LUKBAN
to the main column. The group under Porter’ s command would move ahead slowly and follow Waller’ s trail, which would be clearly marked.
But this plan completely miscarried because of some communication problem. By the morning of 4 January, Waller’ s party had made such little progress that he decided to return to Lanang. In a message sent by native carrier to Porter, Waller informed him of his new decision and instructed him to go to the Suribao river and start building rafts until his( Waller’ s) party returned. Porter had to abandon the idea later because he discovered that wood was not suitable for rafts. When Waller failed to appear, Porter sent Bearss to find him.
Waller in the meantime pushed on for a few kilometres and found, to his great relief, a small clearing planted with bananas, coconuts and camote, a variety of sweet potato. He also espied another prosperous clearing on the opposite side of the river and a trail that led to still another clearing with a shack about five minutes away.
Bearss now caught up to Waller and reported that Porter’ s group was only about an hour and a half away. Waller thereupon sent a second message to Porter instructing him to march to these clearings, feed and rest his troops, then continue the march along Waller’ s marked trail. In short, Waller reverted to his first plan: he would push on, rendezvous with Duncan, and send back a relief party.
After waiting an hour for Porter, Waller crossed the river to a new clearing, messed his troops, and saw to it that their feet“ were well washed with soap and bathed in a good strong bichloride solution.” At this point Waller’ s native runner returned and reported that the insurrectos were so numerous he had not gotten through to Porter. Capt Bearss told Walter he was sure Porter would come along anyway as“ he was considering it when he [ Bearss ] left.” With that, Waller resumed the march.
Waller’ s party soon struck a well-defined trail that eventually led to a native shack where they arrested five persons. Two of them, a man and a 12-year-old boy, knew the way to Basey. After a rugged march of two more days, the small party picked up the Sojoton river and, eventually, Dunlap’ s party. They reached Basey on 6 January 1902.
Waller takes off again
Although exhausted, Waller immediately organized a relief party which he personally led out on 8 January. Altogether he spent nine days in a fruitless search for Porter’ s group. Severe floods had removed traces of his own camp sites, thus making it difficult for Waller to trace him. His troops giving out, he returned to Basey and collapsed. His ankle was in a bad shape, his body covered with sores. He was feverish and
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