Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-04
A PERIL0US TRIP
BY Two Young Naval Officers
on Island of luzon.
They Visit Many Places Heretofore
Seldom Seen by White Men.
And Acquire Vast Amount Of interesting and
Valuable Information.


and most accurate picture of condi-
lions as they exist in the interior Of
the 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 OFF,
cial eye, is that set out in repOr,
made to the navy department of the
tour of two young American naval
officers, Paymaster W. 3. Wilcox and
Cadet r. l.. Sargent, officers OF
Dewey's fleet. This recital of the
hitherto unknown characteristics OF
the island beyond. the limits of Manila
and a few of the more important Of the
LuzOn ports. with it's glimpses of the
military conditions. the difficulties that
lie in the way of the explorer, the
habits OF the people, and finally the
modest recital of the almost insur-
mountable obstacles that We're over
come 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.
Being granted leaves Of absence, last
October, Paymaster Wilcox and Cadet
Sargent chose to 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. AT
the outset they were warned that they
could not pass the lines of the Philip
pine forces without permission of
Aguinaldo. Upon application 10 this
leader at Malolos, his headquarters, he
first required formal sanction Of
their request by Admiral Dewey, Gen.
eral Otis or General Macarthur, and
later when this was produced, declined
altogether to issue a passport, al
though he assured the officers that
they were free to proceed without
molestation from his forces. Accord
ingly a start was made, October S, with
five servants. eight horses and between
300 and 400 pounds of baggage. includ-
gun. with ammunition.
At the town Of Bayambang, where
they took horse. they met two Ameri-
cans, who had been turned back to
Manila because they had no passports
from Aguinaldo. A squad of Philip
pine soldiers was at the station, but
Though the influence of an English
resident, Wilcox and Sargent were en-
abled to proceed towards Rosales. the
next town on their route. They say:
For the first five and six miles from
Bayambang we found the roads in
good condition and Travelled with ease.
Nearer to <nosales the roads were deep
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 II o'clock in
the morning, we passed through the
small town of AIcola. There were Il
soldiers stationed in this town in
charge of sergeant; they were armed
with Remington rifles. We were met
by the civil authorities and were sur
rounded by the people. Much curiosity
Was expressed in regard to our outfit,
but it was of a harmless and friendly
nature. No passports We're mentioned
and the soldiers did not assert them
selves in any way
The travellers We're treated courte.
ously at Rosa,es. where 20 soldiers
were stationed. though surprise was
expressed at their lack Of passports.
Rosales to Humingan, and thence to
San Jose, our experiences of travel
were much the same as those already
described. The road led through the
low rice region of the Province of
Vueva Icaja. 1t rained almost con-
stantly and the roads were nearly i'm
passable. We went on foot much of
the distance. The pack horses We're
unable to carry their loads and we
We're forced to engage natives to re-
lieve them. Labor was cheap. Ten
men could usually be engaged for a
day for the sum of 81 in silver. or less
than 10 cents in gold per man. We
travelled slowly over this distance, the
labor of walking through the mud. fire.
Quently over our knees. being excess
Sive.
1.-The horses grew poor rapidly and
we were forced TO husband their
strength. They We're occasionally
Frustrated in the road, and our
progress was delayed until they could
recover their strength. Moreover we
could seldom find proper food for them
at night. AS many Of them as three
at a time We're unable to carry any
weight for several days. One servant
became ill and was left at village.
The rest of the party retained their
health. with the exception of OCCASION
al cases of diarrhoea and consequent
sickness of the stomach which did not
prevent travelling. Our food during
this period consisted of bacon and
bareback which We had brought with
US. and chickens and rice which we
obtained from the natives. The cook
ing was done by our own servant.
Throughout this part of the prov
ince of Nueva 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 bar
rem or unfertile 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 forests could be seen.
There were very few forests and prac-
tically no cattle.
There are a 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 primitively
with implements that resemble on a