Lake-Pitkin County CO Archives News.....SOLDIER LIFE AT MANILA December 3, 1898
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Jo Frederiksen jofrederiksen@yahoo.com March 10, 2014, 10:20 am

Rocky Mountain Sun - December 03, 1898 December 3, 1898
Rocky Mountain Sun (Aspen, Pitkin County) - Saturday, December 03, 1898

Many old-time Aspenites will remember John P. Harlan, "Curly Jack" as he was 
familiarly known, who several years ago was assayer at the Montezuma mine. Mr. 
Harlan has seen something of the world since leaving the camp. He went to 
British Columbia, among other places, and it was while he was there that he 
heard of the opening of hostilities between Uncle Sam and the dons. He was 
about to return to the states and upon reaching San Francisco he enlisted in 
the South Dakota regiment which was at that time recruiting, and is now with 
General Otis' command in Manila.

Mr. Harlan's mother, Mrs. G. W. Harlan, of Lancaster, Pa., who is visiting her 
son-in-law, E. R. Willey, recently received the following letter from her 
soldier son, which THE TRIBUNE is permitted to publish:

MANILA, P.I., Oct. 7, 1898;

My Dear Mother - I will pen thee a few lines to inform thee that I am still 
alive and enjoying the best of health.  There is a great deal of sickness among 
the soldiers, but thanks to a strong physical condition and good care, through 
my own actions, I have not missed one hour of duty nor a roll-call. Stomach 
complaint is the general failing. But I notice that those addicted to strong 
drink are the ones mostly affected. There are several cases of small pox and 
cholera. Malarial fever catches most of them. Not many are dying, but a few 
each day are being buried. We buried two boys from our company, and sixteen are 
on the sick list but none are serious in the least.

Since I wrote thee last at Cavite, we were moved to Manila on the 10th of 
September. There was a rumor of disarming the natives and we thought that we 
might have to go into action against them, but it blew over and everything is 
quiet and peaceable here now. When I first landed at Cavite I made the 
assertion that we (the South Dakota volunteers) would never fire a gun in anger 
against an enemy and we never will. All the talk now among the boys is of 
getting home. Nearly everyone is homesick and I don't blame the privates. To be 
a soldier in time of peace is something unendurable to an ambitious person. 
Most of the officers would like to stay longer as, of course, many are making 
more that they ever did before and get it very easily, too. It is a veritable 
prison to me. I am leading a lazy, inactive life. There is little to do and 
much less one cares to do in this climate. In many ways I have enjoyed myself 
more or less, but on the whole the "game is not worth the chase." I shall be 
very glad when it is over with. I have diverted my mind largely by studying the 
Spanish language. I am getting along very well. I can read quite well and 
converse a little. I have a small history of Spain and the Philippine Islands 
which I take much pleasure in reading. I also have a Spanish geography, and by 
being able to read Spanish I get a good deal of knowledge in regard to the 
islands.

When I am tired of loafing around the barracks, I dress myself up and go about 
town conversing with the Spanish and Filipinos. My attire is quite swell: I 
have a white Nubian cap, a black silk shirt, pure white pants, black patent 
leather shoes and a black belt in which I carry my money and gold watch and 
chain. In this attire and with my watch chain dangling, and carrying a dark 
rosewood cane, I strut along the street attracting much attention.

White clothing is the prevailing dress for both men and women. The soldiers 
wear white on dress parade. One's white clothing doesn't cost much, keeping 
them clean costs the most. Still our washing is cheap enough; it costs 5 cents 
for a pair of pants, 5 cents for a coat, 5 cents for an overshirt, 2 1/2 cents 
for an undershirt, 2 1/2 for a pair of drawers, and 1 cent for a pair of socks. 
I bathe regularly every day. I lay it to this for my good health. The rules 
require us to bathe daily but the most of the boys neglect it.

Manila is not a town an American would care to live in. It is too Spanish and 
there is not the opportunity to do well as one would wish. Since the American 
soldiers have come here though it has been a lively place and the Spaniards 
have seen more money than they ever did before. Our advent has caused a perfect 
avalanche of business and success for them. They surely would hate to see the 
Americans leave. The Spanish soldiers say, as a rule, that they had rather be 
American prisoners than Spanish soldiers. Why shouldn't they? They are much 
better fed and treated.

I am afraid that the United States did not acquire much when it took the island 
of Luzon. Still the soil is here and a fine climate for all kinds of tropical 
products, and when backed by money and enterprise this island could be made a 
veritable paradise. Just as it now is it does not amount to much. Everything by 
way of industry has gone down - fruit, vegetables and live stock is left 
entirely to natural selection and consequently has deteriorated in quality. 
There is a large part of the interior of which little or nothing is known. The 
people are more or less indolent. The Spaniards have domineered over the native 
Filipinos, and compelled them to labor for little or nothing. No one seems to 
have taken any intelligent interest in the industrial advancement of the 
island. I am afraid the Americans may be affected in the same way. It is in the 
climate. Still if taken hold of properly the island may be brought to the 
front. There is a different atmosphere of push in the Hawaiian islands, which 
takes one home, and is due to American influence.

I have as yet been unable to get a permit to go into the interior prospecting. 
I will try that beloved colonel of ours. I have tried the major but he tries to 
make me think that it is impossible to go, on account of the danger from 
Negritos, who are cannibals in disposition. But I will take my chances, if I 
can only get out.


JOHN P. HARLAN, Private Company M, South Dakota Volunteers.

Additional Comments:
Transcribed as published in 1898, with the exception of Mrs. E. W. Harlan was 
changed to Mrs. G.W. Harlan. Emma was the widow of George W. Harlan, my great 
great-grandfather. John P. is my great-grandfather.

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