Foreword
The marker in the photograph is inscribed on both sides. The inscription on the other side of this marker is for William Gray, Company A, 16th US Infantry. Both men were in the same unit and both were killed in the same incident. Both bodies were returned to San Francisco on board the "Logan", July 8, 1902. Both are in the same grave. What follows are a series of newspaper articles describing Alva Feagan's entry into service and the incident that ended his life as well as that of William Gray.
The Alma Enterprise (Alma, Kansas), 19 May 1899, Friday • Page 8
Alva Feagans left last week and the next thing his folks and friends heard was that he had enlisted in Co. A. of the 16th U.S. Infantry at Ft. Leavenworth. He will make a good soldier.
The Alma Enterprise (Alma, Kansas), 2 Jun 1899, Friday • Page 8
"Tim" Feagans to Manila.
Sergeant Lee McComb has been acting as a recruiting officer at Ft. Leavenworth the past sixty days and wrote us Friday as follows: "The 16th infantry left here yesterday for Manila. Enlisted an Alma boy the other day for 16th infantry — Alva Feagans. He is off for Manila happy as a lark and will make a good soldier. In the past sixty days have enlisted 242 men for 16th infantry, mostly "Jayhawkers."
The Alma Enterprise (Alma, Kansas), 3 May 1901, Friday, Page 8
Alva Feagans Lost.
The following is from a letter written by Carl Rice of Manhattan and published in last week's Nationalist. It was written Feb. 26th and will be read with interest by Alma people:
"All the available troops in this place have been out since the 14th. Company A left on that date with a pack train, but we got lost in the dense jungle and accomplished nothing. The scouts had no better luck. When we came back I was sent with a wagon train to Canayau, and just came back yesterday.
"Cornpany A lost two men on the 14th, Privates Alva Feagans and Wm. Gray. They were scouting with one companion near [Cordon]. One man escaped but, Feagans and Gray were set upon in the long grass and were either boloed on the spot or carried away to the mountains. The country was scouted as well as the wild jungles and mountains would permit, but no trace of our comrades was found.
"Feagans was one of the most popular boys of company A. He lived in Alma, Wabaunsee county, and was known to many Manhattan people. He always wanted to go scouting and at the time had been out nearly two months. We are all hoping that the boys will show up again, and they may but chances are against them."
The Alma Enterprise (Alma, Kansas), 24 May 1901, Friday • Page 8
ALVA FEAGANS DEAD.
The Rumors of a Month Ago Prove Only Too True.
Wm. Feagans received word Wednesday of the sad death of his son, Alva, on February 13th, who was in Co. A, 16th U. S. Inf., doing service in the Philippines. Official notice was sent by Capt. George E. French of Co. A, 16th Inf.
The following letter is from Corp. Carl Rice, a Manhattan boy, who was with Alva:
ECHAGUE, P.I., March 21, 1901.
MR. WM. FEAGANS:
Dear sir. --- Although the adjutant general has no doubt informed you of
the sad death of your brave son, Alva Feagans, I deem it my duty as a close friend and comrade of your brave boy, to write you more explicitly concerning the sad misfortune which robbed you of a noble son and our country of a gallant soldier.
On February 12, 1901, Alva, with ten others, under command of Lieut. C. W. Weeks, left Echague for Solano, their purpose being to establish schools in the various towns of the province.
On the 13th the detachment was in Cordon, a small town about 12 miles from Echague. Alva, with privates [William] Gray and [Theodore] Alexander, were sent out to secure horses for the rnarch over the mountains. Near the ranch of San Pedro, about four miles from Cordon, they were ambushed by insurgents, Alva and Gray being killed, Alexander escaping and bringing the news to Cordon. All the available troops were sent out, at once to the scene of conflict. Many natives were killed, the leaders captured and all the villages around Cordon burned.
