The Washington herald., 1908-06-14

ten days ago we left for our monthly
pay trip to Samar. This trip includes
the posts of Camp Connell, Calbayog.
Camp Crawford Catbalogan. Bulao. and
Gandara. all more or less interesting and
historical The Island Of Samar has al
ways been the center Of disturbances and
instructions since American occupation.
and even now ii is only eternal vigilance
and a strong military force that tend 20
produce harmony and quietude on the
exterior, although every American real
ICES only too well that the slightest laxity
in the present policy Of the government
or the withdrawal of a portion Of the
troops would procipitate another outbreak
In fact. existence here is similar to that
at or near the crater Of a volcano. and
the fires OF animosity and hatred are
smoldering. needing only a breath 10
fan them into a fierce and consuming
blaze.
our first stop was Camp ConneIl.
at Calbayog. which is the present station
Of the First Infantry. which regiment has
done most excellent service since its
arrival. and Is Justly entitled 20 period
Of rest and pleasant station on its
return 10 the States in May.
Col. G. K. McGunnegle. the commanding
officer, is a most courteous and genial
gentleman, who. although well past mid
die age and Weighing over 200 pounds.
is quite an athlete. He invited me 10
play tennis, and We played three hard
sets, which I won only after a hard
fought contest, his endurance and agility
being a great surprise Truly. any ride
prescribed by the President viii have no
terrors for the commanding officer OF the
First
Camp Conneu is situated IN the midst
OF a grove Of cocoanut trees. while the
quarters are all covered with luNuriaift
tropical flowers and fOliage-truly an
ideal spot in the Pacific. the only objec-
ton being the difficulty Of making a land
ing during the monsoon season from July
70 December, during which time the
launches are forced 10 wait in the vicinity
for ten days or two weeks IN many in
stances before being able 10 send small
boat TO shore with any certainty OF It's
arriving right side UP. The First Is one
OF the highest ranking regiments in the
service in marksmanship, and about g.
per cent of the enlisted men have marks
man, sharpshooter. or expert riAeman
opposite their names on the roll
To make the trip from COnner 10 Bulao
and Gandara We were obliged 10 transfer
TO the Hercules. a small launch that has
been plying up and down the Gandara
River FOR several years in charge Of a
Filipino who knows every turn. snag.
reef. channel. and shallow Of the stream
10 an extent that would make the pilots
Of the Mississippi. as described by Mark
Twain. green with envy.
This is one OF the most picturesque
trips in the islands. and the river winds
in and out cOillRg its sinu0us surface
round and round Ike "A gigantic snake.
there being an abrupt turn every two or
three hundred yards. some Of which equal
the famous horseshoe curve, and although
when we made the trip up stream It was
midnight and 50 dark that We could not
see ten feet IN front Of our bow. the
pilot carried Us AZ full speed for twenty
miles with q recklessness that was a
source Of delight and shivery anticipation
20 US.
We had been cautioned 10 take blankets
and II was well we did. as the chill Of
the atmosphere penetrated 20 our very
bones The source Of the river is in the
mountains, and we were steadily climb
ing all the way against a swift current
which would almost have prevented head
way at all were il not for the fact that
the tide was setting IN and assisting our
progress. TIE darkness was at times re-
lieved by the phoSphorescCnce on the wa
ter and the light from millions Of fire
flies, which would suddenly seem to burst
into blaze in the trees along the shore.
so that for few hundred yards we would
be travelling along an illuminated Vene-
tian thoroughfare. bright with thousands
Of tiny incandeScent lights. while the
river would be transformed into liquid
gold.
We arrived at Bulao about a m. This
is scout post. under command Of Lieut..
Maloney. who is the only white man sta
toned there. and we are always sure
Of hearty welcome. the commanding Of
ficer being extremely anxious TO hear
from the outside world and to converse
with an American now and then.
One day prior TO our arrival quite a
tragedy had been enacted. The quarter
master sergeant, a scout by the name Of
Gerra, serving in his sixth year Of con-
tinuous service. being a splendid sol
der and bearing an excellent reputation.
was a few pesos short in his accounts.
He was severely taken TO task by Lieut..
Maloney and relieved from his position
as quartermaster sergeant.
His reduction and the lecture given by
his commanding officer evidently preved
upon his mind for the next morning AZ
roll call he was absent and was posted
as a deserter He had taken his gun.
equipments, and rations. and left the
pest He was absent for three davs.
avoiding the scouting parties that were
sent out In his pursuit. hiding across the
river at night, from which place he would
nre an occasional shot into camp in the
same manner so graphically described
by Kipling in his Soldiers Three"
On the morning Of the fourth day he
managed 10 slip by the sentry. and Sc
creted himself near Lieut.. Malonev's
quarters. At reveille, in fun sight of a
number Of his comrades. he marched 10
the center Of the parade grounds. stood
at attention, saluted the colors. then
placing the muzzle Of his rife 10 his
forehead. and deliberately blew out his
brains. The commanding officer was con-
Slderably broken up over the event. as
Gerra had been a favorite. and had
served under him for a number Of years
somewhat 10 our surprise he was buried
with full military honors.
We made the payment. had eaten
breakfast, and were on our way down
the river toward Gandara by S o'clock.
Lieut. Covell is the commanding officer
here, and there is no such popular scout
post in the islands. Men will come for
hundreds Of miles 10 enlist with Covell.
as result of which his command IS
always full strength. while many others
are forced to struggle along with half
or two-thirds Of their regular quota