Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-02-04
DlSAGREEABLE TRAVELLING
What They saw OF Country and Poo.
pie on Their Long Journey and
How They Were Received by Span.
fsh OmcinIs nt Different Points
Spanish Prisoners Checked by
Spanish oIoncI.

as tney exist III the interior OIL Tie
great island of Luzon. the largest of
the Philippine group, with an area
equalling that of the State of Virginia,
that has yet been presented to the
official eye, is that set out in q report
made to the Navy Department Of the
tour of two young American naval OIL
GERS, Paymaster w. b. Wilcox and Ca
Diet r. l.. Sargent. officers of Dewey's
fleet. This recital of the hitherto I'M
known charac terlstics of the island be-
You'd the limits of Manila. and a few of
the more important of the Luzon ports,
with its glimpses of the military con-
ditions, the difficulties that lie in the
way of the explorer, the habits of the
people, and finally the modest recital
of the almost insurmountable obstacles
that were overcome by the shrewdness
and nerve of these young naval officers
has earned for their achievement not
only the praise of Admiral Dewey, but
also the officials here in Washington.
to whom it has been submitted.
A START MADE.
Being granted leaves of absence last
October. Paymaster Wilcox and Cader
Sargent chose 10 employ their leisure
time in making an exploration of the
interior of the island Of Luzon, about
which very little was known by the
American army and naval officers. AL
the outset they were warned that they
could not pass the lines of the Philip
pine forces without permission of Agui-
na!do. Upon application to this lead
or at Malolos, his headquarters, he
first required a formal sanction of their
request by Admiral Dewey, General
Artt.t i,tr
when this was produced, declined alto
gcther to issue a passport, although he
assured the officers that they We're free
TO proceed without molestation from
his forces. Accordingly a start was
made October 9TH. with FIVE servants.
eight horses, and between 800 and 400
pounds of baggage. including a camp
OUTFIT, two rifles and a shot gun, with
ammunition.
TOOK HORSE
At Bayambang the Americans took
( horse and proceeded toward Rosales.
They say:
AT the town of Bayambang, where
they took horse. they met two
Americans who had been turned back
to Manila because they had no pass
ports from Agunaldo. a squad Of
philippine soldiers was at the station,
but through the influence of an English
resident. Wilcox and Sargent were en-
ablcd to proceed towards Rosales. the
next town on their route. They say:
For the first five or six miles from
Bayambang we found the roads in good
condition and Travelled with ease.
Nearer to Rosales the roads were deem
in mud and covered with water in
places. We were forced to go on foot
the greater part of the distance. men
and horses having great difficulty in
making their way. About IL o'clock in
the morning we passed through the
small town of Alcola There were
twelve soldiers stationed in this town
In charge OF sergeant They were
armed with Remington rifles We
were met by the civil authorities and
were surrounded by the people. Much
curiosity was expressed in regard to
our outfit: but it was of n harmless
and friendly nature. No passports were
mentioned and the soldiers did not as
sert themselves in-ttfr3--w,ryii
The travellers We're treated cour-
teously at Rosales. where twenty SOL
diers were stationed. though surprise
was expressed at their lack of pass
ports.
JOURNEYING UNDER DIFFICULT
TIES.
From Rosales the journey was con-
tinued to HuminEan, and thence to San
Jose under difficulties. The road led
through a low rice region and 1t rained
almost constantly. The horses became
poor and had to be given Il rest at in
tervals. Labor wGs cheap. Two men
could be engaged at 50 in silver for day,
or less than 10 cents in gold per man.
Throughout this part OF the province
of Neuva Icaja almost the only form of
agriculture encouraged at present by
the natives is rice growing. A little
sugar is also raised The land Is very
rich; we encountered no barren or un-
fertile spots. The fields at this season
OF the year are several inches deep in
water. There was no timber OF value
along the direct line of our routes, but
in the hills along the river Agno for
ests could be seen. There are very few
forests and practically no cattle. There
are great number of buffalo and these
are Of extreme utility. The principal
labor of the natives at this season of
the year is the threshing of rice. This
Is done very promitivey with imple-
ments that resemble on a large scale
the nestle and mortar of a chemist.
The mortar is replaced by a section of
log of hard wood, followed out to
receive the grains; the pestle by a hard
club from four to five feet long and
abaut six inches in diameter at each
end.
THE INHABITANTS.
In the villages of Humingan and Luz
pao there are a few Spanish prisoners
priests, soldiers and civil officials. We
have seen representatives OF each of
these three classes in these towns. We
could detect no signs of ill-treatment
nor of undue restriction On the con-
trary, they appeared to possess the
freedom of the towns in which they
lived.
The Presidente Local and other local
officials are native Philippines. Most