The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-20
REBELS SEEK TO FARLEY
Insurgents Ask for an Interview
With Otis.
PRISONERS ARE RESTORED
Permission Requested OF General MacAr-
thur to Send Captured Americans
Into the Lines-How the Request
Is Regarded at Washington.

Washington, Sept. 19.-Secretary
Root to-day received a cabiegram from
/ General Otis tina. seemed to indicate a
weakening on the part of the insurg
ents in Luzon. 1t contained a proffer
to deliver up the American prisoners
who have been for SO many months in
the hands of the insurgents, and also
sought permission to parley with Gem
eral Otis. The cablegram was at once
taken by Secretary Root ovep to the
cabinet meeting and formed the main
topic for discussion at the beginning
of the cabinet session. However upon
reading the message carefully its APP
parent importance seemed to diminish
Secretary Root himself did not re-
gard the matter as of Importance at the
time. He recalled frequent efforts on
the part of the insurgents in the past
TO gain time at critical moments by
opening negotiations. ostensibly with
the object of making peace, and he was
not sure but this last offer was some
thing of the same kind.
However, the secretary was of the
opinion that il would fail to afford the
insurgents any advantage. General
Otis could receive any messenger and
listen to him and make answer to his
proposals. but this would not restrain
the military operations in the slightest
degree and the Americans would lose
no ground, no matter how the negotia-
tons turned out. There is a possibility
also that the insurgents may have be-
come disheartened at the renewed and
intense activity in the direction of re-
inforcing General Otis and concluded,
in view of the great force gathering TO
open the campaign in the dry season.
that further resistance would be use
less.
1t is pointed out as a noticeable fact
that Auginaldo's name does not appear
in General Otis dispatch, though this
may not be of great significance, still
among some of the army officials it is
surmised that there are serious dis
sensions among the insurgents and that
perhaps some of the discordant ele-
ments are acting on their own respon-
sibility.
The text of the dispatch follows:
Manila, Sept. 19.-Adjutant General,
Washington: Macarthur reports from
Angeles the visit of two insurgent Of
ficers with the request for permission
TO send into our lines American plis-
oners and to send to Manila a promi-
nent insurgent general officer for a
conference The requested interview
has been granted and the insurgent Of
ficers at Angeles return north this
morning with the information.
OTIS"
The capture of Lieutenant Gilmore
and his party was one of the most stir
ring incidents of the instruction. IT
occurred while the cruiser Yorktown
was making a survey of the western
coast of Luzon with view to locat-
ing some of the detached Spanish gar
risons which had been cut off. 1t was
known that a Spanish garrison had
been surrounded at Baler on the east
ern coast and Lieutenant Gilmore, with
boats party from the Yorktown, was
sent ashore to reconnoiter the sur
rounding country. He divided his COM
mand, one party remaining near the
shore, while another pushed inland.
This was the last heard of the lieuten-
ant and 10 men who accompanied MIN.
The other members of the party wait
ed for a long time, but got no trace of
their companions, and finally were
obliged to return to the ship without
them. Admiral Dewey at once report
ed the loss to the navy department,
and before he left Manila used every
possible means to learn the condition
of the captive Americans. At first 1t
was feared they had lost their lives,
but later definite information was re-
ceived that the following were alive
at San Isidro, an insurgent stronghold:
Lieutenant Gilmore, Chief Quartermas-
ter Walton, Sailmaker's Mate Paul
Van Doit Coxswain John Ellsworth.
Apprentice Albert Peterson, Landsman
Silvio Brisoeze. Landsman Lyman.
Paul Edwards and Landsman Fred An
derson.
Captain Charles NJ Rockefeller of the
18th infantry is also supposed to be
prisoner with the insurgents. He dis
appeared last April and no trace of him
has been discovered.