The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-06-14


Manila. June 13.-General Lawton un-
expectedly stirred up one of the iVe-
liest engagements of the war south OF
Las Pinas this morning, upon which
occasion the American field guns were
engaged in the first artillery duel
against a Filipino battery, concealed In
the jungle. Companies + and OF the
Tventy-first infantry were nearly sur
rounded by a large body of insurgents,
but the Americans cut their way out
with heavy losses.
The United States turretship Monad-
mock and the gunboats Helena ana
Zafiro trained their batteries on Ba-
koor and the rebel trenches near Las
Pinas all morning. Bakoor was once
on fire, but the natives stopped the
spread of the flames. During the mght
an insurgent cannon was fired three
times at the Americans on the out
skirts of Las PinaS.
General Lawton this morning took
battalion of the Fourteenth regiment
and two companies of the Twenty-flrst
regiment to locate the rebel battery,
and then two guns of the Sixth artll-
lery and four mountain guns were
planted against it at 600 yards distance.
The rebels had a large gun, from
which they were firing homemade can
lister and bombs, loaded with nails, and
two smaller guns. Their shooting was
NEST accurate. The first lot of canister
burst directly in front of Scott's guns,
and another shattered the leg of prl-
vate in the Fourteenth infantry. Sew
eral shots struck the edge of the town.
Terrific Fire From Ambush.
The country traversed was as bad as
it is possible to imagine, being mainly
lagoons. mud and water, fringed with
bamboos. AS soon as the fighting open
ed the Americans were attacked by
hidden riflemen on all sides. even the
amigos, or friendly" natives in the
houses of the town shooting in their
rear. The companies of the Twenty
first regiment, skirmishing along the
beach, with amigo guides, found, ap-
parently, a handful of rebels, who re-
treated.
The men of the Twenty-first followed
and suddenly the rebels opened a ter
rife fire on the troops from the sides
and rear The soldiers withdrew to the
waters edge, finding what shelter they
could, and were picked off rapidly
After their ammunition was nearly
exhausted. the companies of the
Twenty-first retreated, but General
Lawton dashed down and rallied the
men.
A little group made desperate stand.
General Lawton, Major Starr and Lieu
tenants Donovan and Connolly taking
rifles from the wounded men, fired at
the enemy, bringing down some of the
rebel sharpshooters from a tree. Fin
ally their cartridges We're all gone, and
they were forced to break through the
enemy's flank, carrying the wounded to
the main body of the troops.
Lieutenant Donovan, whose leg was
broken, floundered for a mile through a
bog after leading his men in the face
of greatly superior force.
General Lawton ceased fighting un-
til reinforcements could be brought.
Two battalions of the Fourteenth regi-
ment and one battalion of the Ninth
regiment were hurried to the front,
and in the afternoon the battle was re-
Sumed.
Pounded By Warships.
The Monadnock anchored close to the
Shore and her heavy guns pounded the
rebels continuously, while the smaller
warships, steaming along the shore,
poured bullets from their rapid fire
guns at the enemy.
The rebels replied with rifle fire and
with the fire of some small pieces of
artillery. SO vigorous was the enemy's
fire that at 9:20 a. m. the gunboat
ready named, ana the Princeton, Mon
terey and Monadnock, from their an
chorages. dropped occasional big shells
among the rebels.
This apparently only served to incite
the rebels, as they kept up an inces-
SAINT fire of musketTy and artillery near
the mouth of the Seapote river, two
miles north of Bakoor. The fire of all
seven warships was concentrated on
this Doint shortly after noon when the
upper bay presented the appearance of
being the scene of a great naval bat
tie.
The insurgents were eventually
forced to abandon their guns. after
holding out for about four hours. only
to be confronted by General Lawton's
force on land and in their rear. where
there was heavy fighting. Beyond the
destruction of several buildings along
the water front. the effect of the bonn
bardment is not known.
The Filipino force engaged appears
to have been the largest and best or
ganized body of men which has met
our troops. The Americans were COM
pelled to advance along narrow roads
and over small bridges commanded by
earthworks ten feet thick.
Rebels Fire From Trees.
The only means of crossing the Sea-
pote was by a small bridge. which the
Filipinos commanded with trenches