MANILA

The ship ultimately arrived in the picturesque harbor of Manila in the Philippine Islands. The Spanish ships sunk and half sunk lying around the bay. The American vessels riding easily at anchor, while the business of setting up a provisional military government to maintain peace and order in the area proceeded.

Apparently, Harry had little to do with that aspect of the occupation. He was busy in the repair and maintenance of the the ship’s engines, sight seeing and whatever else came to hand. On one occasion when in the area used for a shipyard, he had obtained a handful of a variety of sizes of nuts, and because of the lack of an appropriate container for them, he had, for his convenience, strung them on the fingers of both hands. Upon making the corner of the building, he came face to face with Admiral Dewey. He straightened the fingers of his right hand, the nuts dropped off and he came to an awkward salute. Dewey laughed and told Harry that it was good to see one of his Officers was not afraid to get his hands dirty.

In his spare time Harry became a souvenir hunter. Navy divers went down to the various Spanish ships on the bottom of Manila Bay and brought up a variety of items, one of which is now in my possession. It is a decorative brass item known as a “Yoke”, with a rectangular section in the middle that fits down over the rudderpost of a launch. In this case it was taken from the Spanish Admiral’s “Gig”. There is also a fragment of a “marlin spike”, which had been broken by the gun fire from the American Ships.

One day while loitering around on the ship, Harry was taking in the scenery through one of the gun’s sighting telescopes, when he observed a building that had been partially destroyed. It was well up in the hills above the city. The striking thing to him was that the windows were made of “mother of pearl”. The windows were made up of sections of a lattice like pattern. The squares of the pattern were about two and one-half to three inches in each direction. Right then he decided that he must have a sample of this native work.

Because of the social unrest resulting from the War and the problems of establishing the Military Government, none of the personnel on the ship were allowed to wear side arms when going ashore, and they were not to leave the City of Manila. However, in spite of these restrictions, Harry donned a shoulder Holster, his Navy Colt, then put a loose-fitting blouse over the whole assembly. He rendered the customary salutes to the Flag and the O.D. (Duty Officer), and left the ship.

When he got ashore, he sought out a livery stable and rented a riding horse and saddle, He then proceeded toward the house with the mother of Pearl windows.

When he found the house which was partially burned out, The floor boards on one side were burned out leaving only the beams which they had rested on. The house was of the usual native design, standing on stilts about fifteen feet high. The only approach was a notched log, which served as steps from the ground.

He dismounted, tied his horse, and climbed up the steps. As his eyes came to the level of the floor, he saw eight of the “Insurectos”, with their rifles resting across their knees. What were his options?

He was convinced that if he attempted to run, they would surely shoot him. He only had six bullets in his gun and that was safely tucked under his blouse, inaccessible. He could drop from the steps and make a run for the horse. None of these alternatives seemed appropriate.

Without hesitation, he climbed into the house, “Buenos dios senores,como se usted?” Reached in to his pocket, pulled two pieces of chewing tobacco out and cut each of them into four squares and distributed them among the men. He then told them what he had come to do.

He turned his back on the men, spread his feet between two of the beams, and walked out to a window, took his knife from his pocket and cut samples of the windows, made his way back to the floored area. He turned to his guests and said “Adios amigos”. Climbed down the stair.

He was still uncertain of the true intentions of his new friends, so, with dignified haste he made his way
to the horse and got it between the house and himself, mounted, and rode off.

Riding back to Manila, he passed through an area of high tropical grass. At some distance from him but on a course that would intersect his path, an Insurecto was making his way through the high grass. He maneuvered his horse so that he would intercept this man at a closer point. When they met, the usual “buenas dios” was exchanged. Harry observed a bulge under the loose native shirt and asked to see what it was. The man lifted his shirt and exposed a “machette” The handle was carved in the shape of a bearded man, wearing a broad brimmed hat. Silver hat band, epaulets, buttons, belt and cartridge belt, all in silver. Where the handle and the blade met, there is a band of beaded silver three-quarters of an inch wide. The graceful blade curves down to a slender point. It was carried in a form fitting scabbard of two parts.

To this young adventurer, in his mid twenties and half a world away from home, the knife appeared to be a treasure to be had. He offered the man two pesos, he refused, he offered more. It was apparent that the man did not want to sell. Finally, in desperation, Harry pulled the Colt out and offered it to the man, butt forward, when the knife and scabbard were in his possession, the gun spun around his finger and was pointed at the “Insurrecto”. The gun was holstered immediately, a half dozen pesos were dropped and the ride to Manila continued.

I have the knife here now. The shoulder straps are gone, the leather is worn and deteriorating with age, much of the silver has been lost down through the years. For a long time, as a child I knew that the silver parts were wrapped in a little piece of brown paper. Now long lost.

At some time during Harry’s Pacific experience, he was crossing the deck of the ship, when a heave of the ship and a wave threw him across the deck and under a lifeboat, breaking his collar bone. He spent many agonizing days lying in his bunk as the ship rolled and pitched in the storm. He could feel the broken ends of the bone grinding together as the ship moved his body when it rolled and pitched. This got him a trip to the Queen’s Hospital in Hawaii. While recuperating, he enjoyed some of the social life of that area.

He returned to the Fleet, and pursued his duties there. At some point, Dewey sent word through the Fleet that he needed an engineer familiar with refrigeration. When Harry heard this he found books on the subject and boned up on refrigeration. Then he presented himself to Dewey. He was then transferred to the “Culgoa”.