The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-08
Thirty Minutes Given the Gov
ernor to Consider the Matter.
An Officer From the Charleston,
and by Steady Determination and
Refusal to Permit Any Time for
Consideration, Secures Possession
Of All the Troops ON the Island,
n Well n All the Arms mud AM
muuition-Native Troops Releas-
ed and the Spanish Carried Away.

WHEELING. W. Va, Aug. THE first
Details at first hand OF the bioodiess cap
ture of the principal OF the Ladrone ISL
ands, reached Wheeling today in letter
to Hon Augustus Pollaek. from the naval
officer who figured in the leading role OF
the exploit, Lieut. William Braunersreuih-
er. executive officer OF the cruiser Charles
ton The letter follows:
June 2-wo have just carried out our
orders to capture the Spanish authorities
at the capital of the Ladrone Islands.
Agana. l was selected by the captain TO
undertake this job. and given sixty men
to land with as a starter. l went ashore
to have a talk with the governor about af-
fairs. and the result was that I did not
lose even a eingle man. The matter was
all settled in one day. and We are carrying
with us ffty-four soldiers tSpanishl and
six officers, besides a lot of Mauser rifles
and nearly 1900 rounds OF ammunition.
had the whole to handle and did It up
quickly. The captains instructions were
to wait a half hour for an answer to his
u,tinatum. then use my troops. l waited
and In just twen,y-nine minutes the gov
ernor handed me his sealed reply. address
ed TO the captain OF my ship. out in the
harbor, about four or five miles of.
knew this was sealed with the sole object
of gaining time, and hence l broke the
seal. read the contents. the governor pro-
testing and saying that was letter for
my captain. I replied:
"T represent him here. You are now
my prisoners. senors. and will have to
come on board ship with me-
They protested and pleaded and finally
the governor said:
"'You came on shcre to talk over mat
ters and you make us prisoners instead
~ replied: L came on shore to hand You
a letter and to get your reply. In this re-
ply. now in my hands. you agree to surren-
der all under your Jurisdiction. II this
mans anything at all. It means that YOU
will at once accede to any demand may
deem proper to make. You Will at once
write an order 10 your military men a;
Agana, the capital (this place was five
here a. this place at p. m. Ct. was then
1910 a. m. June 2l), all arms and ammuni-
ton and all Spanish flags on the island.
Each soldier IS TO bring his own rifle and
ammunition, and all the soldiers, native
and Spanish. with their officers. must Wit
ness this
They protested and demurred. saying
there was not time enough 10 do it. but l
said: 'Senors. it must be done
The letter was written. read by me and
sent. took all the officers on board with
me in boat and At p. m went ashore
again and rounded in the whole OUTFIT.
.I was three miles away from my troops
and had only four men with me AT p.
m. when disamed lis men and two ofri-
GERS. I had forty-six men and three officers
with me. The keynote 10 the whole bus.-
ness vas my breaking the sal of that let
ter and acting al once. They had no time
to delay or prepare any treaeherous traps.
and got the drop on the whole OUTFIT, AZ
they say out West.
the native troops released and allowed
20 retarn % their homes unrestricted
They manifested great Joy In beng rel.eV-
ed from Spanish rule. While !; was harsh
I. was war. and IN connection with tAe
spanlsh treachery IL was al that could be
done. Twerty-four hours would have~-yee.
I believe even four hours-Wi;h . leader
ike the governor. gho was Leu'en-
ant colona. in the Spanish army. given
them a. chance 20 hide along the road 20
Agana, and a. intervals IN the dense trop-
goaI foliage they could have almost annihi-
lated any force we could land The ap-
proach.ss 10 the landing. over shallow cor
al reefs. vould have made landing ~ith-
ou, a terrible ,o<s OF Efe Amos, al trnpos-
ssos.ty. but .Airs vel that ends vel
We hare increased By conquest the pop
ulstton Of the United States hy nearly
eea v-eonle The capital has a population
os s ,a people This hArooy II whica We
have been - beautiful. easy % access.
plenty os deep water. admitting o. th~
press.nce os large number OF vesss-s al
IRE came txae. and IS ar ideal place FOR
caa!.ng grafton Il ctr government decides
% hold tie Philippines. !; would then come
n 50 wei: san Francisco 10 Ho1oialu
"a, miles. liorolalg - the island of
Guam. 40. AMI thence 70 Manila. la"
uasa K..a chain oe s12OZ stations IKE