The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-01-17
A TRIP TO BANATE.
An Interesting Little Coast City
Visited by Tribune Corre=
spOndeat.
Special s,rre.l.ondence to Tn: N.rIoxAI. ra,nrNn

Special correspondence to The NNrIoNkI. TaIGuNE
ILoHo. pANAY. l.. |.
We left Iloilo at s o'clock Nov. 10 for
Banate, Il town ON the east coast some
80 miles north of lloilo.
ii was clear morning. and the water
in the river and channel. saving the fur-
rows cut by praos and launches. showed
hardly Il rifle of disturbance. There was
an important piece of machinery. Il
drcdger, near the landing. which might
have caused appropriately enough much
greater agitation of the water. but for
some reason it lay there imperative. Near
bv was Il coaSting steamer. the IourdeS.
being repaired. and if il t;iilcS as long as
it did TO repair the Taculin. Il similar
boat il will be ready for the sea III Il
couple of years.
We embarked in the rear of the Gus
tom House. crossing over couple OF
other boats in order TO reach our launch,
the Nesan. muchachoS carrying boxes ana
other baggage. We We're soon under WAY!
Passing the barges, docks, warehouses,
sands and shadows with quick turn
around the buoy marking the river en-
trance. we We're soon SteamlhG UP the
channel to the north.
There is n stake and cross-bar. with lam
tern attached. in the river. which marks
the position of casco loaded with stones
sunk by a Eative. in imitation of iobSon,
10 block up the passage and prevent the
entrance of American vessels. Whether
the hero has shared in the osculatory nom
ors which follow such deeds we have not
been informed.
The Arab. chartered transport. and
the Castinc. gunb0at. were the only
large vessels lying in the harbor. The
Arab. which arrived the day before,
brought down 800 horses and loo mules,
the horses for mounting infantry ana the
mules for pack-train work in the interior.
Besides Capt Washhurn. of the Nesan.
and native crew. the launch carried Mrs.
Wotherspoon. wife If the Collector of
Customs. and son: Maj. Sternberg and
other members of the Pay Corps: Lieut.. !
Goodale. Deputy Collector of Customs;
Lieut.. Clarity. Chief Of the Secret Police. !
Iloilo: the guard. COrpl Knapp. and one |
private of the 26th Inf, and the boats |
mascot. Il young Chow dog, of the va |
riety priced much in China as table
luxury, and which in his wide-open coun- |
tenance. rough. black coat and movements |
bears n striking resemblance to young |
cub.
In coming out of the river discussion |
arose as to why a new bar had formed |
near the mouth, which was concluded by |
Mai. Sternberg, a very dry joker, who I
deemed it due TO the fact that one of the
Spanish boats had washed its decks at |
that point.
Fishing weirs are noticeable all along |
the west coast for many miles, and they |
are usually a very profitable investment. |
The Corporal Informed me that in an ex-
petition to Damangas, in which he was
one of the party, conducted by Capt.
Hickey. Co. E, 26th Inf, and detach-
ment of the 18th Inf, with five days ra-
tions, they were delayed on the coast
three days and ran out of provisions. but
found fish enough in one of these traps
to more than supply their needs
Owing to the clear atmosphere, the blue
Cordilleras dividing the Provinces of An
tigua and Panay were plainly visible to
the west and there was much conjecture
as to the character of a tall, white OBJ
ject seen through Il glass standing verti-
cally about half way up the slope of one
of the mountains.
1t was suggested that it might be a
church spire, an Insurrecto signal sta
tion. the CONCEALED hopes of Quintine Sal
lus the ghost of Filipino independence,
portent of Republican victory in the
States; but what it really was is still
matter of uncertainty.
The shores of Negros, with the volcano
Of Canloan. said to be the highest peak
OF the Philippines, came into plain view
as we passed the north end of Guimaras,
about 10 miles north of Iloilo; and Ana
balas, barrio on Guimaras, was pointed
out as one of the most attractive places
on the island.
Since our trip an interesting circum-
stance has happened there. An Insur-
recto Collector and Paymaster was appre-
hended in Jaro. who, after parley. adj
mitted that he had some money, which he
asserted was his own private funds, con-
cealed on the island of Guimaras. He con-
Quoted party to Anabalas, where they