Berkeley High School - Olla Podrida Yearbook (Berkeley, CA)

Page 7 text:

OLLA PODEIDA VOL. 8 BERKELEY, CAL., DECEMBER 19, 1901 NO. 7 DicK ' s CKristmas Box It was Christmas Eve in the little native village of Tagioba on the island of Samar, one of the now famous Philippine Islands. The fires before the tents of Company E, Ninth In- fantry, gleamed brightly through the darkness like the eyes of timber-wolves seen in the for- est. Wierd, foreboding shadows were cast on the white canvass, resembling frightful fiends of the night, dancing with glee at some thought of coming evil. Around a few miserable fires, squatted the native villagers, while in the dark shadows of the palm-thatched huts of the Fili- pinos could be seen others, standing sullenly and silently. But no women or children could be seen; which was a suspicious fact, because they were always in evidence. The gloom was deeper than usual in the village, for the sky was overcast with heavy, black clouds, foretelling a tropical shower. Besides the air was oppressive, though swarms of insects made the fires a vital necessity. Cheery talk came from the American quar- ters, with now and then snatches of the popu- lar songs. The boys were joyful at the thought of a Christmas holiday and the pack- ages of love from home — the home they had not seen for a year. These precious pack- ages lay in their tents, some opened and some unopened waiting for their owners to return from a scouting expedition. All were happy and cheerful, yet a few had sad faces because of bad news from home. However, on the other hand, there was little of the Christmas spirit among the Filipinos — no merriment, no happy feelings, and no peaceful thoughts for tomorrow. In an officer ' s tent to the right of the privates, sat Dick Parkman, second lieutenant of the company, and Jack Stone, first sergeant. Dick Parkman was a tall, fair-haired young man of twenty, with honest, frank blue eyes. He was a graduate of a San Francisco High School, as also his chum. Jack Stone, a short, dark-haired youth of nineteen with mischiev- ous, black eyes. Both were rather young to hold such high positions but their coolness and bravery in time of battle had earned them their just promotion. Both were intensely patriotic, and would sacrifice all — even life — to avenge an insult or dishonor to their country ' s flag. Jack ' s box from home had already been opened, and its contents enjoyed. Dick ' s lay still unopened, for each was thinking of his home, so far away. Say, Dick, said Jack, what would the folks at home think of December 24th being Awarded first prize in the prize story contest for this edition.

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4 ADVERTISEMENTS ROAST COFFEES « « « M. J. BRANDENSTEIN CO., San Francisco, beg to call the attention of the trade to the fact that they have now erected the most modern and complete Roast Coffee Plant on the Pacific Coast, and are the only large importers on the Coast who roast their own Coffees We invite the trade to inspect our premises.

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6 THE OLL A PODR1DA ninety-five degrees in the shade? If they could only see the ripe mangoes, bananas, cocoanuts, and all the other fruits hanging from the trees! It would make them open their eyes, I can tell you! ' ' You befit would, Jack! Still give me a Christmas at home, and I will be contented with the winter climate of Frisco. Well I guess yes! But if only Irene and Helen could spend tomorrow with us, it would be a pleasant Christmas for us. It would be fine, yet, if the Tagals should take a notion to do some rampaging around, it would be terrible for us with them here, ex- posed to all the dangers of capture and even death, perhaps by torture. However, I hope the Tagals will keep quiet tomorrow so that our men will have a peaceful holiday of rest. It would make it seem more like Christmas, still what would I not give to spend tomorrow with the folks! Silence followed, each being busy with thoughts of the loved ones at home. As Dick was thinking of the Christmas at home, the scene seemed to change before his eyes. The camp-fire became a bright, roaring wood fire in a wide, open grate, the tent, a large, cheer- ful room, trimmed with holly and brilliantly lighted. In one corner, he seemed to see the great Christmas tree, burdened with its load of joy, surrounded by his brothers and sisters, who were eagerly guessing what secrets it might reveal later in the evening. The small camp shelf became a great table trembling and quaking beneath its load of Christmas goodies. Then Dick seemed to see his father take his place at the head of the table and ask a bless- ing, while the many guests and the bright- faced children took their seats along the sides. Then he could see the Father Turkey brought in, and then followed merriment for all, save his mother, who glanced sadly at a vacant chair at the foot — his place. Then he sees the Christmas tree expand into a garden of beauty, with its wealth of candles and — suddenly Dick was startled from his deep rev- erie by a fierce Tagal yell of war, and the rattle of musket shots. Yell upon yell followed, intermingled with the crack of the Kreg-Jor- gorsens, and the ping of the mausers. Finally a louder Tagal yell of triumph was heard, then all was silent. The Tagals of the surrounding v illages had banded themselves together to capture the hated Americans, while part of the force was away. They had planned to do this treacher- ous deed on Christmas Eve — a time of peace, not war. After nightfall they had gathered in the forest back of the American camp, several h.undred strong. Scarcely forty men could be found in the Co. The Tagaioban villagers had been stealthily approaching the sentinels all the evening. As the unsuspecting sentinels were pacing to and fro, thinking of home, long arms shot out of the darkness and in the twinkling of an eye, they were bound and gagged. Then the Filipinos, gathering all their strength, swept down upon the unpre- pared Americans like a mountain torrent upon the summer reeds. The ambushed Americans, though they fought bravely, were captured and confined in a large, open space, surrounded by guards. Strange to say, no Americans were killed though several were wounded. Meanwhile, what had become of Dick and Jack? As the first Tagal yell broke out upon the night air, Dick ' s tent flap was rudely torn open and nearly twenty Filipinos crowded in the tent. Dick and Jack sprang to their feet, determined to fight stoutly for their freedom, but before they could even raise a hand, they were hastily bound, though not as tight as the others, for the natives felt a contempt for such young soldiers. Jack was led off in one direc- tion to a distant hut, while Dick was led past the captive soldiers and was thrown into an ill-smelling, dark hut upon a pile of dirty rice mats. Left in the darkness, Dick could hear the insects as they crawled about, while now and then he could hear the peculiar clicking noise made by a scorpion on his rambles. Two Tagals soon entered the hut with a torch, which they fastene d to the wall, and their arms, consisting of two old rifles and two bolo knives. They had with them Dick ' s box,