The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-08-18
Thrilling Incident of the Porto
Rican Campaign.
WILD MOUNTAIN RIDE
THE HEART OF
THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY.
Carriages Driven at Breakneck Pace
Down the Rough and Dangerous
Mountain transformations Had
No Troops, But the Spaniards
Fled-Enthusiastic Welcome.

Correspondence of the Associated PressS
Ponce, Porto Rico. Aug. 3.-The Porto
Rican natives, especially the poorer
classes, have given us the most enthu-
siastic welcome. They had dreamed for
years of the time when the hands or
the oppressors would be removed from
their throats. and now it has come.
With the exception of a few of the
rich they seem to care little about the
independence of the island. The old
revolutionists, ambitious for political
power. INQUIRE anxiously If we will re-
tain possession of the island and shout
enthusiastically. But a great many
care little for independence, apparent
ly sure of the conviction that we came
to drive out the Spaniards.
Last Tuesday the writer accompan-
led a accommodating expedition under
General Roy Stone of Pennsylvania
into the mountains north OF Ponce IL
was remarkable in more ways than
one. General Miles had ascertalned tnat
the enemy's position at AlDonlto was
almost impregnable, and he had de-
cided to turn the left flank of the
Spanish position by landing General
Brooke at Arroyo and moving his col
umn. to Cayey in the rear of the Span
ish position at Aibonito. The adv1sa-
bility of a movement by our left hank
was also discussed. This could be done
if the road across the mountains to
Aecibo, on the north coast, was pass
able.
The reports were that there was d
fine carriage road from Utuabo to ALDO
nito. The only question was as to the
character of the road as far as the Tor
mer point. General Stone volunteered
to make the reconnaissance. He took
with him several men of the signal
corps, four newspaper correspondents
in carriages, armed with Remlngtons,
and G company of the Second Wlscon-
sin. The start was made at noon. Inc
road led straight up to the top OF the
mountain for ten miles, and the infan-
try was soon far behind. The carriages
were drawn by native ponies and went
I'D the mountains on a gallop, except
when the reckless drivers stood up 10
breathe the animals. 1t was right into
the heart of the enemyS country. Inc
road rises to an altitude of 5000 rect
and goes right into San Juan. 1t is a
marvellous piece of engineering. AT
times it is hewn out of solid rock, hang
ing over sheer cliffs, a thousand feet
deep. The scenery of the Alps, though
boider, of course, is not more beautiful.
Everything is covered with luxurious
tropical verdure, even the rocks Bril-
liant Towering plants and trees splash
the creek with vivid color.
A THRILLING RIDE.
Once at the top the completed mill
tary road is ended, and then we started
on to Ajuntas, ten miles off. The drlv-
ers drove like Jehus. The vehicles
have no brakes, and the little ponies on
| the descent were on the dead run 10
keep away from the wheels. Bounding,
turning. swaying; now an inch from
precipice on but two wheels, and now
swinging into the side Of the cli1, the
! occupants holding on for dear LIE, the
vehicles went at a terrific pace as the
| drivers whipped their mad beasts. one
| false step would have sent us whlrhng
off into space. No other drivers could
have accomplished this feat. One more
descent we went tearing down into the
I town. AS rapidly as had been growing
the pace. we drove on until at a gal
lop. the women and children lining the
streets, bombarded us with bouquets OF
roses. fuschias and wild flowers, While
the men who formed the background
cheered and cried Down with Spain.
ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME.
quaint little town in the noun
tains has a picturesque square, where
the people can gather to cheer ana
welcome They had some American
flags. which were waved everywhere.
The alcalde welcomed General stone
formally, but the latter made the as
sembled populace a speech from the
veranda. of the town hall. In their en-
thusiasm, the people could not wait
for translation. Every sentence they
cheered Then they cheered the trans
lation. 1t was dark when the formal
tiles were over. and every citizen con-
ton 00r1 1rVoff
tee. besieging the members of our party
with invitations to dinner. General
Stone finally accepted the invitation OF
a rich English engineer, who had nVed
there 81 years. His children spoke
nothing but Spanish and French, and
the old gentleman was so Delighted
that he can still speak English that
he would not take no for an answer
Il was so afraid 1 had forgotten my
native language" he said, speaking
slowly, as if cropping for his words. L
read English books, but no one here
speaks English, and the words sound
strange to me. 1t is like memory of
former existence to hear you talk; but
it is a pleasure. I thank God an Eng
disappearing people has come at last.
The correspondents insisted upon go
ing to the hotel, taking with them
half dozen natives who had been press
ner with half the town at the doors
and windows. Our guests wanted to
drink our health at every pause in the
conversation, and several times during
each of the courses. They appeared
intensely grieved when we declined to
sample all the different kinds of wine
they offered u.s.
After we had finished, the natives
began to show alarm. They had sup
posed that many troops were behind
us. Two hundred Spaniards had re-
treated through the town in the morn
ing, and the natives feared they would
return We informed them that our
troops would be up in an hour or more,
though we knew they were miles be-
hind After a council of war, General
Stone decided to suggest to the ma
tives the advisability of their main
tanning a line of outposts around the
city, pending the arrival of our troops.
This they arranged to do while we
arranged our sleeping quarters. But
the enemy did not appear. Several
times crowds came under our windows
and awoks us with cheers.