The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-08-26

Frank Wickersham.
, Critchlow grasped his hands and told
him he ought to be a colonel Wicker
sham was the last man to leave Luzon.
Orders had been issued said Lieu
tenant Anderson, Ito go aboard the
Hancock nearly week before the men
were ready to sail home. The Nebras-
kans were on the transport already
and were getting impatient to start.
Major Grant had the Utah men go
aboard. and besides the officers only
seven men detailed in the quartermaS-
ter's department We're left on shore.
Wickersham was one Of these.
Cur work was nearly finished when
1T was discovered that the signature Of
Captain randolph, Third artillery. was
missing from two important papers.
The only way to get them signed was
TO send messenger to Balinag, forty
miles away, and find the captain of the
artillery. The documents could not be
left behind and the transport was TO
sail the next day at noon. Half of the
"trip to Balinag must be made on foot
through swamps and bamboo. the rest
by rail, and just twenty-eight hours
/ remained for the journey.
Some man who was willing to take
the chances of being left behind and
shot full Of Filipino lead was called
upon 20 carry the papers. Wickersham
stepped up, tucked them in the lining
of his coat and was off in a brisk walk
without so much as pistol for protec
ton"
,,e4.- Wickersham's Story.
I Corporal Wiclzersham. when asked for
/ the details of his experience, said.
! Il was getting my things in shape
/ to go home that morning when / heard
what was wanted l put on my blouse
I =
| the train for Malolos. My orders were
/ TO get Captain Randolph's signature if
it took week. and Major Grant said
I good bye to me. in case l got left.
''On the train l formed my plan as
best 1 could and judged that by close
work l might be able TO return that
night. Balinag was fifteen miles from
Malolos, and that must be made on
foot
When the train reached Malolos
met Goodwin. a battery boy. who had
been sent on a similar errand, and
who was waiting for the train to re-
turn from San Fernando. / got such |
information of the place. the roads and |
river as he could give, and also point
! concerning the captains disposition, !
which l had heard was not the most |
agreeable. Then 1 pegged away until !
l reached Gingua and the river feyried I
over. got a mule from an Amigo !
it for Balinag- II
Il got there at > o'clock that evening |
and fortunately found Captain Ran |
dolph in his quarters. Private Goodwin :
had told me that the captain, who was /
rigid disciplinarian, would pay no at (
tention to a private soldier, so l bor
rowed pair of chevrons. and. by pin
ming them on my khaki blouse, it
helped me in getting permission. TO /
leave that night. besides making a bet
ter appearance before his highness. who
up TO then l had always regarded with
feelings Of awe
Made Himself a Sergeant
"One of the boys 1 knew helped me
out, and with the chevrcns on 4ly arm
/ walked boldly in before the captain.
saluted and presented the papers with
Major Grants compliments.
What exclaimed the officer. An
other Utah man? You are the third
in two days. l suppose the whole Utah
battalion will be out here before the
week is up
Then the captain swore and
thought it was all up. Then he contin-
ued: Had your supper? No? Well,
Take the sergeant down and see that he
is given supper and a bed
Il saluted and left. / was hungry
and as / had decided to return that
night if possible. l ate heartily and
put several bareback in my shirt peck
ct. l then went back TO ask permission
to return with the papers to Manila.
The captain was the most surprised
man l eyer saw when / told him what
wanted
why said he. have no escort to
give you tonight. and the escort in the
morning viii get you to Malolos in time
for the train. Besides, you have no
oi1, r,,,- ar apvtbiuv fOr nrafaptiOn
II had already turned in my Colts
revolver and belt along with the rest
of our boys at San Fernando. and on
coming away that morning | had not
thought to borrow one But l urged
the case and explained that the ship
was being held overtime by reason of
these papers. and that my commander
had urged me to make all possible
haste. So with such arguments
gained his consent to pass me, and
started off. On going he said:
Il don't expect 10 hear of you alive
again. for we have had several night
attacks along that road recently, but II
you are determined TO go. why. good
bye And with that he shook my hand
and wished me success.
1T was a little after when | left
the captain. and after several unsuc-
cessful attempts to hire rig TO take
me to the river / set out on foot to
walk the thirty-eight miles. feeling con-
fdent that my legs would carry me to
Manila in eighteen hours. if not less.
II reached the ferry at the river about
5 80 and here was my first difficulty.
The boat was not on my side of the
river. Then l thought of the ferry
cable and ran up the bank and started
across hand over nand. I was getting
along fine when heard someone run
ming along the bank. which l IVES try
ing so hard to reach. and the next mo-
ment / was looking into somebody's
rifle barrel