The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-06

north. our objective being Vigan. We
were fairy well treated all along the
route until we arrived at Nigan on June
5. Here l was informed that Gen. Tino
had intended to execute all the American
prisoners; but the presidente of the town
interceding for us. the general had chang
ed his mind. He, however, issued strict
orders that no one should help us or COM
municate with us, and he then placed us
incomunicado-the men being placed in
one cell by themselves and | being placed
in the upper story of the jail with the
jailers family. Here. owing TO the poor
food and our allowances being cut down
TO 10 cents (Mexican money! for the men
and 20 cents for myself and want of exer-
else, most of us became i'll with the prev
alent diseases of the country, some hav-
ing to be sent to the hospital. wrote
several letters to the presidente. and also
to Gen. Tino, to allow us exercise in order
to keep the men in health. / also re-
quested them to allow me books. so that
! could occupy myself in some way. None
of these requests was granted.
Here we remained In strict confinement
until September 5. when we were hurriedly
sent off 10 Bongued In the province OF Aprd.
At this place we were kept at first, for
about six weeks, in strict confinement but
afterward were allowed the liberty of the
town, as were the Spanards which great
ly improved our health, being now able to
take exercise. This continued until Gen.
Tino arrived in the town. when he placed
us all in strict confinement again. and on
December ;, when our troops took San
Quentin Pass and routed his army. ne hur-
riedly marched us, under strong guard,
for the mountains In the north.
Col Hare and Lieut. Col. Howe. at this
time. with body of picked troops Of their
commands were close in pursuit OF us, but
we did not know It. We. however hoping
that some OF our troops would be In pur-
suit left all the signs we could on the
fences, bolders and trees along the route.
This march was the most severe one that
We had to undergo. We travelled at night.
by torchlight, through water-grass up TO
our waists. through jungles where we had
10 cut our paths at times, and canyons.
with very little 10 eat but rice and at
times a small quantity OF pork At this
time we were allowed pack-horses 20 car
~ the effects Of the party. and / was al
lowed a pony. which I used to ford the
different mountain streams. The country.
however. became so rough that We could
not drive our horses Nlrther-even the Tag
alog lieutenant In charge OF the party had
To- abandon his We then Killed the horses
FOR food, aF We had not had meat 10 eat
FOR several days.
We then started for the real climbing OF
the mountains. which are anywhere from
5000 to 5000 feet IN this portion OF the
island After having gone over two or
three mountain ranges. we came 30 the
source OF a large river and. being RATED
across camped for the night about taree
miles below the mouth Here the TaRaie.
lieutenant came 10 me. and. through an
Interpreter. informed me that he had or
ders from Gen. Tho 10 execute Us After
hexitating FOR about a minute. he told me
that his conscience would not permit aim
70 do so, but that he would abandon US
Ir the mountains. As We we're then among
the savage tribes Of the island. who's hand
is against every mans told him Il would
be better for him 20 execute ne rather than
leave us TO be killed by the savages. or To-
starve to death. as We had been starving
for four days az that time He said he
could ncs do -. 7 then requested MIN 10
give ME two rifles and ammunition. by
means % which We could protect the party
from the savsges. He refused and went
or with hts men, leaving AS alone on the
rivers bank.
We then kept strict guard that night In
our camp against the savaEes. and IN the
morning followed the trail 81 our former
guard down the river FOR about three miles.
When We arrived on he bank Of the river
we saw I'm the distance the savaEe= with
their war bonuets ana their shields. There
WAS q h'g open space here. covered with
large stones very much like Cohbies,ones.
and here we carlped judging that II We
h~A - Asht the savsza- vs would hs-ht