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Tuesday, June 13th 1899

Cavite, Luzon Island – Entry made in parlor of No. 2 Calle Santa Elena, Manila

Hot sun shining thro’ the clouds at intervals. No rain. Breeze at times. Up early. Read a chapter in Deuteronomy then prayed & prepared for a trip to Cavite. Took 3 Salvation Army publications along. Walked leisurely down to the ferry boat without waiting for breakfast. On the bay saw the Oregonians being towed in cascoes to their steamers. They are embarking for home.

When nearing Cavite saw white smoke floating away from the U.S. war vessels. They were bombarding the Filipinos on [Bakor]bay, between Paranaque and Cavite Viejo. When I landed in Cavite straightway made for a Filipino barber shop on Calle Real & got shaved 20 cts. Mex. Then dropped in to Mr. W.B. Silver’s grocery – saloon – restaurant & called for breakfast. The Lord gave me opportunity to talk to salvation to a 10thPennsylvania soldier & to urge Private Joe [Bergvin] of A Battery 1st California Heavy Artillery (Vol.) to return to Christ. Bergvin is a backslider Salvationist. Smoked & drank in my presence. Silver would take no pay for the breakfast – 2 eggs fried, coffee, butter & biscuits.

Breakfast over struck down the street – Calle Real. Hearing the boom of cannon & seeing soldiers hurrying down to the water’s edge facing the [_____] bay I followed them & until 11.30 watched the American war vessels bombard until the Filipinos along the shore. The monitor Monterey (flagship for the attacking boats) cruisers Helena and gunboats “Princeton” and “Calao” did the heavy firing. One or two launches hugged the shore & peppered the coast. The bombardment was still in progress when I sped homeward on the U.S. Gov’t ferry “Leyte” at 2.30 p.m.

The raw was started by the Filipinos firing across the bay at the U.S. arsenal which it is claimed they hit; also afterwards the gunboat “Calao”. Their cannon was silenced. While I was watching the bombardment a U.S. officer & a man dressed in white came up & requested permission to stand under the shade of my umbrella. Permission was granted.

The man in white told the officer that 40% of the American soldiers wilted last Saturday under the heat, when making the attack on the Filipinos on the South line.

Leaving the vicinity of the ice house quay & neat went to the extreme edge of the arsenal or navy yard landing. Took several Kodak snap shots of bombardment.

Dropped in at the Naval Hospital. Talked to some patients about salvation. Steward  box received me kindly. I gave him 3 papers (S.A.) for the sick men. Time about 11.45. Cox invited me to take dinner with him. Accepted invitation. He put my cap, umbrella & camera in the office. A Chinese waiter. Cox, myself, a sailor & the sick steward I spoke to on my last visit about Jesus, present at the table. I said grace before eating. After dinner visited more patients up stairs when said good-bye. Cox invited me to come again.

Called at Regimental Headquarters of 10thPenn. & was granted free pass on Gov’t ferry boat to Manila. Called next at the General Hospital to visit Bro. Hans Verwiebe. Kneeling down in the corridor of the basement he & I prayed together. Has been sick. Bro. Andrew Smith, nurse came in. Greeting & salvation talk. Advised the comrades to try win souls to Jesus in the hospital.

Arrived in Manila about 3.15 Saw more of the bombardment as I crossed the bay. About 4.30 Rev. Owens & myself took Jolo street car to post office where the clerk handed me several S.A. publications & a letter from Ensign Ringle at Red Bluff Cal. making inquiring for a missing man.

In the Naval Hospital, Cavite, Steward Cox, imparted the news to me, that the Cubans have declared war against the United States. News came by cable. I wondered if this event would have any bearing upon my future. Another scene came back to memory. In the Library & Post office (which are one) in the little out of-the-way Arizona mining camp, near the line of old Mexico, I heard almost incredulously that the Spaniards had blown up the the “Maine” in Hawaii harbor. The crime eventually in its far-reaching influences sent me to the Philippines, where I am now.

The smell of carbolic acid was strong at No. 2 & U.S. soldiers were cleaning the ditch across the street. One case of cholera is reported in the city.

Read some papers. Cooked supper.