The bodies were recovered and buried with military honors at Cordon. Sometime in the future the remains will be transferred to the homes in the states, as are the remains of all soldiers who die in this far-away land. Sir; our country's heroes are numerous and their deeds of bravery and self-sacrifice are unsurpassed, but none, whether they died leading a gallant, charge or suffered a lingering death at the hands of savage foes, displayed more heroism, fortitude and love of country than did Alva Feagans and Wm. Gray.
Captain Gilmer, 40th Inf., in command of the troops of Cordon says: "Never in the history of this war was greater bravery displayed than by these two men; any officer can feel proud to have such in his command."
For nearly two years had he withstood the hardships and privations of this war and on all occasions was alert and cheerful, ever ready to go where duty called him.
His kind face and pleasant ways are missed by all, but he has left behind many pleasant memories and an example to be looked up to by all. We, his friends and comrades, extend to you our heartfelt sympathy in this hour of your great bereavement. May the Power who controls our destiny give you and yours strength to bear this great sorrow. * * * I have endeavored to express the esteem which we all hold toward Alva and our sympathy to his relatives and other loved ones at home, but my command of the pen is insufficient. Perhaps some day, if the fortunes of war allow me to return, I may be able to express myself more clearly and enable you to better understand our feelings toward your gallant son.
Extending to you my most, sincere sympathy, I remain, yours very respectfully,
CORPORAL CARL E. RICE,
Co. A, 16th U. S. Inf.
The Eskridge Tribune-Star and Eskridge Independent (Eskridge, Kansas) 23 Sep 1904, Friday • Page 3
At the McFarland meeting, Tuesday, by accident, H.C. Ericsson, Republican candidate for sheriff, and Isaac Feagans of Wabaunsee township, engaged in conversation and the name Feagans brought, back to the recesses of Ericsson's memory the fact that he had a comrade in the Philippine Islands during the Philippino war by the same name and whose remains he (Ericsson) had carried from the place where he had been put to death after his capture to the place of his burial. Alva Feagans and a young man named Gray from in or near Manhattan, after their capture were tortured three days before were put out of their misery, as the natives related the story when the bodies were found. Isaac Feagans was Alva's uncle.
The Alma Enterprise (Alma, Kansas), 30 Sep 1904, Friday, Page 4
An Interesting Story.
H.C. Ericsson, the Republican candidate for sheriff, was the soldier who found the body of Alva Feagans, the Alma boy who was killed in the Philippines in 1901.
It is a mighty interesting story to hear him tell of the death of Feagans and [Gray], the ten days search for their bodies, how the Filipino insurgent mayor was tortured to compel him to tell where the poor boys' bodies were hidden, and the awful vengeance that was visited on the brown men when the soldiers realized the terrible tortures and death that had befallen their unfortunate comrades. That such horrible torture could be devised and executed even by savages is almost past belief. Alva was tortured for three days before he died. After his death, his body was hidden in the jungle where a man had to crawl several rods on his hands and knees to reach him. Ericsson was the one who brought him out after several others had tried and failed. The boys were killed in a supposedly friendly town, one where the U. S. government had appointed the mayor and allowed them to select their own city government. But it turned out that the mayor and all were insurgents and traitors. A brief amount of sweating and spanking induced the mayor to confess, tell who had committed the murder and where the bodies were hidden.
The mayor and the 12 directly implicated were then arrested, tried and shot. But this was but a small part of the terrible punishment inflicted on the savages by the infuriated soldier boys, whose indignation when they learned the fate of their two comrades knew no bounds. Their officers were powerless to restrain them. The town was burned and about 250 grown Filipino men paid the penalty of their awful deed with their lives.
Notes
1. Pvt. Feagans was the son of William M. Feagans (OH), and (most likely) Mary Francis (Paris) Feagans.
2. It is a mystery how Herman Carl Ericsson came to have a role in this incident. Although he had been in the Army, his enlistment record indicates that he had been discharged in Puerto Rico in April of 1899. And, as late as July of 1900, just seven months before the incident, he was on record in the census and the local newspaper as saying that he was working for the government as a blacksmith in Puerto Rico.
