Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-07

FOR the background of the picture, first
| came banana trees: then in the rear, rising
| higher and higher in successive stages un-
Til the green barrier seemed to shut out
the sky, appeared magnificent palms.
A Life-Saving Accident.
Our engine had been growing feebler and
feebler in its northward Journey, losing
time steadily until We We're far behind the
schedule ana dark was at hand, when at
Murcia 1t gave out completely, an accident
| which caused vigorous and universal
grumbling at the time but which undoubt-
eddy saved many lives.
The near est engine available for our use
was at Bautista. not very far from the
north terminus of the road. In response
to a telegram this engine came southwark
toward Murcia. About five miles from
Bautsta it ran into two logs of wood that
were laid across the track. Near Tarac
the station north of Murcia. it encountered
a bunch of wire, evidently placed there
with the -dea of entangling the wheels
Finally while backing slowly down be-
tween Tarlac and Murcia it suddenly left
the rails and turned over on its side. The
crew jumped from the engine and raced for
their lives down the track to Murcia, some
three miles distant. where they gave the
alarm. The train wreckers hidden in the
DuSHeS, where Signs OF tnelT presence were
afterwards found. did not interfere with the
engines crew. They had taken out a rail,
Just south of bridge across creek with
very high banks and had SO placed it upon
the track as inevitably to throw north
bound train into the bed of the stream or
into deep ditch running parallel with the
track. They We're not expecting ar
rival from the north, and in their surprise
and perhaps in their fear of possible
trap, they remained where they were until
the soldiers responding to the alarm ap-
preached from Murcia, when they disap-
peared in the jungle.
Nearly all of the company at Murcia went
out in pursuit of the train-wrecking in
surgents. and the suggestion spread among
those who were left behind that the bandits
who had recently stolen thirty rifles and
much ammunition from the army post at
Tarlac might take advantage of the alb
sence of the soldiers to attack the train and
Murcia station. But the train robbers We're
running not fighting. that night, and our
slumbers in the cold air on the floor of the
third-cass officers car were peaceful and
undisturbed, at least far annoyan
from insurrectos were concerned.
In the morning 1 Joined a small party
who resolved not to wait at Murcia for the
arrival of the wreckng train from Manila
and the clearing OF the track, but to push
ahead in iandcar until overtaken by the
train. Our motive power was derived from
Filipinos and Chinese, some running on the
ties and pushing from behind, and some
standing on the car and polling expertly
with long bamboo rods. In our party were
Capt. Booth and DIR. Brewer of Col Bells
regiment, whose company and hospital, re-
spectively, are at Calasiao, near Dagupan,
and who in their courtesy did much to re-
lieve their civilian associate from the dis
comforts of a semi-military experience. DIR.
Brewer Is Il Washingtonian, and is an intel
Ggent and observant student of Philippine
conditions.
Through TarIac Woods on a Handcar.
Our handcar started at rapid pace, and
we quickly covered the three miles to the
wreck. around which the handcar was car
ried. Careful examination of the work of
the train robbers brought the conviction
that a north-bound train leaving the track
here would surely have been piled in wreck
in the bed of the stream. The native train
which in ordinary course would precede the |
military, and had comparatively small |
guard, carried on this occasion several |
thousand dollars in silver. as well as many |
bundles and boxes of goods, and the motive |
of the wreckers seems to have been solely |
that of the train robber to make this rich |
haul, without any regard whatsoever as to |
the nationality of the individuals to be
murdered or robbed.
Beyond the wreck our car was driven be- |
tween the dense and gloomy woods and |
jungle which hemmed In both sides of the
track for three miles to Tarlac. The jungle !
of Tarlac woods is the lurking place of the |
local banditti, and as there was a possibili- |
Of tr1rr niqht he
ed to attack our small party, we urged our |
somewhat winded pushers and polers to ex-
ira efforts by means of all the poiygiot in |
functions to speed with which our ex-
periences with 'rickshaw men and CARO- |
malta drivers had rendered US familiar.
Tariac is the latest Of Aguinaldo's cap
itals. Since he WAS chased from that
village at comparatively recent date he
has never stopped publicly at any point
long enough for 1t to receive full recogni-
ton as new capital. At the present time
the American authorities would very much
Ike to know the location of his seat of
government, whether in north Luzon, south
Luzon. Hong Kong. Singapore or Paris.
In Tarlac there Is opportunity to inspect
the buildings used by the insurgent govern
ment and the houses occupied by the va
rious American generals Including Gen.
"heeler) who have been stationed here.
An Interesting market was in full blast
during our visit, and / invested in a pack
age containing the leaf the lime and the
nut which constitute the ingredients of
betel chewing. The most curious of Tar
laos sights was that of a group of native
fishermen, men and boys, In the Tarlac
river with spears bows and arrows and
clumsy hand-trap all Of which they used
successfully as substitutes for the anglers
rod and fly and for the net.
AT an army post several miles beyond
Tarlac, across the great washout of the
river abandoned our handcar and
waited for and finally took the native train.
and by 1t proceeded to the end Of our rail-
| way trip northward in LuZon.
Talk With Gen. Mac arthur.
Before returned to Manila 1 called upon
| Gen. Macarthur, who is in command in this
district, with headquarters at Bautista.
| The son Of our Judge Macarthur, for so
| many years of the District Supreme Court