The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-07-19


morning the journey was completed on
the top OF a long line Of box cars to
calumpit. beyond which both roadbed
and bridges are utterly destroyed.
Calumpit was wisely chosen as the
rendezvous OF a considerable force of
regulars which was TO ascend the
hitherto undlsturbed but populouS val
ley Of the Rio Grande river and form a
connecting link between the rowing bri-
gades of Generals Lawton and Mac
Arthur in the foothills.
In the tide water river lay the gum
boats Lagunda de Bay and Cascade,
with small feet of ammunition and
supply canoes.
AGraphic Description.
The Ninth infantry, troop OF the
Sixth cavalry, a battery OF light artil-
lery. the Seventeenth Infantry in order.
and the brigade OF reporters In some
disorder. moved in the grey dawn Of a
tropical morning. In the great railway
storehouse at calumplt, wherein the re-
treating insurrectos were forced to
abandon over 900 tons Of sugar and a
quarter million bushels of rice. all e1-
ira baggage wan stored. including blan-
kets, tentage and everything but the
lIghtest field equipments. In addition
to its supply boats, each battalion is
followed by a mule train with field
kitchens and two days ratlons in case
detour from the river becomes neces-
cary. The long column, as 1t bent and
twisted along the winding river road,
recalled the pictorial sketches in school
hlstorleg which are apt to excite the
boyish fancy. on the right hank the
gunboats steamed lazlly In their wake
powerful tug labored heavily to keep
long tow OF bamboo cascos,p piled high
with boxes and sacks of rations, abreast
with the procession. In front the cav
alry's accoutrements glIstened In the
sunlight and sleek government mules
tugged at the artIllerys three-inch
guns. The infantry swung along as
only regulars can. with rifles slung on
shoulders or back as comfort demand
ed. Back of the miscellaneous assort-
ment Of vehicles in the rear came Cen
eral Lawton's pack train. by no means
the least interesting feature of the ex-
petition A staid old bell mule seemed
in command OF this department and in
single file behind her came the long
string Of driverles5 animals which need
no attention SO long as the bell is
heard.
The valley of the Rio Grande is as
beautiful a bit of fertile lowland as one
would care to see. Fruits. strange both
in name and appearance to the Ameri-
can. grow in great profuslon. Sugar
cane, tobacco and rice plantations
which are rudely cultivated. but yield
amazingly. indicate the soils untold
wealth. The more familiar Indian corn
seems to thrive in like measure. but
the crude native methods OF working
1t fail to bring that rounded maturity
noticeable in the American variety.
The toll road we followed was well
shaded by banana, palm and mango
trees, but heat was playing increasing
havoc with the toillng mnrchers when
the dome Of the Cathedral at San Louis
showed white in the distance. The
gunboats had been fired upon at this
point during trial trip the day before
and the "Lagunda de Bay" had lost
three Of its crew. AS II to avenge her
self, she took the lead under n full
head Of steam and soon, three-quarters
OF n mile ahead, volleys of Mausers
with the steady rattle Of the vessels
machine guns as background told us
that the ball had started. Whole COM
panies, hitherto almost blinded by the
bllstering heat and the fatigue Of a
steady fourteen mile march, braced up
as IL under the influence Of powerful
stimulant. Even the lagging mules
seemed to realize that something was
expected Of them.
Things Looked Serious.
In the bamboo across the narrow
river, squads of FIlIplnos. stripped ma
ked, so as not to disclose their brown
bamboo hiding place to the gunboats.
opened fire on the close column as soon
as the boats had passed. Things look
ed rather serious for time. The troops
could not be deployed. owing to the
proximity Of the river on one side Of the
road and an impregnnble Jungle Of
bamboo on the other. Forward, dou-
BILE time!" came the order, with less
official keep close to the ground, you
did fool" by way Of unnecessary ad-
monItion.
The movement was slow. for the road
was soon choked with artillery and am
munitlon wagons which could neither
be hurried beyond certain pace. nor
pnssed by the eager troopers behind
them. Volleys Of brass tipped Reming-
tons splashed in the water below the
infantry or splintered the thick bamboo
about them. In column OF tours they
ploughed on, but It was gloomy work.
there being but little opportunity 10
return the maddening fire. In the
crowd and dust the heat seemed to in
crease ten fold and stretched out In
every sheltered spot that the narrow
roadway offered lay dozens Of dust
begrImed fellows whom the sun had
overpowered or who, in soldier par
lance, had stopped one" When your
side partner staggered bllndly, all you
could do for him was to drag him to
protected point and empty your cam
teen in his flushed face. Like n vista
OF the promised land finally came the
view of the city where its suburbs had
encroached upon the hedging jungle.
With a YELL each successive command
left the exposed road and deployed In
its line OF battle.
The gunboats had made 1t hot for
"AggIe's" followers.
AS the artillery ratified over the
rough river front and the infantry
poured from every yard and street. the
hard pressed rascals scrambled from
their trenches like rats. A white flag
flew from both church and sugar store
house. but the gunboats were not slow
in perceIvInE that every window in
these was ablaze with rifles. Heavy
shells soon made dust clouds fly from
fine moss grown tile roof Of the cnthe-