The marker in the photograph is inscribed on both sides. The inscription on the other side of this marker is for William Gray, Company A, 16th US Infantry. Both men were in the same unit and both were killed in the same incident. Both bodies were returned to San Francisco on board the "Logan", July 8, 1902. Both are in the same grave. What follows are a series of newspaper articles describing Alva Feagan's entry into service and the incident that ended his life as well as that of William Gray.
The Alma Enterprise (Alma, Kansas), 19 May 1899, Friday • Page 8
Alva Feagans left last week and the next thing his folks and friends heard was that he had enlisted in Co. A. of the 16th U.S. Infantry at Ft. Leavenworth. He will make a good soldier.
The Alma Enterprise (Alma, Kansas), 2 Jun 1899, Friday • Page 8
"Tim" Feagans to Manila.
Sergeant Lee McComb has been acting as a recruiting officer at Ft. Leavenworth the past sixty days and wrote us Friday as follows: "The 16th infantry left here yesterday for Manila. Enlisted an Alma boy the other day for 16th infantry — Alva Feagans. He is off for Manila happy as a lark and will make a good soldier. In the past sixty days have enlisted 242 men for 16th infantry, mostly "Jayhawkers."
The Alma Enterprise (Alma, Kansas), 3 May 1901, Friday, Page 8
Alva Feagans Lost.
The following is from a letter written by Carl Rice of Manhattan and published in last week's Nationalist. It was written Feb. 26th and will be read with interest by Alma people:
"All the available troops in this place have been out since the 14th. Company A left on that date with a pack train, but we got lost in the dense jungle and accomplished nothing. The scouts had no better luck. When we came back I was sent with a wagon train to Canayau, and just came back yesterday.
"Cornpany A lost two men on the 14th, Privates Alva Feagans and Wm. Gray. They were scouting with one companion near [Cordon]. One man escaped but, Feagans and Gray were set upon in the long grass and were either boloed on the spot or carried away to the mountains. The country was scouted as well as the wild jungles and mountains would permit, but no trace of our comrades was found.
"Feagans was one of the most popular boys of company A. He lived in Alma, Wabaunsee county, and was known to many Manhattan people. He always wanted to go scouting and at the time had been out nearly two months. We are all hoping that the boys will show up again, and they may but chances are against them."
The Alma Enterprise (Alma, Kansas), 24 May 1901, Friday • Page 8
ALVA FEAGANS DEAD.
The Rumors of a Month Ago Prove Only Too True.
Wm. Feagans received word Wednesday of the sad death of his son, Alva, on February 13th, who was in Co. A, 16th U. S. Inf., doing service in the Philippines. Official notice was sent by Capt. George E. French of Co. A, 16th Inf.
The following letter is from Corp. Carl Rice, a Manhattan boy, who was with Alva:
ECHAGUE, P.I., March 21, 1901.
MR. WM. FEAGANS:
Dear sir. --- Although the adjutant general has no doubt informed you of
the sad death of your brave son, Alva Feagans, I deem it my duty as a close friend and comrade of your brave boy, to write you more explicitly concerning the sad misfortune which robbed you of a noble son and our country of a gallant soldier.
On February 12, 1901, Alva, with ten others, under command of Lieut. C. W. Weeks, left Echague for Solano, their purpose being to establish schools in the various towns of the province.
On the 13th the detachment was in Cordon, a small town about 12 miles from Echague. Alva, with privates [William] Gray and [Theodore] Alexander, were sent out to secure horses for the rnarch over the mountains. Near the ranch of San Pedro, about four miles from Cordon, they were ambushed by insurgents, Alva and Gray being killed, Alexander escaping and bringing the news to Cordon. All the available troops were sent out, at once to the scene of conflict. Many natives were killed, the leaders captured and all the villages around Cordon burned.
