Evening star., 1899-02-01
ISLAND OF LUZON
A Tour Made by Two United States
Army Officers.
The CUSTOMS OF The PEOPLE
Some Are Well Educated and Have
Refined Manners.
l. AM d AND P ROD U CT S

conditions as they exist today in the in
terror of the great Island of LuzOn, the
largest of the Philippine group, with an
area equaling that of the state or Virginia.
that has yet been presented TO the official
eye is that set out in report made to the
Navy Department of the tour of two young
American naval officers, Paymaster W. B.
Wilcox and Cadet r. l.. Sargent officers OF
DeWCys fleet. This recital Of the hitherto
unknown characteristics of the island be-
yond the limits of Manila and few of the
more important of the Luzon ports, with its
glimpses of the military conditions, the
difficulties that lie in the way of the ex-
plOrcr, the habits of the people and finally
the modest recital of the almost insur-
mountable obstacles that We're overcome
by the shrewdncss and nerve of these young
naval officers, has earned for their achieve
ment not only the praise of Admiral Dewey,
but also the officials here in Washington to
whom it has been submitted
Being granted leaves Of absence last Oc-
tOber PaYnaster Wilcox and Cadet Sar-
gent chose to employ their leisure time in
making exploration of the interior of the
Island of Luzon. about which very little
was known by the American army and ma
val officers At the outset they were warned
that they could not PASS the lines of the
Philippine forces without permission of
AguinaldO. UDon application to this leader
at MalOlOs. his headquarters he first re-
Quired a formal sanction of their request
by Admiral Dewey, General Otis or General
Macarthur, and later. when this was pro.
duced declined altogether to issue pass
port. although he assured the officers that
they We're free 10 proceed Without mOesta-
ton from his forces. Accordingly start
was made October with five servants,
eight horses AMI between 800 and 400
pounds of baggage including a camp outfit.
two rifles and a shotgun, with ammunition.
Eon,mcnccm of the journey.
They say: For the first five or six miles
from Bayambang We found the roads in
good condition and Travelled with ease.
About II O'Clock in the morning we passed
through the small town of Alcola. There
were twelve soldiers stationed in this town,
in charge of a sargeant They We're armed
with Remington rifles"
The travellers were treated cOurteOusly
at Rosalcs, where twenty soldiers We're sta
toned. though surprise was expressed at
their lack of passports.
Continuing. the report reads:
From Rosaics to Humingan ana thence
to San Jose our experiences of travel were
much the same as those already described
Throughout this part of the province of
NUeEa ICaia almost the only form of agri-
culture encouraged at present by the ma
tivcs IS rice growing. A little sugar is also
raised The land is also very rich. We en-
Countered no barren unfertile spots
There are very few forests and practically
10 cattle There are a great number Of
buffalo. and these are Of extreme utility
season Of the wear is the throshng of rice.
In the villages of Humnean and Lupao
there are 4 few Snapish prfsOners-prests,
soldiers and civil officials. We have seen
scntativcs of each of these three
classes in these towns. We could detect no
signs of ill-treatment nor Of undue restric-
tiCn. On the contrary. they appeared to
possess the freedom of the towns in which
they lived.
Native Officials.
The presidcrte local and other local off,
cials are native Fi'ipinos Most Of them
have received a certain amount of educa-
ton at religious schools in Manila. They
are intelligent men. and are extremely
eager to learn news from the outside world
Their knowledge Of modern history and
geography is extremely limited, and their
Ignorance Of current events IS surprising.
We brought them their first definite infor-
nation with regard TO Cuba and to their
own present status. One or two of them
had heard of the congress at Paris, but
one had any idea 10 fits object, nor to
its relation to themselves. They were we'll
grounded on only three pOints-the destruc-
tion of the Spanish squadron in Manila har-
bOr, the surrender Of Manila and the dec
laration by the Philippine government at
Malolos of the Independence of the islands
and the establishment of a republican form
of government. with Sn. Aguinaldo as
president Even on these points the details
they had received were very inaccurate.
The journey to the town of Carranglan
Is described as having be=n over very fair
trail. and bcset with difficulties
The American officers were received cOolly
by the Philippine military officers at this
town, owing to their lack of passports, but
were permitted to proceed. 1t was plainly
impossible for them to accomplish their
journey in the one months leave they had
taken. they mailed back letters asking
an extension until November %
Leaving CarTanglan, the presidente local
insisted upon their taking a guard of twelve
soldiers. with a sergeant. Ito protect us
against the lgorrOtes or saVages, that are
said to infest the bills between this town
and AritaO."
We arrived at Aritao shortly before sun
down. OF the timber which we have seen,
the most valued on the island is the ''mu-
lave 50 called both in Spanish and Te-
gala. This Is tall. straight tree, with
very few branches. The bark is very light
in color. but the wood is very dark and
ciose-grained, and resists water and wealth
er 1t Is much used for boats and for the
floors and exposed upriehts of houses
There is also much bamboo. some of which
has been cut. The heavier trees are yet
unmolested. We no signs of savages
nor of poisonous snakes against which we
had been warned by the natives of the dis
trict. In going from Carranglan to Aritao
we went from the province to NueVa Leila
to that of Nueva NiZcaya.
a Military Escort.
We spert the night at Bambang. We
were accompanied by several soldiers and
that n commissioned officer had formed
part of our escort. This town is the capital
of the province, and has a population of
about l. 900 inhabitants. AT this place we
met tho first formidable opposition to our
p2 ogress.
From Baeagag to the next town. Gordon
(called Estclla on the map) there is only a
mountain trail.
In passing over these mountains our es-
cCrts used their rifles very freely, firing
into every thick bush that might conceal
a savage, and frequently into the air as
well in order, they said that the Igorrotes
might know that our party carried fire.
arms.
We left next morning, October "a, for
Carig, intending to reach Echague that
night. We were escorted by six soldiers
and the lieutenant. Our delay in this town
| lasted seven days. from noon. October "a
! to uooH, October 81
During our detention at Carig we were
| not treated prisoners. We were in
| formed that II we wished to return to Ma
| Mia by the same road we had followed in
| leaving II Ebarty TO a