The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-09-05

draws that crossed it, we came within
the hills bordering the low land, when a
solitary Mauser crack was heard and
bullet came whiStling over the column,
just as we reached the edge of another
of the deep draws. The sniper kept up
his work as fast as he could handle his
gun, and though there was little danger
of anybody getting hit, as he had only
$500 men to shoot at, still, being at the
head of the column, | was directed by the
Colonel to turn a squad loose at him, his
exact location not being known because
of his use of smOkeless powder. A few
volleys into the clumps of trees sienceG
him. Just at this time the General
learned that he was going in the wrong
direction, and we began IA countermarch,
reaching the center of the valley again
and hating there for the next four hours
in the hot sun, while a pioneer detail fixed
bridge across a stream near the base
of the first hill on the east, so that the
artillery could cross it. 1t was while
wasting all this time that Gen. Lawton
had counted upon for US to use up III get
ting in the rear of Taytay, that | heard
one of the men remark that he never rea-
liZed before the tremendous advantage of
getting an early start.
Finally, about noon, the Mausers began
to crack in the hills to the east. The Fill
pinOs had opened fire on the men building
the bridge. The supports formed a firing
line and began to return the fire, while
the OregOnS were ordered to the front,
my battalion being deployed for the firing
line. AS soon as we deplOyed we began
the advance, my own company on the ex-
IRENE right and having the pleasure of
wadlns through swamp up to the waist.
AS soon rs we struck the high ground we
began climbing the steep hills, and at the
crest of the first one were saluted by vol
leys from Entertainments higher up on
hills about 1000 yards distant Taking
what shelter hedge row on the edge Of
a cornheld offered, We replied to this fire
the best we could, the guns throwing
shells over our heads from the low ground
in the valley. just at this interesting
point / stumbled upon the biggest pine
apple / saw while in the islands 1t is
the custom to set out the pine apple plants
around the edges of fields They had all
been picked but this one, which had prob
ably ripened slower than the others. At
all events, / did not stop to reason the
matter out, but had one of the men cut
it into sections with his Krag bayonet,
and we all took a piece. 4ust then the
Dugle sounded the advance, and the men
performed the difficult feat of loading and
shouting and eating pineapple at the same
time, while |, having no gun TO handle
ana using only small stick for a sword
munched mine more comfortably between
the commands for volley firing and regu-
lating the advance.
The fiiipinOs did not wait for us TO
reach their trench before taking them
selves out OF harms way to the south,
toward the road that leads from the rear
of Taytay to Antipolo and Morong. and
we found an empty cage when we reached
the trench after climbing up and down
half dozen hills, with only two of our
men wounded. We followed them south
ward, the column being finally wcdged in
narrow mountain trail worn in the
rocks and sunken so that nothing could
be seen. 1t was at this stage of the pro-
ceedlngs that Gen. Lawton wired over
the field wire that was kept right at our
heels that we were not making progress
enough and that he could tell Just how
far we had gone by the smoke of the
burning houses. The General was furi-
Gus, and laid the blame of the burning
OF hutS upon the volunteers, threatening
to have volleys fired at the next house he
saw catch fire. He was assured that the
huts were set on fire by Chinese camp fol-
lowers and cargadores, but he did not
seem to believe it. | did not believe it
much myself, though every man in my
own company was in the ranks.
The order of the column through the
mountain trails was the troop of the 4th
Cav. in advance, dismounted, the Ore
CONS st the head of the main body. fol-
lowed 10y the 4th Inf. and the Colorados,
the artillery having crossed the stream at
last, bringing up the rear and in no Do
sitiOn TO be of service. Suddenly there
was opened n heavy rifle fire in front. and
we soon learned that the advance had
run into a bad ambuscade. 1t had come