Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1899-06-14


onto them too quick for them to
burn the congressional hall, which
still stands uninjured and at present
Is used as quarters by the Utah artil-
lery. When we first got into Malo-
los We were pretty dry and hungry
after a hot charge across the fat,
and when We discovered a lot OF CO.
coanuts under a house you can well
imagine how much we appreciated
them. The so-called milk of the co.
coanut Is the best drinking water to
be found anywhere and quenches
ones thirst %splendidly. This sort of
fruit Is very common In this country
and the natives gather great quaint
ties Of them when they are ripe, using
the thick outside hull, which is about
four inches thick, for fuel, and max
ing a kind OF strong fibre.
We rested first outside Of Malolos
for the remainder of the day we ar
rived on and the next, and then the
following day (I forget whether it
was March 81 or April Il we, the
Third battalion, went out on a scout
ing expedition to learn what condi-
ton the railroad was in and how
strong the position was at the next
town, Calumpit, which was about
five miles above. We started early in
the morning before we had time to
cook our breakfast, and after q long,
cautious advance, during which we
yer shot at by the enemy's out
posts continually, undiscovered that
the niggers were established in a
very strong position just across the
river, which was about 100 yards or
more in width, but could not get
anywhere that we could see the
town, so we decided to return to
camp. On the way hack we picked
our way over the trails thro the rice
swamps that seemed to be alive with
tame ducks; every little shack seemed
tn have been the home for a hundred
or more, and by the time we got to
camp the boys were a sight to be-
hold. Every time we jumped a bunch
of ducks first one and then another
would break out of the ranks and
fly after them, through mud and
water, and continue the chase until
they had all they could carry. !
rushed after a big white goose that
looked as big rs an ostrich and about
the time | was approaching near
enough to catch it | discovered the
major was after it also. Then there
was a sudden turn, a fall, a terrible
commotion in the mud, and the
major and | righted ourselves, each
holding the unfortunate goose. Says
the major: "Who caught him first?'
"Well," | said, "Idon'texactly know,
there was 80 much confusion just at
the time of the capture. But as we
both had hold Of it, | think we had
better toss up to decide the owner
ship" The toss-up came out favor
ably for me, but the major was pre-
sented with the goose. as my squad
had % ducks without it. W. were
all played out when We reached
camp, but our hunger was of the
greatest Importance, SO we all pitched
in at picking the game and had duck
soup for supper. The next day we
rested again, and the following day
the whole Montana regiment went
out with the intention of taking ca
lumpit II possible. We failed in this,
however, losing two killed and five
wounded and q were disabled by the
heat. We not only failed to take the
place, but discovered the realstrength
of the position and narrow WY escaped
being cut to pieces, having run right
into a trap before we discovered 1t,
| was out scouting, but the niggers,
contrary to their usual custom, al
lowed me to get almost among them
before they fired. was out at least
200 yards further than the rest Of the
scouts. who wouldn't go any further
and | was foolish enough to get out
where l could see something. Invent
up where | thought was protected
by the railroad bank all the way, but
afterward learned that l WASH plain
sight of the trenches all the time and
that the niggers were only letting INT
come, hoping the main body was fol
lowing, and when they found l had
discovered their location and was
going back the whole line opened up
on me at about $50 or 300 yards.
don't know for the life of me how
got away. After | had gone about
as far as / thought / ought to. ]
walked up on top of the track and
stood there in plain view for a mo.
ment gazing at the landscape. Isaw
at a glance that there were trenches
all around, but was in hopes that by
pretending not to see them | might
be able to get more time to get
away, or at least find shelter, for