Article May 11, 1899 Issue

Sure Her Son is Safe from Harm

Daily Tribune

As has been noted before in these columns, Mrs. H. S. Murdock, of Conemaugh, has a son—Harry Murdock—in the United States service in the Philippine Islands. He is Sergeant-Major of the First Battalion of the First Nebraska Volunteers, which command has been taking an active part in all the recent fighting, several men of the regiment being reported killed and quite a number wounded after each day's engagement for some time past. In spite of this, however, Mrs. Murdock says she is not in the slightest degree concerned for the welfare of her son; in fact, so little that she scarcely thinks it worth while to look at the list of casualties from day to day, so certain is she that he has escaped harm.

These statements Mrs. Murdock made last evening in the city, where she had come to exhibit a new collection of Philippine relics recently received. She further stated that her freedom from fear was based entirely upon the fact that both she and her son are Christian Scientists. She points out as a proof of the correctness of her position that, though her son has been in service continuously since the 26th of April last year, has made a long ocean voyage, and lived in a tropical climate most of that time, and has gone through several serious battles, he has never been unfit for service a single moment—a record which has not been equaled by any of his comrades, some of whom died on the way over, and many since, from disease, while insurgent bullets have found a resting place in the bodies of many of them also. The thought that such a fate may befall her son, Mrs. Murdock declares, never enters her head, and however much credence others may give to her belief, it is a source of much comfort to her.

The collection of relics which Mrs. Murdock now possesses, sent from her son, is quite extensive and embraces many of very great interest. It includes articles of wood and gold, made by the natives, shells of rare beauty from the seashore, bullets, buttons, and charms worn by the Filipinos, etc. Among other things is a piece of carved wood taken off an old monastery bombarded by Dewey in August, which is known to have been erected as long ago as 1620. From the mortar in the walls of the same building young Murdock dug out several bullets, supposed to have been fired there by the English when they captured the place in 1742.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Sure Her Son is Safe from Harm

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access