The Columbus journal., 1898-12-07

you days trip up the Passig river. It
was but last Friday that Privates Hook
Connolly and I, undertook to
spend q day in the mountains that arc 90
clearly visible from the city. II 10 use
less to state how the distance fooled ~.
Our first step was to get natives to row
us up the stream. We got into little
bark canoe and with these Philippines
at oars, we sped on. Our first hour was
spent IN the city limits. On both banks
of the river were beautiful structures
with fine yards. All these buildings are
inclosed, either by stone wall or high
fences CT wood or iron. The minute .
white man comes into the city of Manila
he knows that it is filed with robbers
and murderers. Every window 10 barred
and all doors too. We sailed beneath
the Manila suspension bridge and
numerous others, seemingly, everlasting
bridges. On arrival at our outpost, We
were stopped. Pass was called for and
We hung our heads low. Finally the
guard informed us of route by land and
water whore We could get through with
out being discovered by our men. We
sent our natives on up the stream and
took to foot. After crossing two branches
of the Passis and tramping three miles
through mud, grass and timber, We
arrived in the Philippine quarters. The
Philippine guide with as held short
conversation with the sentinel and then
We marched on. They showed nothing
but friendship towards the Americans.
At one time one informed us Of two q.
8. officers who were riding on Philippine
bronchoes and in our road. We knew it
was time to hide, and for the first time
for many months all three of us crawled
behind stone wall. They rode past and
We pounded down sand once again. The
soil ia not really sand, but a mixture.
On arriving at the river bank our two
Philippines were not to be found. We
stopped here and partook OF the bread
and salmon that We had brought from
quarters. This was q kind OF q station
for row boats, and Immediately after
dinner We hired another boat and vent
sailing up the river at full speed. The
water is slack, which was our benefit in
facing il. Our men rowed s0me five
miles per hour. On leaving the last
named station the beautiful scenery
began. TOour left we're visible the green
covered mountains, no moro than five
miles distant. They appeared large and
beautiful. On our right was timber,
dense enough to be Jungle. The entire
bank is interpreted with native dwelling
places. The Philippines do not desire
an open space for dwelling place. It
seems as though the moro timber they
can get around the house, the better
they like it. Further on. ve passed BY
stone quarriea The stone seems to be
nothing but lava from ancient volcanoes.
The quarries are some distance from the
bank. They transfer the rocks BY means
Of two-wheeled trucks. With the power Of
q water buffalo prefxed. Tho wheels Of
the trucks are II feet in diameter. After
the quarries the left bank, that
ID our left bank in ascending the river, il
some $50 feet high. It 10 easy to climb.
- il il not vertical. Hero 10 stopped
and ascended to the top Of the foot hills.
We had gone some ten miles by this
time. The courseof the river 10 90 irreg-
ulsr that We found ourselves entirely
surrounded by mountains, even toward
Manila. Still to the northeast, which
vas our main direction. We could see the
river wind. and some ten miles further
On No could partially SO the lake. from
where the river takes it, sourca The
Dil i very fertile, but thsee i not much
q Il in that looolity. lt W. but hbo Q