The bodies were recovered and buried with military honors at Cordon. Sometime in the future the remains will be transferred to the homes in the states, as are the remains of all soldiers who die in this far-away land. Sir; our country's heroes are numerous and their deeds of bravery and self-sacrifice are unsurpassed, but none, whether they died leading a gallant, charge or suffered a lingering death at the hands of savage foes, displayed more heroism, fortitude and love of country than did Alva Feagans and Wm. Gray.
Captain Gilmer, 40th Inf., in command of the troops of Cordon says: "Never in the history of this war was greater bravery displayed than by these two men; any officer can feel proud to have such in his command."
For nearly two years had he withstood the hardships and privations of this war and on all occasions was alert and cheerful, ever ready to go where duty called him.
His kind face and pleasant ways are missed by all, but he has left behind many pleasant memories and an example to be looked up to by all. We, his friends and comrades, extend to you our heartfelt sympathy in this hour of your great bereavement. May the Power who controls our destiny give you and yours strength to bear this great sorrow. * * * I have endeavored to express the esteem which we all hold toward Alva and our sympathy to his relatives and other loved ones at home, but my command of the pen is insufficient. Perhaps some day, if the fortunes of war allow me to return, I may be able to express myself more clearly and enable you to better understand our feelings toward your gallant son.
Extending to you my most, sincere sympathy, I remain, yours very respectfully,
CORPORAL CARL E. RICE,
Co. A, 16th U. S. Inf.
The Eskridge Tribune-Star and Eskridge Independent (Eskridge, Kansas) 23 Sep 1904, Friday • Page 3
At the McFarland meeting, Tuesday, by accident, H.C. Ericsson, Republican candidate for sheriff, and Isaac Feagans of Wabaunsee township, engaged in conversation and the name Feagans brought, back to the recesses of Ericsson's memory the fact that he had a comrade in the Philippine Islands during the Philippino war by the same name and whose remains he (Ericsson) had carried from the place where he had been put to death after his capture to the place of his burial. Alva Feagans and a young man named Gray from in or near Manhattan, after their capture were tortured three days before were put out of their misery, as the natives related the story when the bodies were found. Isaac Feagans was Alva's uncle.
The Alma Enterprise (Alma, Kansas), 30 Sep 1904, Friday, Page 4
An Interesting Story.
H.C. Ericsson, the Republican candidate for sheriff, was the soldier who found the body of Alva Feagans, the Alma boy who was killed in the Philippines in 1901.
It is a mighty interesting story to hear him tell of the death of Feagans and [Gray], the ten days search for their bodies, how the Filipino insurgent mayor was tortured to compel him to tell where the poor boys' bodies were hidden, and the awful vengeance that was visited on the brown men when the soldiers realized the terrible tortures and death that had befallen their unfortunate comrades. That such horrible torture could be devised and executed even by savages is almost past belief. Alva was tortured for three days before he died. After his death, his body was hidden in the jungle where a man had to crawl several rods on his hands and knees to reach him. Ericsson was the one who brought him out after several others had tried and failed. The boys were killed in a supposedly friendly town, one where the U. S. government had appointed the mayor and allowed them to select their own city government. But it turned out that the mayor and all were insurgents and traitors. A brief amount of sweating and spanking induced the mayor to confess, tell who had committed the murder and where the bodies were hidden.
The mayor and the 12 directly implicated were then arrested, tried and shot. But this was but a small part of the terrible punishment inflicted on the savages by the infuriated soldier boys, whose indignation when they learned the fate of their two comrades knew no bounds. Their officers were powerless to restrain them. The town was burned and about 250 grown Filipino men paid the penalty of their awful deed with their lives.
Notes
1. Pvt. Feagans was the son of William M. Feagans (OH), and (most likely) Mary Francis (Paris) Feagans.
2. It is a mystery how Herman Carl Ericsson came to have a role in this incident. Although he had been in the Army, his enlistment record indicates that he had been discharged in Puerto Rico in April of 1899. And, as late as July of 1900, just seven months before the incident, he was on record in the census and the local newspaper as saying that he was working for the government as a blacksmith in Puerto Rico.
