Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-10-30

says:
mot again in your military career. nor
in that of the men accompanying you on
this arduous undertaking, will conditions
likely arise that will offer you the oppor-
tunity of rendering such unheard of and
never-to-be-forgotten services to your
country"
This may be poor grammar. but It is
the very highest praise from a man who
is not given to gushing, and ADMIRAL
Rodgers. commanding our Asiatic squad
ron, follows it up by saying:
This marine detachment CWaller's
rear guard would undoubtedly have per-
ished to a man had it not been for the
indefatigable exertions of Lieutenant Will
liams."
Before following both rescued and res
cuers into the Labyrinth of Samar into
which they ventured, without a clew,
with no other support than their own
manhood and courage, it is. perhaps, per-
missible to express the hope that the
sluggish channels through which the
award OF the honor medal must pass may
be accelerated oy glance at this simple
tale of military skill and manly daring.
Just the other day a medal of honor was
granted for deed done thirty-three years
ago, At this rate Williams. though he
has extreme youth In his favor, may not
live to wear the reward he has so worth
lily won. Without wishing to initiate our
British cousins In the extreme liberality
wltn which they confer the Victoria
Cross. we might with advantage try to
emulate the speed with which they be-
stow It,
How Lieut.. Williams Won His Glory.
How Major Waller accomplished his
journey of a hundred and sixty miles and
how his rear guar was lost and rescued
at the last possible moment is a long
story, which l can only take up at the
point wien. thrown upon their own re-
sources by the fanure of a native carrier
to deliver Walters orders Captain David
B. Porter, chip Of the old Porter block,
and Lieutenant A. S. Williams, the only
officers remaining with the rear guard.
came together in consultation as to the
best method OF saving their column, COM
posed OF some thirty-hve men, already ex-
hausted by a journey of two weeks in the
wilderness.
1t was a dreary New 1ear's Eve the
gallant band had spent (three days before
the expedition was split into two coll
umns), cutting its way inch by inch and
foot by foot up the jungle covered noun
tain that forms the divide of Southern
Samar. Long after midnight they gained
the crest OF the mountain and fell asleep
on their axes, in the belief that their suf-
fering and hardships were over, that with
TIC AAOAAAAAl6 lLCy MOuAu NdlCA q 6AlAlpcG
OF the sea, or at least of some mountain
torrent or the great trail emolazoned on
the Spanish maps that would lead them to
Basay, the goal of the expedition But
the morning light brought no sight of the
dancing sea, although it disclosed the pit
iful conu4 lion of the marines, who were
shoeless and covered with tropical sores,
chafed from wading constantly in the wa
ter. and with limbs inlamed by the thorns
nd hn % tot,
which always tester.
There was no sight Of the sea, but there
was q stream going almost due west, the
desired direction, and this they followed,
carrying with them all that they could,
their rifles and a little bacon, just enough
to grease and give a taste to the wild po-
tatoes upon which they had subsisted for
so many days. Suddenly the stream to
which they chung as TO life line made
a quick bend and emptied into river
which flowed due east, the direction from
which they had come. This moment of dis
appointment tried the metal of both off,
GERS and men, but If there was a Thought
there certainly was not a word of despair.
AT last, after looking the situation over
the situation which became more despe-
rate on closer examination and with the
passing Of every minute which brought
them so much nearer starvation-Major
Waller decided there was no help for 1t.
His project of crossing Samar must, in
Difference TO the condition of his men, be
given up. The river where they stood was
the Surabao, that empties into the sea on
the east coast at Baronson. and they must
follow 1t.
This method of retreat, however. proved
not so easy as it first appeared. Raft after
raft was built to float the expedition down
to the sea, but from the nature of the
wood these RATS one and all sank under
the weight of a single man, and so the
weary march was resumed, with officers
and men wading up to their armpits in
the bed of the river, where that was posi-
BILE. and cutting their way along the
rocky, jungle covered banks when the
river became a torrent in which no man
could live. 1t was on the following day
that the separation took place, and Major
Waller, pushing ahead with twelve of the
strongest men, after many adventures
and, thanks to the capture of two natives
whom he induced to guide him. reached
Sojoton river and the coast.
Treachery of Native Caused Distress.
Captain Porter and Lieutenant A. S.
Williams waited for several days for the
rear guard of the marines, composed for
the most part of weak and worn out mem
bers of the column, expecting the promiS-
ed message from Waller which,, through
the treachery or the cowardice Of the ma
tive to whom Ii was intrusted, never
reached them. Thrown at last upon their
own resources. the young officers decided
upon plan to save their men which has
won for them golden opinions from all in
the least acquainted with the nature of
the obstacles by which they were con-
fronted.
Their first wish was to follow upon Wal
ler's trail, but after looking over their
men and seeing the condition they were
in it became apparent that while the Sc
lected men who had gone ahead with the
commander of the expedition might posi-
bly, overcome the difficulties of the jour
ney to the sea, the exhausted and for the
most part disabled members of the rear
guard certainly could not hope to do so.
Besides. the latest news received from
Waller had been that ne proposed to re-
turn to them, so it was decided to wait
and gather what strength they could for
the ordeal they could not escape. For, be
ing in the heart Of the island. whether
their journey was TO be to the north or to
the south. to the east or to the west. they
must always pass through the wilderness
of Samar.
Two days passed and no messages came.
Owing to the shortness OF the rations
upon which they were living the rest had
hardly proved an advantage. The men
of the rear guard we're growing weaker
with every hour. when Captain Porter
and Lieutenant Williams decided that the
only salvation for themselves and for
their men lay in retreat along the trail
hz- hav of 10 Ia