The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-01-09

'As the procession passed us on its
way through the village we made out
that the tall man at. the head of the
delegation from the mountains was a
white man. His face and hands were
white, and he wore a big blonde mus
tache. So far as dress was concerned
he was a native pure and simple.
Finally the head natives of the viii
lage came and asked US TO join them
in a conference. We went. The natives
We're squatting in a half moon about the
fire. AT the very center sat the white
rnan--whom We recognized ar a glance
as Capt. Buffer.
The negotiations on our side spoke
il. English, and Buffer answered in the
same way. We were able to reach a
satisfactory conclusion in a short time,
Buffer acting as interpreter.
After the decision had been reached
and the conference had adjourned | took
advantage OF chance to talk TO Buffer.
He told me story something like this:
- was never anything but a non
combatant. YOU know. Finally l got a
letter of dismissal from the Associated
Press. At that time the column | was
with was way up in the interior II the
island. I was throuwn on my re/urces.
without any chance TO form another
profitable engagement. And l had no
idea of going back to where was known
and appealing for help.
- i had picked up a good deal of the
dialect OF one Of the tribes-I was al
ways quick at that sort OF thing. And
when my money was gone | simply left
the column and took up my residence
with a tribe which was not and never
had been engaged in -hostilities against
the United States. made up my mind
then ind there that I would spend the
rest OF my life with them As a certain
method OF burning my bridges behind
me / married the daughter OF the chief
OF the tribe. She Is my wife. who came
down the mountain with me this after
room. We have little son. who in the
course Of time. and unless there IS a
change OF policy. viii be the recognized
chief OF our people.
Ny people had never done any reg
ular work Of any kind.
~ was the first great reforner who
had aver come among them. Ny ser
vice with the army OF the United states
had taught me that the soldiers were
always hungry for potatoss-the good.
cid shfo-cd. Irish variety 7 knew ~
experience how hard Il was to hac them
away from Manila, and enc Of the
frs, things 7 did after taking up
nv residence with the natives was 10
send a sruuner across ccuntry 20
friend Of mine IN the army after a
bushei of them
The potatoes came and we split them
ND and planted them in the sandy sol
Of the mountain slopes The ground
was made for potatoes and the crop
xzs enormous About the tine ] vas
showing nv people how 20 Dig potatoes
aIou= came a column Of soldiers z1f
! sen. some of ny men down the mount
qlr Z, sell the crop 20 the-n. The rea
we're crary for then. and every potato
vas sod az What 70 the natives vas a
hug- p-sCc
Eve. before that ! was rroraia>nt
-an in their counseix- Srt Toe I ~sE
made = king Ever since ! have be<r
kroxr as the Potato King Ct B17gs~f-
ard / don't suppose ] shah ever Etn
rrstce- tile Al AIRY rate. ara Peg
fectly ss-fS@e1- have made ID Nv
,-srd 20 sre11 the rest c< I'D ltfs here
ugth these people. Meme os rY cd frif7ds
know where ! am and none % then SHAH
ever know --Recore- Herald.