Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1899-09-26

/ was MT hSul ms OI d / I'll dltaCh Ii O11l
Baliuag, thinking that the river would
prove an ally in preventing anything
of the kind.
The Bagbag is a fordable river, but
owing to the recent heavy rains was
| beyond foIding. 1t was pitch dark
when we reached the river bank Three
Companies of infantry were already
there waiting for the cavalry to at
tempt the crossing Our steeds bcidIy
took 20 the water, and seeing that we
we've in apparent safety a company of
infantry followed. Suddenly many of
the horses disappeared beneath the
water. only to come up again TO make
an effort to resist the current. There
was a splash. a snort fTcn a horse,
then a cry of "He11i" One of the
troopers and his horse were being
carried along with the swift current.
In an incredibly short period there was
pandemCnium horses and riders strug-
Cling in the water fighting desperately
to regain a footing in shallow water.
Fortunately l had kept a little higher
up Stream than most Of the troopers,
and my h1rse had only lost bottom
once. but quickly Iagairad it. 1t was
pitch dark and l could barely discern
sladOwy forms all about me. Help!
I'm drowning" 1t was an infantry
man. l could hear his battling with
the stream. Again and again he cried.
l heard the gurgling s-und Of a man
drowning. We could do nothing,
hamPere1 as we were with our equip
ments, and could only shout out en-
ccuragene nt to the almost exhausted
infantryman. 1t seemed an age be-
fore l reached the opposite bank,
where my noble horse dropped f.-m
sheer exhaustion. Other horses with
their dripping riders reached the
shore and fell likewise. 1t was some
minutes before the faithful beasts were
able to regain their feet. Those of US
who were safely across turned cur at
tentiOn to those whc. were in need OF
assistance Cries of help were heard
On all sides We did what we could
towards saving those who had reached
shallow water limp and helpless, but
those who could net swim and gave up
in the middle of the stream we could
% nothing for. The darkness. the
black muddy waters, the shouts and
the shadowy forms struggling for eX-
is.ence IN the river was a scene that
stirred the nerves of all who heard |
those piteous cries for help. Men
vera drowning who would face the |
bullets eff d fee unfiinchingly, but now
they were as children and as helpless
as babes to do anything for them |
selves Many could not swim and al |
lowed the current to carry them along |
without struggle. Out of the cavalry |
we had two MN missing and enc
horse. and several men had lost their |
carbines The missing men were sub
l. o. in -tfaI
wkcn we returned.
1t was not a time for sentiment, fer
there was work ahead. sc leaving the
river and the shouts of the distressed
behind we CROPPED our way through
The darkness to what was before US.
We tcok the read leading through the
jungle ca the south bank Of the river
and proceeded some distance before
for the infantry to come UP.
The men reeIed along the road, we'll
nigh played out from the struggle in
fOrding the river. [ asked CEe in
fan tryman if any T en- were lest in
he river, and ne replied that a dozen
lad Eeen swept away. 1t was later
discovered that only two had really
been drowned. tie rest having been
saved by people On the BaliT1g shore.
AS dawn was fast approaching, and
time had been lost at the
'iv.r, the column moved ahead at a
asst pace the cavalry troop IN the lead
IS the advance guard. Our objective
POINT was % reach the road which
lranched off toward the south in the
direction of Guiguint0 which would
enable us to head the insurgents off
rom escape in that direction. If this
,ould be done the enemy wac ours.
the enemy had cItpcsts
stationed at the Junction of the two
Dads and when we approached the
)eating of our horses hoofs On the
lard read was to them the signal of
LANCER. We cculd barely distinguish
heir shadOwy forms as they dashed
nto the brush towards the river. We
rclw moved forward rapidly to pre-
ent The outposts from giving the
warming. Soon it was light enough TO
ee some distance ahead but we began
o feel uneasy fer fear the eE2my had
cen warned. Not so for very shortly
ne sharp Iepcrt OF Mauser broke the
fitness of the morning and bullet
issad over the heads of the cavalry
len. The report was the signal for
olIey and the bullets tIlistled spite
ulIy all around US. The cavalry
hastily dismounted and started fer
raId on foot ID engage the enemy, not
rating for the infantry. We had
.othing t. guide us but the reports CT
he guns. as the jungle was almost i'm
lenetrabie We returned their fire {
18th a will and soon heard the infan-
ry at work on our left. We steadily ;
ushed the insurgents through the
jingle until an open field was reached,
where for the first time We had view {