The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1907-01-11
Camp Columbia.
Havana Cuba,
18th Mountain Battery.

Havana Cuba,
18th Mountain Battery.
After hiking for five days over al
macadamized road with our celebrated
mountain battery we struck the rough
est rockiest and Widest trail that
ingenuity OF man ever succeeded In
stretching over IA mountain range,
After two days of pulling mules up
mountains trails and out Of mud holes
vas detailed to assist ON ihe pack
train, and to my misfortune | was AS
signed to mule for transportation
which soon became lame In his lief,
walking beam, consequently we fell
behind, aud arriving at n fork In che
trail found the battery had gone out
of sight | selected what ! thought
10 be the PROPER trail, but, as Ill for
tune would have 1t, the trail that J.
took lad to region that was filled
with misfortune and apprehension, for
after travelling until night overlook m
without seeing aught OF my comrades
was forced to roost upon the limb
Of palm tree. while the lonely night
wac made hideous by THE bowling OF
inc ferocious Cuban mosquitoes and
otner peasls Of Prey which We're anX-
I ious for my blood II Is needless 10
say l passed sleepless night When
at last the sun did appear above the
horizon | at once descended TO the
groand and caught my noble steed,
/ who had been devuuring cactus and
/ limestone during the night aud al
/ ter moving the bark off few
bus Des for my breakfast J remount-
ed and started on my way, determine
ed to follow the trail TO the bitter
end But little did | know at that
time how bitter the end would be.
After travelling about nine hours
through country that was deserted
OF man | arrived at a village called
Palms, where was immediately sur
rounded by an the natives In the
/. village who addressed me In an UNI
known tongue | replied in every ian
guage | was master Of including pro-
zane but without effect Al last,
however. an aged native appeared who
addressed me In fragments Of Eng
lish and when | told him OF my ter
! rifle experience he gazed In wonder
and looked upon ME as a being frcm
another world. for as he told me
was tie only man he had overheard
OF making trip over that terrible
road. beset as 1t ID with man eating
enimals OF every description. Mher
he Lad related my story u his friends
hey clustered about me and seem
ed ty their actions 10 beg for
lock Of my hair or some other eli sh
memento Of the bold. dashing Amer
lean who single handed. had braves
, he dangerous and dreadful wilder
ness.
must say these people treate'
: me very well indeed. They not onl.
housed and fed me, but lent ever!
assistance in their power 10 fn'
my companions At last by mer
chance / found them They wer
7 surrounded by mules and mosquitoes
on a small knoll In the middle Of
{ swamp. | az once went 10 thei
rescue. and when | arrived founi
T the .ations almost exhausted an
T nothing but the carcass Of dee
betN cen the Battery and Starvation
a ", arrived at Candeiaria next day
: where we received = full supply Q
rations. after which We returned :
2, Camp Columbia In addition To thi
a story | only have time 10 say tina
8 We are not dancing 10 the music Q
the whizzing bullets, as did the boy
g In '9S. We are only hiking all owe
the Island, demonstrating 10 III
: peol lie OF Cuba our ability as soldier
OF the common good
y Marion NJ Soar,
NJ a-4h tann