The Washington times., 1902-03-20

q 2S on the accompanying map. This was
seventeen miles on the journey. Early the
following morning, the 29th as soon as il
was light We embarked again and made
about eight miles by boats. following the
north branch, or really main river. The
river was much swollen and much time
WIS spent getting the boats through the
rapids Reaching Ligtao found it impos-
sible to use the boats any longer, SO sent
them back with the men of the Seventh
Infantry, who had accompanied US. We
took up our march, found a trail. crossed
the river, and again picked a trail, which
led us to ford We crossed again, and,
losing the trail, followed the river. From
this time we spent hours following the
river, crossing and recrossing the many
dangerous rapids and rocky spots. The
rain had commenced again and was pour
ing in torrential bursts. We camped at
about the point b on the map. We
were now in the mountains and crossing,
by steadily descending leaps. the first OF
the diagonal mountain ranges. The rivers
were riSiup all the time and the rain was
almost incessant. The river we followed
curved sometimes almost in circle The
banks held no trails OF any kind. The
route caused us to cross and recross the
river every few minutes. Toward the end
effect of the march and constant wading.
Great Suffering Among Men.
Water sores began to form, chafes where
the clothing bore on the skin were de-
veloping rapidly. The knowledge that We
had made four or five miles in direction
for each twelve miles of march was de-
pressing. 1t was my expressed desire that
nothing but cheerful, cheering statements
should be made to or in the presence of
the men. Another feature causing me
trouble and making me speak sharply t,
officers several times a cay was the ex-
IRENE difficulty had in making the young
ones keep away from the point when their
duty was with the men. Also the extreme
distaste the officers showed to every hal,
on account of the baggage and rear guard
Eventually | was obliged to take charge
in person. Captain Porter was always
thoughtful and cOnsiderate of me. We
camped at the point b this night Day
after day followed with the same dan
gerous and arduous crossing and re-
crossing OF the river. On the Goth ] was
obliged 10 issue reduced rations. We had
seen no signs of human beings except
once in while lonely temporary fish
ing shack. The banks of the river were
high and mountainous, covered with mas
sive timbcrs and a network of vines and
underground. There were not even birds
TO break the monotony. Late in the af-
ternoon of the Both we made the branch
of the river. | had wished to ascend
Darkness coming on we camped on a
wretched little sand and shingle- bar, the
only available place. We got fires go
ing, however, and had coffee. with two
slices of bacon each. The hard bread
had given out, some OF it being damaged
and had been thrown away. While this
was done without my knowledge il vas
done with the best intention. so | found
nc fault. 1t took the whole of the 31st
to reach the crest of the mountain. We
followed the river bed up and it was
simply one fall The days work was very
severe. ! had reduced the rations to one
half, and further had only two meals a
day. The map shows the Spanish trail 20
pass this point. The crest was not =, 1r.
than twenty feet wide, with no trail. we
had barely time to cut down enough
brush for small bvouac when darkness
came. The wind was very high and we
felt the cold very much. This day de-
veloped very rapidly increasing trouble
among the men, their feet being sore.
Opposed by the Elements.
All the elements seemed against us. On
the 1st we began the descent, moving
by compass west southwest. This should
have brought us very soon to the So
joton River. We searched for trail. but
found none. We struck a river flowing
a bout northwest and followed it. 1t in
creased in volume and became, a very
respectable stream IN point of size. We
at the point "I' on the map.
More foot trouble developed and we suf-
fered from sores caused by being con-
stantly wet, also from the cuts made by
thorns, and from the bites of leeches.
All these places festered and made very
uncomfortable sores. On the I'd we still
followed the stream. its direction being
westerly and the current flowing that
way Late in the afternoon this stream,
after a quick bend. cmptied into a large
stream flowing almost due east. This dis
covery knocked the heart out OF the Of
ficers. We camped at this point t2) and
discussed the situation. The men were
in pretty bad shape. We could get no
fire. so the meal consisted of a piece of
raw bacon for each officer and man. |
recognized the big river as the Sura bao.
1t could be nothing else. | held a coun-
Gil of war and stated that IL was my de-
sire TO go on, but ! would be governed
by the majority after each officer had
expressed his views. The expression of
opinion was much more easily obtained
than positive vote. II was decided that
RATS should be built and that We go
down the Surabao and march to Banan-
gan. Early in the morning RAFT was
constructed, but sank with one man on
it, This settled my mind as to this
method. / ordered the forward move
ment following the Surabao. In a short
while word was sent to me that many
men could not keep up. We were moving
very slowly and cutting our own trail. |
called the officers together and told them
that il was my intention TO take about
thirteen men who were in good shape and
push forward as fast as possible, the
main column to go slowly, but follow my
trail which ] could mark clearly.
Captain Porter Left in Command.
left Captain Porter in command and
took the thirteen men. Lieutenant Hal
ford. who WIS in charge of the advance
that day, and pushed on. We camped at
the point -" In the morning. the officers
having discovered that the men were get
ting disheartened begged me TO try an
other raft. | did this. The evening be-
fore We could get no fire. the incessant
rains forbidding il. | forgot to mention
that the maps had been destroyed as well
as all the other papers and records. |
had further reduced the issue OF rationJ
to one third-that Is to say. we had for
the whole day what IL allowed for one
meal The raft, built entirely of bamboo.
sank under the weight of one man. 1 sent
native back 10 Captain Porter, telling
him to try another raft, that my men
were playing out. ! would join him If the