in ashes, and I should not be at all surprised. When this first commenced from ubout midnight on the 4th of February, up to dark on the 5th, the roar of the heavy guns of the Monadnock, Concord, and Charleston was something terrific, as they pumped their shells into the insurgent camps, and from all reports, they must have caused havoc and sent many a nigger to the happy hunting grounds beyond; poor devils! I can't help sympathizing with them, even if it is our own people against them) for during my trip into the inter rior when I first came down here, I must say I found them hospitable in the extreme, even to the wild tribes of savages we encountered while up in the mountains the only thing they appeared to object to was our penetrating their lands where to all appearances vold and other valuable minerals are to "be funnd, and I firmly believe there is plenty right here in Luzon, to nothing about the surrounding islands of this same group.
Well, we could also hear volley after volley of musketry and see the smoke from the same as it rose over the bushes and jungle, and we watched the progress of the American troops as they drove the surgents from their trenches back into the country; and this has been kept up day after day ever since, with only brief intervals.
Up to date, from oficial reports, the estimated number killed on the American side is something under one hundred, with between four and five hundred wounded, while on the insurgents' side there are no end of different reports, but it must be several thousand killed; wounded unknown ud it's not likely to ever be known. The ones killed on the American side have been mostly picked off by sharp-shouters away from their companies, being mostly hid in trees, houses, huts and every out-of-the-way plice they could hide in, and, using smokeless powder as they have been doing, it was no easy matter to locate them. learned this myself, personally, without taking it from some one else the last time I was ashore, first of last week. I was some of the Naval officers, and a friend of theirs in business in Manila me vited us to go out to the lines in his carriage to view the scene of battle on the previous day, which was then over some tive miles outside the city i The scene of warfare way plainly visible on all sides, Yet for two miles not a soul was Only one of the U. S. Hospital gous passed us going into Manil with two wounded sih We could see the smoke as it x skyward over the trees and bushes ahead of us and the reports of musketry were plainly heard now, as a fresh attack had just been made and it was at this stage of our sight-seeing that commenced to feel lively, as Mauser bullets were dropping about us like hailstones in a winter squall. And our host's coachman refused to proceed any further, saying if the insurgents should see him they would kill "him on sight. He as a Filipino, but pretended to be amigo (friend). As to killing him, guess they would have drawn a bead' on us as well, for it was only about an hour after this that it was proved. Well, the three of us left the carriage and went on foot, and shortly came up to where reserve company of American soldiers were standing by their arms awaiting orders to go on to the front. After an. exchange of salutes and a brief yarn with the officer in command, for both of my companions were personally acquainted with him, we passe! off to the right into what had been a paddy field, but was now dry, at the officer's suggestion to view what had been the insurgents' trenches, and one of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.