The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-04
THE GRIEF OF A FATHER
Great Love Which George e.
lilly Bore for His Son.
.EULOGIZES HIS DEAD BOY
Thankful That He Died in His Country's
Service-Letter Received From Cap
tain Tilly on the Day the News
of His Death Came.

The news of the death of Captain
George H. Tilly was received in Mon
tana with the deepest sorrow, but yet
that sorrow could not possibly be SO
poignant here, however highly lilly
was honored and esteemed, as in the
family of the dead man at Jamaica, L.
l., his former home In an interview
Captain Tilly's father spoke of his be-
loved son in these words to a Brooklyn
Eagle reporter:
my son was very dear to me, but I
cannot but feel thankful that he died
in his country's service. He wrote to
me when he enlisted that he was proud
to follow in my footsteps and to go
forth on a mission for his country. He
felt that he could be of the most service
in the organization of a volunteer sig
nal corps. As there was no provision
under the United States statutes for
such an organization Senator Carter of
Montana introduced a bill which be-
came law providing for the enlistment
of a volunteer signal service corps and
my son was entrusted with the work.
In Is days the corps was raised and he
was placed in charge, with a commits
sion of first lieutenant. He reported to
General Merritt at San Francisco and
was soon on his way to Manila.
Except during an illness of four
weeks in the hospital at Manila and an
absence of four months at China and
Japan, he has been actively engaged
during the entire year in laying cables
between the different islands and in ac-
companying the army on its eXpedi-
tions. He superintendent the laying of
the $50 miles of cable from Iloilo to
Bilbao, about two months ago, and
within 10 minutes of the landing sent
greetings to General Miller. This was
highly appreciated by his commanding
officers. He was fearless and it is prob
ably owing to this that he landed
among the treacherous natives where
he was injured.
"A short time ago he Travelled all over
Europe and was well read and well in
formed on all matters of the day. He
was member of the First Presbyterian
church Of Helena and was unmarried"
In another paragraph the newspaper
mentioned says:
"A remarkable coincidence in connec-
ton with the above dispatch is the fact
that letter was received this morning
from Captain lilly by an intimate
friend. The missing captains father
lives in Jamaica and he himself lived in
..
ter from Captain Tilly was dated at
Iloilo. island of Panay, April %.
He detailed in an interesting manner
the nature of his work in the Philip
pines and when he wrote he was en-
gagged in experimenting the construc-
ton of a new telegraph line between
Iloilo and Jaro, a distance of about four
miles. y
e Captain lilly expected to return to
the United States soon. having decided
that lie did not care to stay any longer
in the Philippines. A day or two before
sending the letter mentioned. Captain
lilly received word that he had been
brevetted major in recognition of mis-
work
when the expedition was sent to
Iloilo under Brigadier General Miller,
lilly was in command of the signal
corps. His work there was of the most
dangerous character, as the following
extract from the letter received to-day
will show:
ION Feb. II, when Tloilo was shelled
by the cruiser Boston and gunboat Pc
trel, l landed with a deta chment of Is
men. Our duty was to establish signal
stations on Shore Within 20 minutes
after the first shot had been fired four
of us had established a station on Fort
1loilo and amid the shrieking of shells
and smoke and fire from the burning
buildings we had constructed a tele-
graph line and opened an office.
My boys displayed great bravery
"'This line has been operated ever
since, communication from the firing
line near Santa Barbara to the bay, a
distance of 10 miles, going on constant
ly All of the outposts are now connect
ed by wire, calling for the constant duty
of 10 operators and two linemen.
After this work, myself and force
grappled the cable between Iloilo and
the city of Bacolor, island of Negroes,
and in two days time we We're in COM
munication with that place, where two
battalons of the LIST California regiment
were in possession
Captain Tillys father, George E. Til
ly is veteran of the civil war; and was
wounded on three occasions.
Don't fail to reserve your sleeper at
once for SDeria1 excursion via Great