Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1900-03-12

I
seemed miraculous that no one was
killed, considering the number OF
shots fired at us by the natives. We
will never know how many of them
were killed as it was their custom so
far as possible to carry away or con
ceal all their dead | will never
forget lthe sight os the first dead
soldier saw, He was captain and
had been shot through the head
We had but moments time to look
at HIM, but that moment was plen-
ty
We remained III the mountains
until the next day at noon when
our three companies and one Of the
10th We're started on an expedition
through the north end of the island.
We went first to Balamban ON the
northwest coast of Cebu, which took
a day and one half OF very hard
marching. After remaining in Bal
amban about three fourths of day
we started back across the noun
talns To point some eight or ten
miles northeast of Gebu, and from
there came down the coast TO Gebu
and on out here. The march lasted
about five days and half and was
very difficult to make. We could
not take horses or mules along the
route so had about 40 Negroites
tCoolies1 per company to carry IA.
tions. The carriers each ''toted"
about 80 lbs, but that did not load
them heavier than the men when the
question of clothing is considered.
The clothing Of a native would
not in any case weigh over pound.
During the whole march we were
never once dry. 1t rained nearly
every day or night and that with
the miles Of wading kept us wet.
However being wet here does not
seem so unhealthy az at home. The
water is warm and colds rarely re
su ted. The work was harder than
making rails, but the experience is
valuable. Balamban is an insnrgent
town and the home Of the general
who commanded them at Sudlon
Mountain. However with native
shrewdness they all had out white
flags and met us at the edge of town
with brass band.
The mountains on this Island are
very steep and high, but something
grows on every foot of the soil You
will call this .'fish story no doubt
but | actually saw corn in every period
from flour blades To dry fodder all
ia one days march. They can plant on
any day OF the year and expect crop
Rice seems to be the same, as we saw
1t at all stages of cultivation while on
this March. Finer and larger sweet
peas than / ever saw at home are now
blooming wild all along the noun
tain trails. And acres of sensitive
plants, may be found most any where.
Bananas grow wild and are also at all
stages Of growth, however they are Of
an inferior variety There are most
beautiful valleys among the noun
tains and wide fertile bottoms along
the coast. Sugar cane also seems to
be growing without care or culture,
and we have squads out from this
camp making syrup at an abandoned
sugar factory a mile from camp.
The cane is ripe and would only be
left to decay, and we are taking adj
vantage OF the situation. We passed
some fine factories, with modern
American machinery, while on the
march but none Of them seemed to
have been operated for long time,
perhaps not since the war with Spain
begun.
Coaconuts are the most useful find
for the product is ready for use as it
falls from the tree. They will attack
a coacanut grove with much greater
zeal, than the "insurrector." BAN
boo Is also most useful product, so
from it the natives build houses,
cooking utensils, beds, chairs, looms,
fabrics and other things too numer-
Gus to relate. The native houses are
generally rooted with Nipa, species
OF palm leaf, the rest generally being
Bamboo.
A large number of the houses have
looms for weaving the prodnct of BAN
boo and Abaca (hemp) and some fine
cloth is produced from the flbres by
the women. This is the greatest
hemp country OF the whole group and
IL is marvellous to see how they work
it with crude implements they have.
The Bolo which is somewhat like corn
cutter, is the most common implement
used and seems To answer about all
purposes, will answer as splendid
fighting weapon at short range. |
passed by more curious weapons and
curiosities on the dag of the battle
than wagon could haul, and If had
had them at home they would have
sold for more than my salary, but at
the time we were discarding every
thing TO tighten our loads, and besides
if an officer stopped TO pick up any
thing the men all went to managing
and the fighting would stop. / will
not describe the part personally taken
NV p.VSpif hut will Sav that Co n