New-York tribune., 1902-03-20
wALLER's STORY OF HIS MARCH.
HIS OWN ACCOUNT OF THE TERRIBLE
JOURNEY ACROSS sAMAR

JOURNEY ACROSS SAMAH
Washington, March 19.-The Navy Department
has made public a report from Major Waller re-
counting in detail the stirring events of his tragic
effort to cross the island of Samar. Major Waller
oeSlns with a statement that Lieutenant Williams.
1th Infantry. who had just returned from a twelve
days trip in fruitless search for trail and
captain Pickering urged him not to lake the at
tempt TO cross Samar of the difficulties.
But he decided to make the attempt. in view of the
commanding generals evident desire to find the
trail and run wire He started with fifty
men on December 20 from Lanang. The rivers
were much swollen. and it took a long time to get
the boat through the rapids. Trails picked
up. only to be lost again. and the rain came down
IN torrential bursts. The river the men were fol-
lowing curved almost a circle. and the banks
held no trails. The route crossed and recrOssed
the river every few minutes. and the men began to
develop water and chafes. The knowledge
that they made four or five miles in direction for
each twelve miles of march depressing. on
December 80 reduced ratiOns issued. No sign
of human habitatiOn had been seen except a lonely
fishing shack. There were not even birds. 1t took
the whole of the 31st 10 reach the mountain pass
All the elements seemed to be against the
Descending. the trail was again lost The men
were suffering from sores. from made by
thorns and from fostering bites of leeches. They
could get no fire and ate raw bacon. raft was
built. but sank with one man on it,
Starting down the river. word came to Waller
forge ahead for relief with thirteen the strong
est men. leaving Captain Porter in command Of
the main body. Another effort to build floating
raft failed. Waller finally came to a clearing
~here ne found shack and some growing veEe-
tables. The lenses of his field glass started a fire
and two days supply Of potatoes was cooked Word
from the rear was that the men could make only
three miles day. There was only enough bacon
10 fry the potatoes The natives were reported Il,
be threatening Porter and. altogether the expedi-
tion was in bad way. Two natives were can't
ured and pressed into service guides FINALLY
the Spanish trail was found. but simultaneously a
large boat was discovered and the start was made
for Basey. The report says:
The men, realizing that all was over and that
they were safe and once more near home. gave up
some quietly Wept, others laughed Historically
Most OF the men had shoes cut torn, bruised
ana uiapidated they had marched without mur-
mur lot tWenty-ntne days and had achieved what
no wnite troops had done before. They thought
not or II. but Of each other.
At Basey Waller was taken sick with fever and
suffered also from his injured ankle. lie says the
expedition was Of no vaIue except 10 show that
the mountains can be penetrated and that there
are no insurgents there.
Major Waller says was the only one Of his
party able 20 move February Ten of the
men died from exhaustion and one in the
hospital All the others except Captain Bears
Lieutenant Halford Lieutenant IvIes and Major
waller himself. either had been in the
hospital at the date Of the report. The length of
his march was 30 miles.