New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-02

first definite Information with regard 70 cuba and
10 theli own present status. ono or w" OF them
had any idea as 70 Is object. nor as 10 its rela-
only three pOintS-the destruction Of the Spanish
squadron ut Manila Harbor. the surrender Of
eminent at Malolos Of the Independence OF the
islands and the es'ablishment Of republican form
an these points the details they had received were
We had been warned by the officials OF the last
town that San Jose must inevitably prove the end
of our iGurney. There Is no road for thirty miles
of The natives n san Lose were wiling To- accom-
pauy OF us a. pack-bcareTs. but secured ten men
;rail proved to he a little better than rcprcsented
Twenty-four hours more Of rain would have made
al least three mountain streams impossible The
half Il mile along II shoal IN small river. and
follows the beds of mountain streams for many
lines that distance. Rushing water frequently
kneeGcep the horses. covered these stretches Of
me trail at me time we passed on land grass
and undernrush grew thckly over the trail, and
concealed It ior considerable distances. our guide
me tran often ne deviaied from II twice that
day, however, and had much difficulty in regain
In the time Of the Instruction company Of
Spanish :oldcrs had been sent over this trail Tho
inem had been ambushed and slain According 70
me statements Of our guide. few Of this Spanish
undoubtedly trail thar few men could hold
against heavy odds and Is the frat Of this nature
1h Hnoro,. yn Tc2e S cTossad
that day The pack bearers az first refused 10 cross
two s.reams that Were deeper and moro rapid than
the others. They required both ENCOURAGEMENT and
example before they could be induced 10 make the
attempt II rained hercely all day
4 broad branch Of the Rio Magat separated US
from this town. There was 'banca, OF native
were taken to the other side while thc horses
swan acr9ss at point higher up NE stream
Of Journey In the mountains and highlands
days there are extensive forests The forests are
not homogeneous. hut contain many different
cases valueless. OF the timber which we have
SEEN the most valued on the island Is the mulawe"
straight tree with few branches the bark is light
In color; but the wood j. dark and close grained,
and resists water and weather II IS much used
for boats. and for the floors and exposed uprights
which has been cut The heavier trees are as yet
unmolested We saw no signs OF savages nor Of
warned by the natives Of the district. In going
from Carrangian to Aritao we Went from the Prov
We spent the night at Bambang We were ac-
G1Ranisd 4y several solder Ii and LieuSnant
stoned officer mad formed part Of escort. This
town Is the capital ai Of 3 the province and has
At this place met the first formidable opposition
to our progress.
FEARS OF ATTACK BY sAvAGEs
From Baggage to the next town Gordon called
ISthlo on the map there s only mountain
trail. This trail Is infested AZ certain seasons by
lgorrotes, who waylay and murder persons trav-
cling IN small and unermcd parties Several
dcrs have occurred here recently. Three small
parties Of natives with horses and bunalOes had
been waiting at Bagagag for several days for an
opportunity 10 travel with Il military escort. They
Joined US next day. In passing over these noun
ans our escorts used their rifles freely firing
every thick bush that might conceal n savage. and
frequently into the air well In order, they said
that the lgoTrotes might know that our party car
ricd firearms.
1t had rained almost constantly for the last week
and the two rivers between Carg and Echague
were greatly swollen We lost a horse i'm the
river Carg. but crossed without further accident
In the streams and particularly In tho river Magat
and the Rio Grande de Cagayan. there are many
No native Will venture into the water nor into The
grass. along the bank. until he has first thrown
stones IN front Of him 10 frighcn away any alliga-
tors which may be In the neighborhood.
EChague Is somewhat larger ana more pretcntiOus
than Carg. II has guard OF twenty soldiers
From this town went by boat 10 llagan, send
ing the servants with the horses by the road The
boat was a dugOut. twenty -iVe feet long and
three feet wide. with grass canopy amidships
eight feet long II was rowed 10y siX natives
rendering il for some distance below Echague
almost unnavigable. even for bancas. We shipped
water repeatedly. and were twice nearly sWamped
Further down particularly below the mouth or the
Rio MaRht, the stream Is deeper ana quietcr, ana
cascOeq and pangaR come mp IN this point Win
freight received from the steamers at Apart.
We arrived al Ilagan that evening. November J.
This town Is the capital city Or the PrONlScs OF
Isabella. IL has population Of between ten thou
sand and fifteen thousand inhabitants. and has
iron giving TO IL rather European appearance. II
r. well situated for defence. being at the Junction