Foreword
The marker in the photograph is inscribed on both sides. The inscription on the other side of this marker is for William Gray, Company A, 16th US Infantry. Both men were in the same unit and both were killed in the same incident. Both bodies were returned to San Francisco on board the "Logan", July 8, 1902. Both are in the same grave. What follows are a series of newspaper articles describing Alva Feagan's entry into service and the incident that ended his life as well as that of William Gray.
The Alma Enterprise (Alma, Kansas), 19 May 1899, Friday • Page 8
Alva Feagans left last week and the next thing his folks and friends heard was that he had enlisted in Co. A. of the 16th U.S. Infantry at Ft. Leavenworth. He will make a good soldier.
The Alma Enterprise (Alma, Kansas), 2 Jun 1899, Friday • Page 8
"Tim" Feagans to Manila.
Sergeant Lee McComb has been acting as a recruiting officer at Ft. Leavenworth the past sixty days and wrote us Friday as follows: "The 16th infantry left here yesterday for Manila. Enlisted an Alma boy the other day for 16th infantry — Alva Feagans. He is off for Manila happy as a lark and will make a good soldier. In the past sixty days have enlisted 242 men for 16th infantry, mostly "Jayhawkers."
The Alma Enterprise (Alma, Kansas), 3 May 1901, Friday, Page 8
Alva Feagans Lost.
The following is from a letter written by Carl Rice of Manhattan and published in last week's Nationalist. It was written Feb. 26th and will be read with interest by Alma people:
"All the available troops in this place have been out since the 14th. Company A left on that date with a pack train, but we got lost in the dense jungle and accomplished nothing. The scouts had no better luck. When we came back I was sent with a wagon train to Canayau, and just came back yesterday.
"Cornpany A lost two men on the 14th, Privates Alva Feagans and Wm. Gray. They were scouting with one companion near [Cordon]. One man escaped but, Feagans and Gray were set upon in the long grass and were either boloed on the spot or carried away to the mountains. The country was scouted as well as the wild jungles and mountains would permit, but no trace of our comrades was found.
"Feagans was one of the most popular boys of company A. He lived in Alma, Wabaunsee county, and was known to many Manhattan people. He always wanted to go scouting and at the time had been out nearly two months. We are all hoping that the boys will show up again, and they may but chances are against them."
The Alma Enterprise (Alma, Kansas), 24 May 1901, Friday • Page 8
ALVA FEAGANS DEAD.
The Rumors of a Month Ago Prove Only Too True.
Wm. Feagans received word Wednesday of the sad death of his son, Alva, on February 13th, who was in Co. A, 16th U. S. Inf., doing service in the Philippines. Official notice was sent by Capt. George E. French of Co. A, 16th Inf.
The following letter is from Corp. Carl Rice, a Manhattan boy, who was with Alva:
ECHAGUE, P.I., March 21, 1901.
MR. WM. FEAGANS:
Dear sir. --- Although the adjutant general has no doubt informed you of
the sad death of your brave son, Alva Feagans, I deem it my duty as a close friend and comrade of your brave boy, to write you more explicitly concerning the sad misfortune which robbed you of a noble son and our country of a gallant soldier.
On February 12, 1901, Alva, with ten others, under command of Lieut. C. W. Weeks, left Echague for Solano, their purpose being to establish schools in the various towns of the province.
On the 13th the detachment was in Cordon, a small town about 12 miles from Echague. Alva, with privates [William] Gray and [Theodore] Alexander, were sent out to secure horses for the rnarch over the mountains. Near the ranch of San Pedro, about four miles from Cordon, they were ambushed by insurgents, Alva and Gray being killed, Alexander escaping and bringing the news to Cordon. All the available troops were sent out, at once to the scene of conflict. Many natives were killed, the leaders captured and all the villages around Cordon burned.
