Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-02-19

to hear me converse in Spanish with
one of the men Il had been able to
pick up little knowledge of the lang
uage during my stay in the islands) and
after this the colonel seemed to take a
fancy to me, lessened the guard, allow
ed me more privileges than usual, and
finally came to me often to make some
Inquiries. However, it was his prin-
cipal desire to be to discover if | had
any wish to make run for liberty,
and as I showed no inclination to do so
he finally became quite confidential
and asked me numerous questions
about my command. His object seem
ed to gain all the knowledge he could
about the position and the number Of
our force, but l, Tin American par
lance) gave him such information as
served to make him more inquisitive
LAS he had some little desire fol
glory he came to me with the propo-
sition, if you will tell me where the
American sentries are stationed, the
lay of the camp, where | can find
the officers, and such other Informal
ton as | may need to make a night
attack, and either capture or kill the
Americans, will make YOU captain
on our side / pretended to be al
most overcome at the prospect of hay
ing the opportunity to take command
of company of his brave running
fighters, so |. consented to do it. He
asked me how much money l thought
there was. in camp, rud | named a
moderate sum, saying that the boys
might have received more pay since
was there. The old colonel seemed
to be drunk with the prospect and at
once became anxious to get the
mon AT last he removed the guard
entirely, and said that he was ready
for me to do my part In the matter
We proceeded to make our plans, but
before they We're completed the Sec
ond officer in comman1 attemp pied to
warn the colonel not to go about the
country with me without body
guard. The colonel, however, as most
officers in charge of like expedi-.
lions usually do, felt his Importance
and promptly told the subordinate to
attend strictly to his own ,luties Tie
next day the colonel took me to a
point some distance from the camp,
where we could look down the valley
on the side of the hill to the little
village down in the valley about five
miles distant where my company was
encamped. While l was explaining
the situation a native on a caribou
came through the th1cket, making
quite stir among the bushes. This
proved to be my chance. The colonel
turned to learn the cause of the noise
and | reaching for his bolo, drew it
and struck him across the neck. fell
ing him to the ground. Not stopping
to see how badly had wounded him.
cut his belt, which contained my re-
volver, and made dash for liberty.
Fortunately | was out of sight be-
fore the natives came in the clear SO
the alarm was not given until had
gone from five to six hundred yards
Here again fortune favored me.
met native who was riding a pony
and with the assistance of my six
shooter persuaded him that | needed
the pony worse than he did. After
mounting made en- uninterrupted
run till | reached q, small village.
There were large number of native
children playing in the streets, who
upon catching sight of me set up the
cry, 'Americanos, Americanos.' AL
most simultaneously men appeared at
the doors and windows of their huts.
One of them raised rifle to fire and
| felt sure that my time had come.
However, / determined to give him
the best had and sent a parting
shot in his direction and urged my
pony at his utmost speed down the
road. 1t was but short distance
from here, and after few minutes
of hard riding | reached my company,
almost exhausted and in a much i'm
paired condition of health. | was
promptly arrested by my old friend
the first sergeant, who did not recog-
nize me owing to the great changes
which the two weeks of Imprisonment
had made in my appearance. l had
had but little to eat and my feet were
in terrible condition / was sent
to the hospital, where | remained for
two months with raging fever, but
upon my recovery was overjoyed to
realize that | had escaped from the
clutches of the Filipino soldiers