I am forwarding this in case it might be of interest to someone on this list. I have no further information on this person. Flavia > The Free Lance > Hollister, CA > 30 Sep 1898 > ************** > > Letter from Manila -- > Dear Mother -- We left Honolulu on Aug. 4th and got here on Aug. 23rd. > Cavite is a small town about 5 miles from Manila in a direct line and > about 35 miles around by land. It is very hot here, and the mosquitoes > dont do a thing but eat a fellow up. They are thick as flies. The > natives are mean, and when we are on guard at night we have to keep > shooting at them all the time. They go out to the ships that DEWEY sank > to steal copper from the wrecks, or anything else they can lay their > hands on. We have lots of fun shooting at them to scare them away. We > have taken charge of the forts that DEWEY captured. It is wonderfully > interesting to view the thorough manner in which those Spanish ships were > done up, and the forts too. The natives give us a great deal of trouble. > They do all their fighting at night, but come around in the daytime as > friendly as can be. They have to be watched very closely. From what I can > learn Manila is a very pretty place. A person can see in this land many > queer and interesting sights. Emmet left Honolulu a day before we did, > and after 5 days we passed them, and they will not get here until the > 25th or 26th of this month. As the war with Spain is over he will miss > any fighting at present, but I expect to see lots of trouble yet with the > natives. They have captured the water supply, and we have given them > until today to turn the water on again. They have had the water shut off > for over 2 days. The natives have many Spanish prisoners, and it is a > dreadful sight to see them, as they are starving them to death. This life > is no picnic. A fellow has a great deal to go through. There is no fun in > it at all. Give my regards to all inquiring friends. I am getting along > all right, and reserve further particulars regarding my experiences until > I get home. I have received no word from home yet. Hoping this will find > you all enjoying good health, I remain, your loving son, > Frank W. HODGES >