The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1898-09-14
LIEUT.. CLARK'S BRAVERY.
PAW PAW BOY WHO Is IN THE REGULAR
ARMY DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF AT MA
Mia.

ARMY DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF AT MA
Mia.
The Chicago Record recently printed
letter from Manila, giving an account OF
a trip of Lieut. Elmer w. Clark around
that city, for the purpose of Studying the
Spanish defenses behind the town.
Great bravery is attributed to this Paw
Paw boy in his interesting and exciting
There were several stretches OF the
journey where it was necessary to pass
very close to the Spanish block houses
and intrenchments in the suburbs OF
Manila, and in running these gauntlets
he was fired on several times with alarm
ing accuracy The lieutenant was sent
on this dangerous mission by General
Anderson and was offered an escort for
the expedition, but he preferred to
undertake it with only single guide.
Lieut.. Clark and an English-speaking
guide. who had lived in Manila long
enough to know the country around ii
we'll left Cavite, Thursday, July IA, and
went to Bakor. Here Gen. Aguinaldo
protested against his going, but the pro
test was unavailing and the trip up the
coast to Paranaque was made in steam
launch. On reaching Paranaque he took
a native carommatta and went to Plneda.
Thence the lieutenant and his guide
made detour around the fort and
Spanish lines at Natalie and proceeded
toward Santa Ana On the road from
Natalie to Santa Ana there was block
house held by the Spaniards and very
well defended. Skirting around this
blockhouse and keeping we'll hidden
from view of the sentries at the fort, he
went on toward where the Spaniards
were firmly intrenched in the English
cemetery. So far in the trip they had
been fortunate enough TO avoid being
seen and fired on. That night they re-
turned to Pineda and slept in native
house, which was struck by Spanish
bullets several times during the night.
Early Friday morning Lieut.. Clark, his
guide and small bodyguard of insur-
gents proceeded on to San Pedro Macate,
village on the PaSig river, and about
five miles from the center of Manila.
1t was necessary to cross the Pasig at
this point, which was done in safety.
Passing along the mango and bamboo
shaded roads they came to Santulon,
where the waterworks are located. Here
they encountered the first evidence that
the Spanish had seen them in their dar-
ing reconnaissance of the city. On leav-
| 10 1i1ta
to go before reaching San Juan del
! Monte, where the reservoir Is located.
They had gone about a mile from Santu-
lon, and suddenly encountered Spanish
ratification. They started down a
declining road, which was fringed with
trees and hid them from view from the
fort. A quick bend in the road brought
them i'm tull view of the fortitication.
They were seen and the Spaniards al
once opened fire on them. Lieut.. Clark
describes his emotion at this time "a
queer There were bullets singing all
around him. His impulse was to turn
and flee. but the dread of being shot in
the back prevented his doing this. II
was the first time he had ever heard bull
lets hum and knew they were meant fol-
him. The Spaniards kept up a steady
fire for twenty minutes, but by creeping
along on hands and knees and lodging
from tree to tree the whole scouting
party got of free from injury. That
night he slept in a native house neal
San Francisco del Monte, getting his
rest i'm the native style-on piece Of
mating spread on the floor On Satur
day he reached the town of Blicklie
where the Spaniards occupied strongly
fortified blockhouse, with a stone wa
around it, From Blicklie, Lieut.. Clarl
next went to San Francisco del Monte
which was held entirely by the in
surgents. BY climbing the tower of al
old church he was enabled to get flint
view of the surrounding country, Will
the relative position of the Spanish anC
insurgent forces. their trenches ant
various Notifications. From this plac
he saw a solid mile of Spanish intrench
ments. Leaving San Francisco del Mont
he returned to Santulon and then wen
to Caloocan, one of the suburbs Q
Manila. The Spaniards here fired O
the American, and with good deal of &C
curacy. One shot struck at Clark's fee
and two passed close to his head. .
Saturday night, July 10, Lieut. Clar
reached Malipon and the following da
=. crossed the bay to Cavite. During tn
= trip he made a number of valuable map
and observations, found out what it is
be fired on and had an experience whicI
shows him to be as brave as a goo
American soldier can be.