general smith ordered waller to scout a possible telegraph route across the island from lanang on the east coast to basey on the west coast – straight across trackless, uninhabited jungle. waller's march across samar began from lanang on 28 december 1901 with 60 marines, including sgt. john h. quick, two philippine scouts and 33 philippine porters. in terrible physical conditions, most of the men were soon sick and running out of food. to stave off disaster, major waller divided his force on 3 january 1902. leaving marine captain david d. porter in charge of a group remaining in the jungle, waller and 14 others went for help at basey, arriving there on 6 january. on 7 january, waller led a relief operation back to porter, but for nine days could not find them.