The bodies were recovered and buried with military honors at Cordon. Sometime in the future the remains will be transferred to the homes in the states, as are the remains of all soldiers who die in this far-away land. Sir; our country's heroes are numerous and their deeds of bravery and self-sacrifice are unsurpassed, but none, whether they died leading a gallant, charge or suffered a lingering death at the hands of savage foes, displayed more heroism, fortitude and love of country than did Alva Feagans and Wm. Gray.
Captain Gilmer, 40th Inf., in command of the troops of Cordon says: "Never in the history of this war was greater bravery displayed than by these two men; any officer can feel proud to have such in his command."
For nearly two years had he withstood the hardships and privations of this war and on all occasions was alert and cheerful, ever ready to go where duty called him.
His kind face and pleasant ways are missed by all, but he has left behind many pleasant memories and an example to be looked up to by all. We, his friends and comrades, extend to you our heartfelt sympathy in this hour of your great bereavement. May the Power who controls our destiny give you and yours strength to bear this great sorrow. * * * I have endeavored to express the esteem which we all hold toward Alva and our sympathy to his relatives and other loved ones at home, but my command of the pen is insufficient. Perhaps some day, if the fortunes of war allow me to return, I may be able to express myself more clearly and enable you to better understand our feelings toward your gallant son.
Extending to you my most, sincere sympathy, I remain, yours very respectfully,
CORPORAL CARL E. RICE,
Co. A, 16th U. S. Inf.
The Eskridge Tribune-Star and Eskridge Independent (Eskridge, Kansas) 23 Sep 1904, Friday • Page 3
At the McFarland meeting, Tuesday, by accident, H.C. Ericsson, Republican candidate for sheriff, and Isaac Feagans of Wabaunsee township, engaged in conversation and the name Feagans brought, back to the recesses of Ericsson's memory the fact that he had a comrade in the Philippine Islands during the Philippino war by the same name and whose remains he (Ericsson) had carried from the place where he had been put to death after his capture to the place of his burial. Alva Feagans and a young man named Gray from in or near Manhattan, after their capture were tortured three days before were put out of their misery, as the natives related the story when the bodies were found. Isaac Feagans was Alva's uncle.
The Alma Enterprise (Alma, Kansas), 30 Sep 1904, Friday, Page 4
An Interesting Story.
H.C. Ericsson, the Republican candidate for sheriff, was the soldier who found the body of Alva Feagans, the Alma boy who was killed in the Philippines in 1901.
It is a mighty interesting story to hear him tell of the death of Feagans and [Gray], the ten days search for their bodies, how the Filipino insurgent mayor was tortured to compel him to tell where the poor boys' bodies were hidden, and the awful vengeance that was visited on the brown men when the soldiers realized the terrible tortures and death that had befallen their unfortunate comrades. That such horrible torture could be devised and executed even by savages is almost past belief. Alva was tortured for three days before he died. After his death, his body was hidden in the jungle where a man had to crawl several rods on his hands and knees to reach him. Ericsson was the one who brought him out after several others had tried and failed. The boys were killed in a supposedly friendly town, one where the U. S. government had appointed the mayor and allowed them to select their own city government. But it turned out that the mayor and all were insurgents and traitors. A brief amount of sweating and spanking induced the mayor to confess, tell who had committed the murder and where the bodies were hidden.
The mayor and the 12 directly implicated were then arrested, tried and shot. But this was but a small part of the terrible punishment inflicted on the savages by the infuriated soldier boys, whose indignation when they learned the fate of their two comrades knew no bounds. Their officers were powerless to restrain them. The town was burned and about 250 grown Filipino men paid the penalty of their awful deed with their lives.
Notes
1. Pvt. Feagans was the son of William M. Feagans (OH), and (most likely) Mary Francis (Paris) Feagans.
2. It is a mystery how Herman Carl Ericsson came to have a role in this incident. Although he had been in the Army, his enlistment record indicates that he had been discharged in Puerto Rico in April of 1899. And, as late as July of 1900, just seven months before the incident, he was on record in the census and the local newspaper as saying that he was working for the government as a blacksmith in Puerto Rico.
