Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-12-11

July of last year. He was formerly IN
command of the Spanish troops IN tne
olongapo district. His narrative was
sorroborated by Senior Rafael Roseiio,
wealthy Spanish merchant who 1eu ln1o
the hands of the insurgents.
Both declared that the Spanlards sur
rendered to Captain Coghlan, OF the
United States cruiser Raleigh on an eA-
press agreement that they were not 20 DO
given up to the Filipinois and they as
serted that the Spanish governmens
had promised to press their clainns
against the United States for their long
imprisonment.
According to their story, 1,OoO lnsur'
gents were besieging Olongapo, where
there were two companies OF marines
and a battalion of artillery. togetner
with many civilians. The German
cruiser Irene entered the harbor to take
the women and children on beard. AT
this juncture the lnsurgent steamer
Filipinas, flying the insurgent nag
started to leave. The Irene threw q
shot across her bow, claiming the rlgnt
to stop her, as Germany had not reeog-
nized the insurgent flag. The F1hplnaS
then raised white flag and departed.
When she returned she was flying the
insnrgent flag and was accompanied by
the United States warships Concord
and Raleigh. The Irene was then ieav-
ing the harbor with non-combatants-
ssWithout the least warning" said
Colonel Del Rio and Senior Rosello,
"rhe American warships began TO bonn
bard US, firing about % shots. Seeing
that resistance was useless, as our guns
had never been mounted, We raised the
white flag. Captain Coghlan came
ashore with several officers and 1t was
expressly stipulated that the surrender
was to the Americans alone. Captain
Coghlan was asked to promise that the
Spaniards should not be delivered TO
the insurgents, and when he had given
his pledge the entire garrison surren-
dered.
..Tre Americans sailed away on the
evenil.- of the 7th, leaving the garrl-
son practically unarmed. They re-
turned On the 10th. Meanwhile the IN
surgents had repeatedly fired upon the
town. Captain Coghlan now ordered
the Spaniards to embark on the Fill
pinas. Wheu they protested he said
that although in. the hands of the IN
surgents they would be treated as
American prisoners.
"Nine civilians. all merchants, were
placed on board the Fihpinas, and, de-
spite their protests, were kept imprls-
oned on the vessel at Olongapo until
their recent release"
Senior Rosello, who is chiefly RESPONSE
BILE for the foregoing statement, admits
that, except for one attempt to rob the
merchants, for which Aguinaldo pun
ished the officers of the Filipinas by re-
ducing them. all were well treated.
Colonel Del Rio, in separate state
menJ, said:
"Captain Coghlan gave his word that
our capitulation would be accepted as it
was made, that is, to the Americans.
He promised that we should not be
given into the hands of the insurgents
and I believe he was sincere.
Later, the Concord went to Cavite
for instructions, returning with an
order from Admiral Dewey that we
were to be handed over to the insur-
gents"
Colonel Del Rio and Senior Rosello
declared that the Irene left her anchor
age about 6 o'clock in the morning and
that the American warships arrived
about 1890 passing the German cruiser
as she was leaving the bay. They ex-
pressed surprise at the popular belief
that the Irene slipped her cable on the
appearance of the Concord and the
Raleigh.
A force of 100 insurgents Saturday at
tackled near Baliuag a wagon train es-
corted by 30 men of the Sixteenth in
fantry. A sharp engagement followed.
The Filipinos lost 18 in killed and nine
in captured. During the recent attack
by the insurgents upon Vigan the Fill
pinos obtained possession Of the Plaza
and of a church in the center of the
town. from which the Americans dis
lodged them. It seemed that the es-
capped Spaniards obtained guns and
fought with the Americans against the