Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-08-11
THE LADnONE ISLANDS.

THE LADRONE ISLANDS.
Lieutenant Braunersreuther's Graphic
Account OF Their Capture.
Wheeling, w. Va, August 9,--The
first details at first hand OF the blood
less capture of the principal OF the
Uadrone islands nas reached Wheel
ing in a letter to Hon. Augustus Pol
lack, from the naval officer who fig
ured in the leading role Of the ex-
plot, Lieutenant Braunersreuther,
executive officer OF the cruiser
Charleston. The letter follows;
U. S. S. Charleston, at Sea, 1000
miles from Manila, June 24.-We have
just carried out orders to capture the
Spanish authorities at the capital OF
the Ladrone islands, Agana, | was
selected by the captain TO undertake
this job and given 100 men to land as
starter. | went ashore to nave n
talk with the governor about affairs
and the result was that did not lose
single man. The matter was all
settled in one day and we are carry
ing with us flfty-Tour soldiers Span
ISM and six officers, besides a lot OF
Mauser rifles and nearly 10000 rounds
OF ammunition. ] had the whole to
handle and did ii up quickly. The
captains instructions were TO wait
half hour for his answer TO the ul-
timatum, then use my troops. I wait
ed and in just twenty minutes the
governor handed me his sealed reply,
addressed to the captain OF my ship
out in the harbor about four or Ave
miles Off.
1 knew this was sealed with the
sole object Of gaining time, and hence
1 broke the seal, read the contents,
the governor protesting and saying
that was a letter for my captain. |
replied: III represent him here. You
are now my prisoners, senors, and
will nave to come on board ship with
me-"
They protested and pleaded, and
finally the governor said; "You came
on shore to talk over matters and You
make us prisoners instead"
l replied: 81 came ON shore to hand
you letter and to get your reply; in
this reply now in my hands you agree
to surrender all under your iurisdic-
ton II this means anything at all,
it means that you will accede to any
demand. | may deem proper to make.
You will at once write an order Ibo
your military man at Agana, the cap
ital (bhls place was five miles distant)
directing him to deliver here at this
place at p. IN. Git was then 1880 a.
M, June 81 all arms and ammuni-
ton, and all Spanish flags on the ISL
and. Each soldier to bring his own
rifle and ammunition and all the sol
diers, native and Spanish, with their
officers must witness this"
They protested and demurred, say
ing There was not enough TO do 1t, but
l said: Seniors, 1t must be done"
The letter was written, read by me,
and SENT I took all the officers on
board with me in a boat and at 4 p.
IN. went ashore again and rounded in
the whole outfit. / was three miles
away from my troops and had only
four men with me. At p. m,, when
] disarmed 1903 men and two officers,
l had forty-siS men and three officers
with me. The keynote to the whole
business was my breaking the seal of
that letter and acting at once They
had no time to delay or prepare any
treacherous tricks, and | got the
drop on the whole outfit as they say
out west.
The native troops I released and al
lowed to return to their homes I'M
restricted; they had manifested great
joy in being relieved from Spanish
rule. While 1t was harsh, II was war,
and In connection with the Spanish
treachery 1t was all that could be
done. Twenty-four hours would have
yes, believe even four hours with
a leader such as the governor was, a
lieutenant colonel in the Spanish
army-given them chance to hide
along the road at Agana and at in
tervals In the dense tropical foliage
they could have almost annihilated
any force we could land. The ap-
proaches to the landing over the shall
low coral reefs would have made a
landing without terrible loss of life
almost an impossibility, but, "All is
well that ends WELL"
We have increased by conquest the
population of the United States by
nearly 10000 people. The capital has
a population Of 5000 people. This
Tarbor in which we were is beautiful.
easy Of access, plenty of deep water,
admitting the presence Of large
number Of vessels at the same time.
and is an ideal place for coaling sta
ton. II our government decides to
hold the Philippines, It would then
come In 30 well; San Francisco TO
Honolulu 2l0l miles Honolulu 10 tho