The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1899-11-17

badly frightened he was nninjured.
On July 9Th we succeeded IN land
ing at Ponto Vldro and came here the
next day to relieve the California
volunteers. They were the hsppiest
set ever saw when it was known for
certain that the regulars we're to re-
lieve them ard they were to 60 home.
They gave us a rousing reception and
on the I2th left for Manila, leaving us
to do what they had vainly tiled to
accomplish. |. e.. to put down certain
organized bands Of robbers numt ering
about 1000 in all, infestipg the noun
tsins, and led by one named Papa Icia.
This outlaw, for he is nothing else.
according to reports, was once Cath
Ollie priest. and having been excoms
municated on account OF some of his
doings, fed to the mountains near
here and organized his followers into
band that had. for the last rs years.
successfully eluded the Spanish su-
thofities. The Spanish officials, grows
Ing tired Of trying to catch him, con-
tented themselves by stationing their
soldiers at the weather. haciendas.
leaving the rest at the mercy OF the
gang. When war broke out between
the Uhited States and Spain the Span
ish authorities had enough to look
after, II seems, and the banditti were
allowed to swoop down from their
stronghclds in the mountains, and to
kill and plumber whoever they chose.
Uoder those circumstances the gang
grew to such a strength as to be able
to make a formidable resistance to
any who opposed them. The volun-
teers checked them considerably ard
made them be more cautious about
their manners, bur it was left for us
as the soldiers term II, Ito break their
hearts "
Capt (now 1t. Col B A. Byrne, a
better soldier than whom never drew
a sword, commands the I'D Battalion.
He is a veteran OF rs years expert
ence, rose from the ranks and has
seen much service in Indian cam
paigns in the west. A better man fer
the work before us could not have
been had to command. He thought
at first that so men were enough to
hold La Carlota district, but soon
found out his error, so on July 18th
he came over with rs more men and
established Battalion headquarters at
this place. The enemy during this
time had been active, especially in the
neighborhood of the mountains Nv
cry day reports we're coming in thst
Some wealthy man had been burned
out and robbed by the scouudrels of
everything he owned. Capt. Byrne
decided at once to chsstise them, and
on the night of July 18th set out for
the mountains with las men. This
detachment was divided into three
companies. commanded respectively
by Lieutenants Evans and Nesbitt
and me. Such was the secrecy with
which this expedition was planned
that no one suspected that a move
ment was on foot until we were ont of
town and we'll on our way to the
mountains. We left at 2 p. m. and
reached the hacienda Carlos at $50.
Here 1t. Evans was detached from as
and Capt. Byrne with the two remain
ing companies proceeded to attack the
bandit stronghold at Bobong. We
marched until 3 O'Clock next morning
when we were within a half mile Of
that place. Here we halted until day
light, then climbed the mountain and
burst upon the outposts Of the town.
II. Nesbitt's company was divided
into two attachments one OF which
occupied the right, the other the left
and commanded the center. The
bandits had evidently been out on a
raid the previous night and were tak~
ing a morning nap. The first thing
they knew OF our presence was the
barking Of their dogs and the cries Of
their sleepy sentinels; "Americsnoesl
Americanoesl Muterol Muterol" By
this time we had deployed aud were
sweeping down the valley toward the
town, burning houses and killing ev-
erything that resisted. On reaching
the hill adjacent the town proper. we
found the town separated from us by
an almost impassable gorge, behind
which the bandits lay and peppered at
us with Remington and Winchester
rifles. Most Of our men were raw re
crults, had never been under Gre be
fore, and but for our "old timers
would have been unmanageable. Or
der prevailed. though, and when they
saw the example set by the older
heads they Tell to pouring hot shot at
the enemy in good earnest and with
terrible effect. too. We were so close
by this time that the men fred point
blank at the stumps, logs aud trees,
behind which the enemy lay con.
cealed. Such things are a poor shel'
ter from the Jorgsen rife and it Is
needless to say that the bandits were
slaughtered by the scores, We finally