Ware County   Letters - Military Spanish American  Sam Walker

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by 
Barbara Winge barbarawinge@yahoo.com

http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm Georgia Table of Contents:

http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/ware/military/spanish/letters/walker.txt


 THE WEEKLY MADISONIAN
 Madison, Georgia, July 6, 1900

Note:
FROM SAM WALKER IN PHILIPPINES

     MALABON P. I., May 19, ‘00
My Dear Stella (This was Sam’s sister, later Stella
Salisbury of Ware County, GA): -  I promised that the
next would be a long letter to you, I now fill my
promise.  We are now in Malsabon,  Barox.  We have lived
in tents and without tents from place to place until a
real house is almost like a home.  The barrox is a fine
stone house.  It has a mahogany floor and much hand work
that is curious and must have taken much time to
accomplish.

We have to bring water four miles in a buffalo cart for
drinking and cooking.  All of this is boiled before used.
Our buffalo is a peculiar looking specimen of the bovine
species.  His horns are four feet each, making eight
feet.  These cattle or brutes stay in the water much of
the time, and can see only the long horns and nose.

It is now the rainy season and it just pours down every
day, and we are much in it as we have guard duty on
average three times each week.  It is business over here
ever since I came; sure there is no play in this.  So you
be sure to see my girl and have it understood that on the
“same sweet day” when I return, that she will meet me at
the train and we will get married and I guess then I
shall stay at home.

It is about two months between mails, so you see how
lonely we get sometimes.  I do not get homesick, I take
Papa’s advice and never allow myself  to brood over
thoughts that lead me to think so much of friends and
home.

We have a scrap occasionally with the insurgents, I am
yet all o.k.  Some of them shoot straight, but we beat
them.

I found Charlie Newton here.  He is in the regulars and
is assigned to the hospital corpse.  He is well and all
right.  Has been sent back to Manila.  All the Morgan
county boys are well except Vanderford.  He is in the
hospital with fever, but is not seriously ill, and we
hope for his return to duty in a short while.  My health
is perfect, weigh 175, and I know that I look well for
while in Manila two months ago I look at myself in a
mirror.

Tell Percy (This was Sam’s youngest brother, who  was age
14) that I have a monk for him, and I hope to be able to
bring it to him, also one of the Philippine dogs for Jeff
(This was Sam’s  brother, who was age 17, and died 09 Jun
1901).

Tell the boys that I will write them next time. With my
love to all and kisses all round, especially to my girl. 
I am lovingly your brother, SAM

(Contributed by Sam’s Granddaughter, Barbara Walker Winge)