The marker in the photograph is inscribed on both sides. The inscription on the other side of this marker is for William Gray, Company A, 16th US Infantry. Both men were in the same unit and both were killed in the same incident. Both bodies were returned to San Francisco on board the "Logan", July 8, 1902. Both are in the same grave. What follows are a series of newspaper articles describing Alva Feagan's entry into service and the incident that ended his life as well as that of William Gray.
The Alma Enterprise (Alma, Kansas), 19 May 1899, Friday • Page 8
Alva Feagans left last week and the next thing his folks and friends heard was that he had enlisted in Co. A. of the 16th U.S. Infantry at Ft. Leavenworth. He will make a good soldier.
The Alma Enterprise (Alma, Kansas), 2 Jun 1899, Friday • Page 8
"Tim" Feagans to Manila.
Sergeant Lee McComb has been acting as a recruiting officer at Ft. Leavenworth the past sixty days and wrote us Friday as follows: "The 16th infantry left here yesterday for Manila. Enlisted an Alma boy the other day for 16th infantry — Alva Feagans. He is off for Manila happy as a lark and will make a good soldier. In the past sixty days have enlisted 242 men for 16th infantry, mostly "Jayhawkers."
The Alma Enterprise (Alma, Kansas), 3 May 1901, Friday, Page 8
Alva Feagans Lost.
The following is from a letter written by Carl Rice of Manhattan and published in last week's Nationalist. It was written Feb. 26th and will be read with interest by Alma people:
"All the available troops in this place have been out since the 14th. Company A left on that date with a pack train, but we got lost in the dense jungle and accomplished nothing. The scouts had no better luck. When we came back I was sent with a wagon train to Canayau, and just came back yesterday.
"Cornpany A lost two men on the 14th, Privates Alva Feagans and Wm. Gray. They were scouting with one companion near [Cordon]. One man escaped but, Feagans and Gray were set upon in the long grass and were either boloed on the spot or carried away to the mountains. The country was scouted as well as the wild jungles and mountains would permit, but no trace of our comrades was found.
"Feagans was one of the most popular boys of company A. He lived in Alma, Wabaunsee county, and was known to many Manhattan people. He always wanted to go scouting and at the time had been out nearly two months. We are all hoping that the boys will show up again, and they may but chances are against them."
The Alma Enterprise (Alma, Kansas), 24 May 1901, Friday • Page 8
ALVA FEAGANS DEAD.
The Rumors of a Month Ago Prove Only Too True.
Wm. Feagans received word Wednesday of the sad death of his son, Alva, on February 13th, who was in Co. A, 16th U. S. Inf., doing service in the Philippines. Official notice was sent by Capt. George E. French of Co. A, 16th Inf.
The following letter is from Corp. Carl Rice, a Manhattan boy, who was with Alva:
ECHAGUE, P.I., March 21, 1901.
MR. WM. FEAGANS:
Dear sir. --- Although the adjutant general has no doubt informed you of
the sad death of your brave son, Alva Feagans, I deem it my duty as a close friend and comrade of your brave boy, to write you more explicitly concerning the sad misfortune which robbed you of a noble son and our country of a gallant soldier.
On February 12, 1901, Alva, with ten others, under command of Lieut. C. W. Weeks, left Echague for Solano, their purpose being to establish schools in the various towns of the province.
On the 13th the detachment was in Cordon, a small town about 12 miles from Echague. Alva, with privates [William] Gray and [Theodore] Alexander, were sent out to secure horses for the rnarch over the mountains. Near the ranch of San Pedro, about four miles from Cordon, they were ambushed by insurgents, Alva and Gray being killed, Alexander escaping and bringing the news to Cordon. All the available troops were sent out, at once to the scene of conflict. Many natives were killed, the leaders captured and all the villages around Cordon burned.
