The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-20

ers. He was the only one Of all those who
were exposed TO the FIRE who made no out
ward sign Of caring about It. His stan and
his orderlies dismounted very promptly, and
led their ponies back behind the bamboos
near the ford, where they were out of sight
Of the enemy. But Lawton sat out there
unmoved. He is six feet four and half
inches tall and he rides an enormous Anne
rican horse that is coal black. BY the side
Of the little Filipino ponies that the staff
officers ride, this big black horse looks. per-
haps. bigger than he is, but he is big enough
to make a beautiful mark for any one to
shoot at. But as II this were not enough.
Gen. Lawton wears In the field great white
helmet that makes him look as II he had got
himself up with special reference to making
good target. This day he sat out there
and let them blaze away at him, and Just
kept looking to see where they were. After
while, when our men began to return the
fire. he took off his helmet and held 1t In
his hands in front OF him for several mo-
ments. looking 1t over thoughtfully, as IL he
were wondering why they shot at 1t.
The firing at the river was soon over, and
then our men began to look about for ways
to get across. Beyond the field In which the
advance-guard had been shot at hrst there
was line Of bamboos that we all supposed
marked the line Of the road south from Las
Pihas. Some Of the rebels had run behind
these bamboos and no attention had been
paid to them. Now as the Colorados were
walking about at the river-b bank and look
Ing for way across, these fellows filed out
Into the field less than a third OF mile
from the ford where we had crossed the ditch
and opened up in our rear. In an instant the
Coorados had grabbed their guns again and
were running down the field toward this line
as II they expected to brain the whole lot
of them with the gun butt. 1t happened
that Just at that time Scott had got his
two 80 guns across, and he opened on the
line Of insurgents In a way that made all
who could get out Of that on the run. The
little diversion encouraged those who had
ned from the river to open up again from
the woods in which they were hiding, but
part Of the Colorados, who had been kept be-
hind for just such a contingency. soon put
stop to that, and there was no more shoot
ing that night.
The river at the place where this shooting
took place was full of cascos all of which
were covered with their bamboo tops and ap.
parently deserted. They were all on the far
side Of the river, and some Of them were
needed in getting the men across. Finally
the men found a place a little further down
where they could cross, and some Of them
came up by the cascos and began to turn one
Of them around, swinging one end Of 1t out
into the stream. In order to manage 1t bet
ter they lifted one Of the bamboo strips that
served for roofing. and instantly there was
howl from the casco. It was full of men,
women, and children, all Of whom thought
they were going to be executed instanter. AS
the casco was showed away from the bank,
some more men were disclosed, who were
trying to hide under the running board at
the inshore side. They all protested that
they were amigos of the finest kind. and of
old standing, and they were very much
frightened. Tut a man was found who could
talk little Spanish, and he made Fourth
of July speech to them about liberty and
happiness, and that sort of thing. and wound
up with the assurance that the Americans
did not make war on women and children,
but only on men who were found under arms.
That quieted them down a good bit. and
presently they were helping us to get across
and were trotting out mangoes and whatever
good thing they had to eat They were i'm
mensely surprised to find that the Ameri-
cans paid for such things. and before long
were quite willing to do what they could to
help. They showed us a ford a little way
down the stream which simplifled the matter
of crossing very much. and without which
the artillery probably would not have got
across.
COULD NOT CATCH THE REBELS.
II was getting on towards shutdown very
rapidly, and 1t was very important to get
over to the road before stopping for the
night for otherwise the retreat Of the rebels
would not be cut of The men strung out In
line and hiked as fast as their tired legs
would take them. but 1t was no use. The sun
went down and we were still good way from
the road. We were marching over rice-felds.
and 1t was very difficult going. especially
for the guns, SO when the twilight was over
Gen Lawton gave the word to stop for the
night where we were, which was near a hale.
dry water-run The Colorados asked for per-
mission to go on to the road. but it was
thought best to keep the command all to-
gether, and the permission was refused.
1t wasn't camping, IL was Just lying uo"h
wherever you could, and getting what sleep
you could, with nothing to eat and nothing
to drink. Four of US who were doing news
paper work of one kind or another lay
down in one rice field. with our ponies tied
around the edges. The French Count who
came over to get a commission, and can't
enlist because he Is not citizen, came
along and shared the blanket Of one Of us.
without contributing to the mess, which
consisted of one can Of bologna sausages
and two bareback. However. what is hum
ger when you have the soft ground to sleep
on and the possibility of fight the next
day to keep up your interest? Just in the
corner OF our field one of the boys stumbled
over a bundle which turned out to be the
blanket-roll of a Filipino soldier. When 1t
was opened the secret Of the celebrity with
which they can get out Of the country was
exposed. 1t had been suspected for a long
time that their method involved simply the