Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-02-14

! Manila, Feb. 14.-9:45 a. m--The United
States gunboat Petrol arrived late last
evening with dispatches from Brigadier
General NJ P. Miller to Major General
Otis, announcing that Iloilo had been
taken by the combined military and naval
| forces Saturday morning. General Miller,
on receipt of his instructions from
Manila, sent native commissioners ashore
from the United States transport ST.
Paul with a communica tion for the rebel
governor of Iloio, calling upon him to
surrender within a time stated and warm
ing him not to make a demonstration in
, the interval. The rebels Immediately
moved their guns and prepared to defend
their position. Thereupon the Petrol
fired two warning guns, the rebels i'm
mediately opening fire upon her The
Petrol and the Baltimore then bombarded
the town, which the rebels, having set
,on fire, Immediately evacuated. The
American troops were promptly landed
and eXtingushed the flames in all cases
Of foreign property, but not before con-
siderable damage had been done. 1t is
believed the enemy's loss during the bonn
bardment was heavy, but no American
casualties are reported
Manila, Feb. 14.--11:5O p. m.-Particu-
lars of the capture of Iloilo by the United
States forces under Miller on Saturday
have been received here. On the morning
of Friday, February 10, Miller sent an
ultimatum to the commander of the
rebels on shore, notifying him that it was
his intention to take Iloio by force if
necessary. The nom combatants and for
eigners were warned to leave the town
within twenty-four hours. The rebels
were also warned that they must make no
further beligerent operations.
The gunboat Petrol was then moved to
a position close in shore and near the
rebel fort, while the cruiser Boston took
up her station at the other end of town,
Friday passed quietly. During the day
many refugees left town.
At o'clock on the morning Of Satur-
day, February II, the Petrol signaled to
the Boston that the rebels were working
in their trenches. In return the Petrol
was ordered to fire warning shots upon
the town with her 3-pounders. This was
done, and the rebels replied with a harm
less fusiade. The Boston and Petrol then
! bombarded the rebels trenches, complete
ly clearing them of their occupants.
A very short time after the lombard
ment began flames broke out simultane-
ously in various parts Of the town,
whereupon As marines, acting as infantry
and artillery, were landed from the
ashore from the gunboat Petrol. These
detachments marched straight into Iloilo,
and. hosting the stars and stripes over
the fort, took possession of the place in
the name Of the United States.
The capture of the town and its de-
, fenses having been accomplished, the
marines and soldiers who had been sent
ashore proceeded to the task of saving
the American, English and German con-
sulates from destruction by fire. which
was raging among the frail and inflam-
mable buildings of the town. The Swiss
consul's residence, which was in the same
row as the consulates named, was burned
The entire Chinese and native sections
of the town We're destroyed, but foreign
mercantile property escaped with slight
! damage. There was some desultory fir
ing by the enemy in the outskirts of
1loilo, but not a single American was in
jured.
Milers force had complete control Of
the situation when the gunboat Petrol
sailed from Iloio for Manila. The Sixth
artillery regiment occupied a position
commanding both the bridges leading
| into town. and the Tennessee volunteers
and the Eighteenth United States in
! fantry were occupying the trenches that
had been constructed by the rebels.