The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-16
AMERICAN SCOUTS
 AID INSURGENTS Life for Them Is Only a Tire less Hunt for Grub ALL GOOD FORAGERS Philadelphia Man Who Was Once Quar- termastcr Sergeant Knows How 10 Get Double Rations at
 All Times

New Orleans, La, February 15.-The American scouting detachment under General Gordon in the Estrada army near Mintrosa, Nicaragua, has readily adapted itself to conditions, and attendant cir cumstances. Staff correspondence of the Associated Press from that place under date of January 26 received by special courier to Buefields and thence by mail steamer here today, says
 Under just what arrangement the scouting party of Americans under Gen era1 Gordon from Panama is here, is matter on which Gordon is not fluent. They came near to starving on the way here from Panama, having been delayed, and out Of funds arrived Life for them meant a tireess hunt for grub
 They descended upon General Mena, 2 lean, active, capable-looking man with his men ten days ago, and took to the canoe paddles as if born to it.. On the trail from Muele de Los Bueyes they fell behind the main body of troops which had scarcely anything to eat and in- variably struck some side trail leading to bountifu repasts of pork, chicken, eggs and tortillas.
 Samuel Drebbin of Philadelphia is the veteran soldier of the outfit, although all are more or less experienced. He was a quartermasters sergeant in the Philip pines and his ideal of man is one he calls Dutch who was a quartermaster's ser geant himself and knew how to draw dou- ble the rations to which he was entitled, 1t Is alleged If a bit of food finds it's way Into camp Drebbin is the first man after 1t. He introduces pork into the menu; also pancakes made of flour, water and lard, and he paid three dollars for a pound of native smearkase which arrived in dirty bag.
 He drills the Squad with enthusiasm In a skirmish drill which he led naked from the waist up he lay firing at will in a nest of voracious ants, firing in- discriminatory, from which lie refused to move until the command forward was given.
 Frank Reynolds of Ntittineague, Mass. Is another able forager and cook Jesse l<rug is the interpreter of the crowd and G. T. nushby, late of his Britannia .majestys amy, causes worlds of laugh ter with lis stories in his native cock Icy infection.
 ''If. D. Walters of Atlantic City, N. J., and Krug disappeared last night. When t they put in an appearance today they brought with them to rtillas, yucca, which. resembled potatoe pie, two launches of vcnison and six eggs. They stated that the egg ms rket showed somewhat string ent conditions.
 "At the previous camp, hacienda called Mundo, Bushoy had a thrilling and chill ing experience with two mountain tigers. He went unarmed and in the darkness for some distance to get water. He walked few paces up stream only to find his return blocked by two tigers, one on each side of the brook Bushby beat tn his pail and shouted but the animals 1efus ed to be scared away. The Eng lishman, half frozen, rather than risk running past them, spent the night perched on rock in the bush,
 Where there has been previous travel fin this section mud is more than two feet deep. The mountain sides are steep and slippery. Vines reach out in hidden \ places 10 drag the rider from his mount and thorns are unavoidable. The fact that mules carry heavy burdens over such trails seeus marvellous. They chamber like apes up the hillsides, slide like ski runners down them, and cheat broken legs on hidden rocks and roots at almost every turn.
 Cold nights have caused much suf- fering because of insufficient covering. Food is scarce, the army being on Jout cne-third ratiCns. Much food and rlany cooking ute nsils were lost on the trail.1 Despite all tfis. however, everybody is healthy and ir good spirits. The soldiers exp.t ss eagerness at the prospect of meet ing the enemy.