The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1899-04-21
REBELS CAPTURE AMERICANS
SAILORS OF YORKTOWN NABBED
WHILE ON MISSION OF MERCY.
ADMIRAL DEWEY SENDS THE new;
cerning tho Safety or Disposition
of the Prisoners.

The navy department. ga" out tho
following dis'"'ch from Aosniral
Dewev m-esday:
~.ANILA, April 1S. Secretary of the
/ Navy, Washington: The Yorktown
visited Baler, Luzoa, east coast of
Luzon, Philippine islands, April 18th,
for the purpose of rescuing and bring
ing away the Spanish forces, consist
ing of eighty soldiers, three officers
and two priests, which were surround
ed by 400 insurgents. Some of the in
surgents, armed with Mauser rifles
by natives. Lieutenant J.
G. Gilmore, while making
ambushed were fred upon and cap
tured.
Fate unknown, as insurgents re-
fused to communicate afterwards. The
| following are missing:
The officer previously referr ed to,
| Chief Quartermaster w. Walton, Cox
swain j. Ellsworth, Gunners Mate II.
j. Hygard, Sailmakers Mate Vendgit,
Seaman w. II. Rynders and G. w.
Woodbury., Apprentices d. w. Aven-
vile, j. w. Peterson, Ordinary Sen
men f. Brissolese, o. r.. Macdonald,
Landsmen l.. II. Edwards, ID. Ander-
sen, J. Dillon and G. A. Morrissey.
DEWEY
Tho dispatch from Admiral Dewey
| caused much excitement in naval cir
cles as soon rs it's contents became
known. 1t was received late in the
day and considerable delay was caused
by the blindness of some of the cipher
words
1t was impossible to completely de-
cipher it, and the asterisks indicate
the unintelligible words.
Gilmore Well Known.
Lieutenant j. G. Gilmore, the officer
referred to rs captured, is we'll known
in Washington, having been stationed
there for some time. His wife aud
family live there. He was born in
Philadelphia July 10, 1854, and was
appointed naval cadet from Arizona
in September, 1871. He reached his
present grade of lieutenant in 1891.
His main service has been on the
Monongah' la, Marion, Bancroft, Yes
uvius and Machias, besides considera-
bic service on boards.
Just year ago he reported to the
st. Paul, then commissioned as an
auxiliary cruiser, and served on that
vessel, under Captain Sigsbee, through
out the war. On January 14th last he
was ordered to the hospital ship So
lace, and on arrival there was assigned
by Admiral Dewey to the Yorktown.
The capture of the Yorktown's men
was discussed with much feeling in
naval circles. The misfortune was
felt with added keenness, as the navy
has prided itself thus far on immunity
from reverses.
The admiral's dispatch was the first
knowledge the department had that
the Yorktown had gone on this special
mission to relieve the Spanish garri-
son at Baler. That the capture should
have been effected while the Ameri-
can forces were on n mission of mercy
toward the Spaniards rather than in
the prosecution Of n campaign led to
the belief that Spain would have no
further ground for questioning the
good faith with which the Americans
were seeking to relieve the condition
of the Spanish prisoners
Anxiety Among officials.
Although the dispatch gave no indi-
cation that Lieutenant Gilmore and
his men had lost their lives, great
anxiety was aroused by the mystery
surrounding their fate while in the
hands of an unciviliZed enemy.
This is the first capture of any
Americans. consequently it is unknown
how the insurgents will treat our men.
If civilized methods were pursued, an
exchange would be quickly effected, as
General Otis has large number of
Filipino prisoners, but the insurgents
have been 0verse thus far to exchang-
ing Spanish prisoners, mad this raises
II question as to what they will do with
the Yorktown men.
The purpose of the adm nistration is
to spare no efforts to secure the speedy
release Of our men.