The National tribune., 1900-04-26
WITH PAY CORPS.
Difficulties Encountered by Pay
masters in the Philippines.

Special correspondence 10 THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE.
MAN LA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, March s.
Though the second payment of the army
in the Philippines forthe year began March
1, two Paymasters have not yet returned
from making the January payments; and
one of them has not even been heard from.
On Jan. 5 Maj. Coffin and clerk, Mr.. Ted
Coffin, sailed south to pay the troops in that
portion of the Archipelago, and, although
the payments were completed about the
end of February, the Major is still in Iloilo,
at work upon his accounts. MIR. Ted,
| owing to the attractive influence of his wife,
who recently arrived from Washington,
made better time and reacned Manila two
days ago.
Their trip took them to Cebu, where they
paid detachment of Battery G, 9th Art,
eight companies of the 18th U. S. Inf, the
entire regiment Of the 23d U. S. Inf, and
four COMPANIES of the 4th y: s. Inf; thence
to the Military District of Mindanao and
Jolo, where they paid the 31st U. S. Inf,
located at Bongao, Siassi, La Guse, Isa-
bella de Basilian and Jolo. They were in
no immediate danger during the journey,
though some of the Moro girls at Jolo made
a feint at capturing Mr.. Ted; but both
father and son returned laden with curloS
and trophies of the trip.
The southern assignment is one greatly
sought after by members of the Pay Corps,
not more because it affords a little extra
compensation in the matter of mileage to
the Paymaster and clerk than to the fact
that it enables them to see something OF the
scenery and people of the southern islands.
1t has not been unattended with danger,
however, in the past, though more from
flood" than field; the difficulties OF land
ing money along shallow shores where no
facilities were afforded for disembarking
being perhaps the greatest. A certain
boo h,r, lpI ln ir1fr of
money into the interior with small escorts,
but thus far no attacks have been made
upon the Paymaster in these southern
trips.
Mai. VIM. b. Rochester, ir., in October,
1899, had one of the most trying experiences
in making the necessary landings and
paying the troops of the 9Th U. $. Inf,
scattered about on the Island of Negros.
In some cases the tug Lee Fat had to anchor
more than n mile from shore, and in in
stances with heavy sea running the pay
chest had then to be shifted into some sort
of small craft and carried to the beach.
Mai. Rochester experienced no actual
shipwrecks, but Mai. Theodore Sternbcrg,
who made the next payment in that island,
was not so fortunate. AT the capital town,
Bacalod, his vessel was compelled to anchor
Scme two miles out, and III attempting to
transfer the pay-chest to small boat the
chest, containing over $50, 600, went by the
board and descended to the bottom Of the
bav. whence it was fished out with no
little difficulty. The accident was no fault
OF the Majors. and it was much to his credit
that by prompt action he succeeded in
having the box raised within few hours
and completed his payments.
CAPTURED BY INSURGENTS.
Maj George T. Holloway and his clerk,
Mr.. George +. Eagan, early in January,
with the necessary funds and cquipme IS,
took passage from Manila by water to
Aparri on the north coast OF LuZon, located
at the mouth Of the Rio de Cagayan. Be
cause of the difficulties in the way the
Major was assigned TO pay the 10th Z. 5.
Inf. only, with headquarters and eight
companies at Apart, two companies, d
and +, at Tuguegarao, some 20 miles up
the Rio de Cagayan, and two companies,
g and II, located at Ilagan, some "a miles
farther up the same stream.
Nothing has been heard from them as
yet, and considerable apprehension is felt,
as it is understood that after their payments
at Ilagan were completed, it was their in
tention to continue on up the Magal River,
a bra..ch OF the Rio de Cagayan, to Bayon-
bong, and thence across the country to
Dagupan, whence they would return to
NJ anila by rail.
The region they have to traverse is one
Of the widest in Luzon, abounding in
ladrones whose depredations are reported
almost daily.
1t is rumored in Manila this morning
that Maj. Holloway and clerk have been
captured by the inSurrectOS.
In the Province of Lepanto, Immediately
west, Paymaster George +. Downey and
clerk, Mr.. jerome Clark, while on their
way from Candon, near the west coast, to
the town Of Cervantes, for the purpose of
paying Maj March's battalion of the 33d |!
U. S. Inf, were ambushed by a party of
LODI nd had liynIy fiypa rapaf-
ling their attack. Mai. Downey had an
escort consisting Of Is men of the 18th U. S.
Inf. commanded by a Corporal.
ATTACKED BY LADRONES.
Paymaster and clerk were both mounted
and were riding about a quarter of a mile
n advance of the pay-wagon when volley
was fired into the escort. which was scat
.ered along, chiefly in the neighborhood
Of the wagon. 1t was complete surprise