The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-29

had four terrible cuts. any Of them mortal. but
the Filipino bore only two slight scratches to
show that he had done battle. Living and dead
were both exhibited. and then at last we made
q start for the front.
The joltinR carometta took us over three
and a half miles of road full OF mud and ruts.
One minute II was slam bang up against one
side Of the cart, and the next IL was hang on or
be pitched out bodily over driver, pony. and all.
The driver. smiling and cheerful through It all,
sduatted on his heels on a board that was fast
ened to the shafts, Just in front of the body Of
the cart. There he balanced like n slaolNwire
performer and Rrinned at the widest jumps Of
the carometta. and all the time he shouted
at and urged his pony to yet more vigorous
efforts. The tough little boast was plunging
forward regardless Of the condition Of the
road. The country was even and fiat, but a
few feet above tho sea. The road runs
practically parallel with the beach between
It and the Para1aoue River. To the
west. the land between the road and the beach
Is a little higher than on the east Of the road,
OF a sandy character. and fairly good camping
ground. There some OF the California men are
to make camp in q few days, and probably a
large part Of the second and third expeditions,
when they arrive. The road is lined on both
sides with a thick row OF bamboos-heavy
bamboos with long. tough thorns. very sharp
and stin. To the east there are rice fields and
bean patches and thick scrub and bamboo
country almost absolutely impossible for our
soldiers. Only men accustomed to It, as are
the Filipinos. who know every twist and
turn. and can stand heat, rain, wind,
and humidity with equal Indifference. can get
about In IL with any sort OF certainty. speed or
ease. As we drive along we pass several ma
tives at work in the paddy fields. Hero In one
ploughing with q great blue bull Nilghai. Just
beyond one has q swinging SCOOP. and 10
throwing water from q ditch over a dixie. SCOOP
ing II up q shovelful at q time and jerking 1t
out of the open-ended bucket with q sudden
dexterousw wrist twist. Along the road runs q
line Of green bamboo poles. four or Ave inches
in diameter. carrying a single telegraph wire.
The Filipinos have arranged telephone COM
munication with field headquarters.
Three miles north OF Parahaque 10 Malabai,
half q dozen native huts gathered in q group.
All along the road the houses stand but q few
rods apart, sometimes 30 close to the road that
the indwellers could almost touch travellers
from the windows. At frequent intervals there
are little shelters. or rest houses. just q thatched
roof and a bamboo floor. q couple Of feet above
the ground. Nobody stays on the ground in
this country any longer than he can help. not
even the natives. At Malabai there is q sort OF
market. Natives. men, women. boys and girls,
are squatting In the streets in front OF the
houses or in the windows with big fat bam-
boo baskets full Of mangoes. bananas. pine
apples. rice. sugar. cigars and cigarettes and q
dozen other things for sale. All along there
are big round crates full Of chickens. women
with big baskets Of eggs. hsh Of several kinds
curious to American eyes. little fiat follows
with staring eyes and big round scales. spotted
like our sunflsh. Two or three fellows have
ollas. earthenware pots or jars for keeping
water comparatively cool by evaporation
through their porous sides. with all sorts OF
other pots. some for chocolate. others for tea. |
coffee pots. lemonade pots. and curious little
furnaces for fish cooking.
Just beyond this market village the road
turns east. and half q mile brings US to Pineda,
q considerable village. with what passes for a
square in the middle of 1t and two or three big
stone buildings about the square. In one OF
these. with a big sign declaring 1t to be the
Tribunal" over the door. Noriel has his field
headquarters. There we stop and the General
and his Lieutenant-Colonel climb Town from
their carometta A great crowd gathers to greet
us. Soldierssalute and present arms and women
and children crowd around. They are very re-
spectful and polite. but nightly interested in
these Americans. All along the road we have
been saluted oy everybody; even the children
stood at attention as We passed. Just inside
the door Of this Tribunal headquarters stands
u hTupp SIX CohtlmoIT6 DToeCH-lOduluB Elue, !
captured from the Spanish in a fight below
Malabal. The Filipinos have no ammunition
for it. but they have gatheredup two boxes full
OF shot that the Spaniards had fired at them.
and are trying to make shells to carry them.
The copper rifing bands OF the shot have all
been ribbed by their passage through the gun.
but the Indians are hammerinE them down
into shape again. BY and by they will be used
against that old stone fort at Malate. Just south
OF Manila, the last fertilization that protects the
city wall.
We examine this gun and admire It. and the
pluck that captured II. and the energy that is
finding ammunition for it. Noriel says it is
one Of six. all taken at the same fight. They
are flrst-class field guns. Our army would be
better equipped for the work In hand II 1t
had several batteries Of them. They are about
the only guns that can be transported over this
and that are at the same time effective.
Now that We are past the gun we go into
Noriel's office and the General blandly asks US
we like rice. Great Scott, Is 1t time to eat
again2 Fortunate for US that we started early
the morning. It is now long past noon. and
the front is still in front. II we are
going to see the trenches 1t means that We
cannot get back before shutdown. and so must
stay here for the night. for Admiral Dewey
no movement Of boats about the bay
vt night. No one could tell what smuggling
Manila Of provisions and supplies there
be but for that regulation. We admit to
The General with what grace we can muster that
We do like rice. and he sends a man or two with
message to some one to prepare us a meal.
Then cigars and cigarettes arc passed around
again, and We notice q Spanish soldier sitting |
IN the edge OF a bed in the corner of the room.
Dur interpreter gets to work. and we improve
he time we must wait for the meal.
The Spaniard says he is Corporal Manuel
R~oviroso OF the Third Company. Thirteenth
Regiment. OF the line. He was in the trench
acinG the insurgents. just beyond Pineda.
Yesterday his officer beat him in the face. and
asst night he watched his chance. jumped over
he breastwork and ran into the insurRent
ines. Both sides shot at him. but he escaped
lnhurt. He had not been paid for months and
lad been half starved-he looked that-but he
lad stood it until he was beaten In the
ara nv his officer In the presence OF his COM