The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1899-02-08

sion OF the water main and reservoir
"a distance of over six miles.
The Tennesseeansjoined the fling
line at 10 o'clock on Sunday morning
and assisted in capturing Santa
Mesa.
Ooe OF the most notable events Of
Sundays work was driving the Fill
pinos cut Of their stronghold at Pace
by the reserve, a few companies of
Cal;forpians. commanded by Col.
Duboce The main road to the vii
lage was lined by native huts full Of
Filipino sharpshocters. After they
had been firing upon Gen. King and
his staff, killing a driver, and firing
on an ambulance Of the Red Cross
society, Col. Duboce ordered the huts
to be cleared and burned.
The Filipinos concentrated in Pace
church and convent, where they
made a determined stand in the
upper stories. A platoon Of Califor-
mans stationed on a neighboripg
bridge maintained a hot fire on the
Fllipinos, but was unable to dislodge
them. Ia the face of a terrific fusil-
lade, Col. Duboce and a few volun-
teers dashed into the church, scat
tered coal oil inside of it, set fire to
the oil and retired.
In the meantime Capt. Dyer's bat
terry Of the Sixth artillery bombarded
the church, dropping a dozen shells
into the tower and roof. Company
L and part Of company G, of the
CALIFORNIA; charged into the church,
but were unable to ascend the single
flight Of steps leading to the story
above.
After the incendiaries had retired,
a company of the Idahos and the
Washington Guards, stationed on
either side of the building, picked off
the Fllipinos as they were smoked
out. Many Of the rebels, however,
escaped into the bush in the real of
the church. The Americans captur-
ed SO of the rebels, and during the
fighting about the church 20 of the
rebels were killed.
Some $500 women, children and
roncombatants were allowed to enter
the American lines after promising to
go to the houses of friends and re-
main there.
Another interesting incident &C.
cured during the engagement. The
Washingtons and the Idahos and
Companies K and NJ, Of the Califor-
pias charges cross the rice fields
between Paco and Santana, in the
face CT a terrific fusillade. The
ground, today, over which they pass
ed, is covered with dead and wounded
natives. The former are being bur
led in groups Of five or six about
where they lay and the latter are
being brought to the hospital. 1t
was at this stage of the fighting at
Baloocan that the Fllipinos suffered
their heaviest losses.
The Fourteenth regulars were in a
particularly tight place near Singalon
and Col. Duboce was compelled to
rush past them with the reserves, in
order to prevent the regulars from
being cut eff. In the last lire twelve
men were killed before the rebels
retired.
Both sides cheered frequently dur
ing the engagement. The American
"hurrahs" were almost inyariably met
with derisive ~"vivas."
Among the natives the Y~gorrotes
were especially noticeable for their
bravery, about 700 of these naked
savages facing artillery with their
bows and arrows.
The scene ct Manila when the
alarm was given on Saturday night
was wildly exciting. The American
soldiers in the theatres and at the
circuses were called out, the perform
ances we're stopped, Fllipinos sour
ried everywhere and the rattle Of
musketry and the booming Of cannon
outside of the city was plainly heard.
The residents on the outskirts OF
Manila fccked into the walled city,
with their arms full of articles. All
the carriages disappeared as if by
magic, the street cars we're stopped,
the telegraph lines were cut and the
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