The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-08-15

~ANMAMnAHsaS February, when
WMg@ MY the instruction
broke out, and
next day drove the natives from the
pumping stations which supply Manila
with water. The blockhouses We're
taken at the point of the bayonet.
Blockhouse No. 5 fell first. 1t was
taken by Companies B, * and l., as
sisted by E. The position was close to
the village of Balic-Balic. The village
was first attacked and the natives ran
for cover at the blockhouse. Even in
retreat they stopped to shoot back, but
enough to do that got a bullet for his
pains, even though he showed but the
top of his head in a rice furrow. Colo
mel Mccoy of the Colorados was the
first American at blockhouse No. 5,
proof that the soldiers were we'll led.
The first a%ssailants Of Balic-Balic
We're fired upon by Filipinos In block
house No. 6, near which Company E
was stationed as a reserve. When the
men saw the other companies rushing
through the village upon the block
house in the face Of a ripping fire from
a stone chapel, they became excited
n shouted, "Let us go, too. captain!"
mo orders, my boys!!' said the captain
firmly.
"Oh, the orders. Those fellows are
charging, and why can't we?,
Il was the first charge of the Filipino
war, and every soul looking OH burned
to be in it. Finally some of the natives
at the village began to run down the
lines toward blockhouse No. G. hoping
for shelter there. Seeing that, Captain
tucker ordered the first platoon of
Company b to charge. The movement
OF this handful down the line turned
b fight around the blockhouse into a
three cornered affair and cut it off
from the village SO that no one fugi-
tive from the huts and chapel reached
there.
Blockhouse No. 6 was entered by
Companies G and f Of the Colorados
just as the cheer went up over the
taking of No. 5. The enthusiasm spread
down the line, and the First Nebraska
dashed for and captured No. Z, while
on the other side Of the Colorados' bat.
tlefield the South Dakota boys walked
right into the enemy" as a regular ex.
pressed 1t, capturing b~lockhouse No. A
A few hours after the capture Of the
blockhouses Companies l and D were
selected to join a column which Colo.
mel S~totsenberg Of the Nebraskas was
to lead for the recovery Of the Manila
waterworks pumping stations from the
hands Of the Filipinos. The natives
were shelled out Of the works on the
bank Of Mariquina river while the
troops We're. taking the ~blockhouses.
Before leaving, they disconnected cyl
inders and other important parts OF
the machinery. Dashing forward in
the wake of the shells and the patter.
Ing bullets which rained over the hill
side, the Colorado boys swooped down
upon the building and hoisted q flag,
then took possession of the stone bar
racks for a citadel against the return
OF the Filipinos. Being in no mood fol-
further fighting with the captors of
their blockhouses or thinking they had
rendered the works useless. the natives
made no attempt to recover the ground.
But the works were at q standstill and
Manila In danger Of q water famine.
A tedious search in all the hooks and
crannies of the buildings. In the wells
of the vicinity and. even in the deep
water of the river failed to bring to
light the important links which would
set the machinery moving.
With great cunning the insurgents
had chosen the most convenient and
most unlikely place for concealment-
the coalroom. where there remained a
pile of coal resting upon a clay floor.
Underneath the center of the pile were
the coveted parts. but in the haste of
leaving. under the pressure of the
American shells. the diggers had left
a showing of fresh clay. which attract
ed the eyes of Artificer Guy Hays of
Company |. Hays kicked the coal one
side and found soft soil to his feet.
Getting a shovel. he began to dig. and
others fell to work with him. Soon
they struck something hard. and In a
few hours the waterworks Of Manila
were gushing abundant supplies for
the thirsty inhabitants and garrison.
Those exciting hours Of Feb. 5 and
6 were followed by a long wait Of the
Colorados in the main works around
Manila. But on March 16 the regiment
moved II upon the Maraquina road
L RI ~ nuJ ,I.o< a.