The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1900-11-29
cAiarAzosl,so IN Luzox.


4eeeker Writes q Trying Trip =
aszac - nsasv ana Nan.
cuYAPo. Luzon Island, Sept. ..
DEAR FA1HER:-
have been very busy during the
past ten days aud have not hal :
chance to write the usual weekly letter
a few days ago we made q trip to
Headquarters, which h located at Tar.
lac, about thirty miles distant, aud It
was trip long to be remembered. The
Twelve miles from here to PAnique was
q sea OF mud and water. A good mart
OF the way the water was waist deep.
Of course, We had to walk and lead our
horses, for it was impossible for the
small ponies to carry us through spch
mud; in fact for the most part we had
TO leave the road and take to the rice
neids, which were miry and deep. At
me, one OF which was from you. From
tnere 10 tarlac we had a splendid road
TIL we reached the Tarlac river, which
we had to ford. I attempted to wade
and lead my pony, but the current was
20 strong that 1t washed his fe { from
under him in spite of all he could do.
aud was forced to mount him IN order
to weight him down.. My comrades
did the same and we landed safely on
the opposite shore. We staid i'm Tarlac
till the next day noon. When we
started OH our return another fellow
and had about 900 pesos in our sad.
dlebags, making them quite heavy.
This money we were to take back with
us and we did, but I came very near
losing the pile had. We got as far as
Panique all fright and there we staid
over night, that we might have fresh
start in the morning over the bad roads.
All went well till we came to a bridge
that was 30 badly torn up that we could
not cross 1t and had to cross big ditch
that swan our ponies In order to get
around the bridge. I was swimming
along side of my horse und was lust
getting out Of the strongest part of the
rapid current, when tile saddle glrth
broke and the saddle, saddlebags,
money and all suddenly slid of over
his ruinp and sank out 1T sight. This
frightened him SO that 1t was hard to
tell which WAS which, the horse or me,
in the mixup that followed, and / AMI
unable yet to tell which was under the
water the most, or Just what happened.
We could not touch bottom, but the
boys lid the pony had the best of it.
However, we both landed safely OH
terra firma uninjured. 1 then took q
picket line, dove into the water and
made it fast to the saddle and we
hauled the whole outfit ashore and ar
rived at CuyapO safe aid sound.
This morning we took u ride up i'm
the mountains and gained a point from
which we could look down upon the
surrounding country for miles around.
1t was a lovely view, but l shall not
take the time to describe it now. The
rainy season is coming to u close and
we will rejoice to he able to stand once
more upon dry land, or step out with
out wading in water and mud. BY the
middle of November the roads will be
in good condition and it is reported
that then we will be moved to some
other place, and nothing could suit us
better, as we are getting awful tired of
Cuyapo and long for Il change.
/ receive some letters from anxious
friends that are amusing, as they tell
me how to take care of myself and
what to do in order to prevent sick
ness, etc. The idea of fellow being in
the employ of Uncle Sam and ordered
out ut all times of day and night in
the rain that simply pours without
even commencing with u sprinkle, and
in the mud and water, and wet nIor,.
than half the time, and then for some
solcitous friend 10000 miles away.
toastimg his toes by pleasant fire or
sitting in the shade, advising him to
take care of himself 1t seems to me
to border OIL the ludicrOus.
GEORGE.