The San Francisco call., 1899-12-20
MINE FIRED BY
THE INSURGENTS
Attempt to Blow Up
American Troops.
SOIL WAS TOO P0WDERY
MEN ESCAPED WITH A FEW
SLIGHT BRUISES.
SOIL WAS TOO PoWDERY
Special Dispatch to The Call.

MANILA. Nov. 21.-Belated mail re-
ports have reached Manila OF an eNpe-
dition on the island OF Cebu last month
by small force OF American soldiers of
the Sixth Infantry which was repulsed
by the insurgents mainly through the de-
sertion of native allies upon whom the
Americans depended. Two OF the Amer
leans were killed and two wounded. and
in the force of native police accompany
ing them one was killed and four wound
ed No official report Of the affair has
reached General Otis. consequently the
censor refused 10 permit the incident 10
be cabled, but the correspondent Of tho
Associated Press has obtained an ac-
count from a thoroughly reliable source.
The infantrymen killed were Daniel r.
Adams. Company A: Charles y. Cotty.
Company A.
Wounded-william Stowell. Company
A, through chest; Bert Hutchinson, Com
pany {, through hips.
The American commander at head
quarters IN the town Of Cebu received in
formation that force OF insurgents
occupied the village OF Maulbaul on tHs
west coast of the island. that they were
leVying heavy taxes and taking food dnd
horses and that the villagers would 30
glad to have them driven away. captain
Walker took a detachment OF ten soldiers
aboard the steam launch Powerful on tne
18th Of October and proceeded along inc
coast, stopping at the towns OF Naga 1nd
CdTCdl. Where ten men were dNuGA ~ NAlI
force from each garrison. At the latter
town a body of l6U native policemen, VINO
were friendly 10 the Americans. was
mustered into the service by their c-p-
tain, Senior Malta. These natives were
armed with spears and bOIOs and had but
a few guns among them. On the evening
of the 18th the Powerful reached Maui
baul and her passengers were landed
with difficulty The insurgents had re-
treated 20 the hills. so the force camped
for the night. Early in the mOrntnb 10
was on :he march. The Company T. de-
tachment acted as advance guard and the
natives brought up the rear. For three
miles they advanced along a narrow road
with the sea on one side and htgn Gins
on the other. Finally they were com
PEELED 10 enter rocky pass and we're
they entered the pass there was a great
explosion almost IN their faces and they
were covered by a shower OF soft dirt.
The insurgents had prepared n gun
powder mine 70 annihilate the party. but
the soil in the rocks was so pOwdery that
the Americans suffered no injuries be-
yOnd bruises. The explosion was fol-
lowed by a brief but exciting experience.
Immediately after the report FiHpinOs
hidden in the cliffs opened fire. Two
Americans and five natives fell at the first
yolley, which came from very short range.
The commander Of the police was hit In
the hand and pair OF field glasses which
he carried were shattered. The police
were thrown in confusion and after mo-
ment's hesitation they fell back and be-
gan 70 run. leaving the few Americans 70
bear the attack. This the men OF the
Sixth did bravely. They retired in good
order, carrying their dead and wounded.
effect that eighteen OF the enemy were
/ killed. The party returned 10 Maulbaul
and re-embarked for Cebu. where they
arrived the following day with their dead
and wounded.
The conduct OF the native police found
some excuse in their very poor equipment.