The bodies were recovered and buried with military honors at Cordon. Sometime in the future the remains will be transferred to the homes in the states, as are the remains of all soldiers who die in this far-away land. Sir; our country's heroes are numerous and their deeds of bravery and self-sacrifice are unsurpassed, but none, whether they died leading a gallant, charge or suffered a lingering death at the hands of savage foes, displayed more heroism, fortitude and love of country than did Alva Feagans and Wm. Gray.
Captain Gilmer, 40th Inf., in command of the troops of Cordon says: "Never in the history of this war was greater bravery displayed than by these two men; any officer can feel proud to have such in his command."
For nearly two years had he withstood the hardships and privations of this war and on all occasions was alert and cheerful, ever ready to go where duty called him.
His kind face and pleasant ways are missed by all, but he has left behind many pleasant memories and an example to be looked up to by all. We, his friends and comrades, extend to you our heartfelt sympathy in this hour of your great bereavement. May the Power who controls our destiny give you and yours strength to bear this great sorrow. * * * I have endeavored to express the esteem which we all hold toward Alva and our sympathy to his relatives and other loved ones at home, but my command of the pen is insufficient. Perhaps some day, if the fortunes of war allow me to return, I may be able to express myself more clearly and enable you to better understand our feelings toward your gallant son.
Extending to you my most, sincere sympathy, I remain, yours very respectfully,
CORPORAL CARL E. RICE,
Co. A, 16th U. S. Inf.
The Eskridge Tribune-Star and Eskridge Independent (Eskridge, Kansas) 23 Sep 1904, Friday • Page 3
At the McFarland meeting, Tuesday, by accident, H.C. Ericsson, Republican candidate for sheriff, and Isaac Feagans of Wabaunsee township, engaged in conversation and the name Feagans brought, back to the recesses of Ericsson's memory the fact that he had a comrade in the Philippine Islands during the Philippino war by the same name and whose remains he (Ericsson) had carried from the place where he had been put to death after his capture to the place of his burial. Alva Feagans and a young man named Gray from in or near Manhattan, after their capture were tortured three days before were put out of their misery, as the natives related the story when the bodies were found. Isaac Feagans was Alva's uncle.
The Alma Enterprise (Alma, Kansas), 30 Sep 1904, Friday, Page 4
An Interesting Story.
H.C. Ericsson, the Republican candidate for sheriff, was the soldier who found the body of Alva Feagans, the Alma boy who was killed in the Philippines in 1901.
It is a mighty interesting story to hear him tell of the death of Feagans and [Gray], the ten days search for their bodies, how the Filipino insurgent mayor was tortured to compel him to tell where the poor boys' bodies were hidden, and the awful vengeance that was visited on the brown men when the soldiers realized the terrible tortures and death that had befallen their unfortunate comrades. That such horrible torture could be devised and executed even by savages is almost past belief. Alva was tortured for three days before he died. After his death, his body was hidden in the jungle where a man had to crawl several rods on his hands and knees to reach him. Ericsson was the one who brought him out after several others had tried and failed. The boys were killed in a supposedly friendly town, one where the U. S. government had appointed the mayor and allowed them to select their own city government. But it turned out that the mayor and all were insurgents and traitors. A brief amount of sweating and spanking induced the mayor to confess, tell who had committed the murder and where the bodies were hidden.
The mayor and the 12 directly implicated were then arrested, tried and shot. But this was but a small part of the terrible punishment inflicted on the savages by the infuriated soldier boys, whose indignation when they learned the fate of their two comrades knew no bounds. Their officers were powerless to restrain them. The town was burned and about 250 grown Filipino men paid the penalty of their awful deed with their lives.
Notes
1. Pvt. Feagans was the son of William M. Feagans (OH), and (most likely) Mary Francis (Paris) Feagans.
2. It is a mystery how Herman Carl Ericsson came to have a role in this incident. Although he had been in the Army, his enlistment record indicates that he had been discharged in Puerto Rico in April of 1899. And, as late as July of 1900, just seven months before the incident, he was on record in the census and the local newspaper as saying that he was working for the government as a blacksmith in Puerto Rico.
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