The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1899-04-13
Capture OF SANTA CRUZ.
One Of the Most Brilliant Engage.
ments Of the War In the
Philippines.
GEN. AWTON LED SOME OF THE CHAHGEs
Excepting an Annoying Delay Caused
ky shallow water, Al Fians
Worked Perfectly and the n"ut
OF the FiIipinos was Compietc-
4 Most Important Capture.

Eubit ur bhN' ana ~ tCii luNp lhF h@fhn
Uf Gen i.awion's expedition after =oi''a
sharp, quick lghtiug. forming one OF
the most interesting and important
bsttlcs Of the war.
Plans uf the American commanders
vuFsg'i perfectly with ihV exception
that the progress of the expedition
was delayed by the difficult, navigation
OF the river.
ComPoued of Picked Men.
About 1900 picked men composed
the expedition, which was under the
personal command Of Gen. IAwton, ON
account Of the illness Of Gen. King.
These troops partly surrounded the
city while the RunbuRiS LaRuna de
lay. Napidan and Osctc, under ths
command OF Capt. Grant Of the Utah
battery, ahcllrd the city and outlying
trenches
Gsn. Lawton Led Charges.
Gen. Lawton and hts stad accom-
Ippicd the troops, sometimes leading
charges in Indian fighting tactics,
which eventually resulted IN the com
pIcte rout of the rebels, with the small
est amount Of damage 60 the city aud
sssh; !ass 90 thc Americans.
Delayed by shallow Water.
The expedition started from San
Pedro Macatl az dusk on Saturday, Ia
tending 10 capture Santa Cruz, by as
sauli at daybrcak. Hut ~ navigating
the shallow, tortuous Pasig river, per-
hap through the cunning Of the na-
tive pilots, who were not anxious t0sse
thr Americans successful. several
boats grounded, and II was nearly
down when the troops reached tbs
lake. The expedition then steamed
cautiously forward. the Napidnn and
the Os.te mile ahead Of the La
guna de hay, which guarded the rear.
signal rircS On Mountain Tops.
Rebel signal fires. however, were
lighted on the mountain tops, giving
alarm Of the approach Of the troops.
], was noon before the white church
towers Of the city appeared in the
shadow OF the great volcanic mnun-
tain on n maruhy plain dotted with oc-
cnsional palm groves
The Ftrst Americans 90 Laad.
A caseo, with force Of 200 picked
Hhnrpah0oters, under Maj. Weiscn-
berger, naostiy heluaging 10 the First
Washington regiment. was run into a
shallow inlet about i've miles south ~
the city. A few shells werr sent TO
ward the intrcnchmru;s Of the rebels
at the edge Of the woods, seuding the
enemy AcampcrinF inland,
Then number uf Americans
jumped into the water nnd, wading for
about 100 yards, crept forward anI
formed line, covering the landing Of
thr remainder, which finished about
five o'clock.
The thrrc troops Of the Fourth cav
nIry. unmounted. were Ecnt ashore ON
a dangerous murshy point, directly |
south Of the city, under frr from the
cncmy's trenches.
neconRottercd the iowa.
Meanwhile in the town Itself there
was utter silence and not a sign OF lit'. |
Gen. t.uwton desiring to make an IN
spCrtiuu and give the inhabitants uu !
opportunity 20 surrender, went un
hoard the I.aRuuA de llay. aud |
steamed slowly toward the dock. the |
Who'll, fleet watching unxiousiy,
welcomed with VoIicys.
Whrn It was discovered by the |
glnt ses that the trenches and stone |
buildings were swarming with white |
cind soldiers, the two boats Withdrew,
receiving yolleys from the trenches |
thrown mp ON the marshy plain north |
of the city. The hotilla anchored ia |
compact formation for the night |
ready to resist any surprises from the |
rebel gunbonts supposed 10 be In the
lake.
The hattie begun.
AZ sunrise Monday the assault conf
menced. The American outlines south |
Of the city stretched two miles inland, |
and with its left sweeping the shore.
Il moved north, while the Fourth cav.
nlrymen on the point advanced toward /
the city pouring yolleys upon the |
trenches. simultaneously the gun
boats huvrrcd along the shore. she'll
ing the woods ahead OF the troops and |
driving the Filipinos inland. The gat-
ling cleared several trenches.
oid-TIme indian Fighting.
The whole brigade was divided into
squads of ", and the fighting was
carried on In the oid-time frontier
fashion, from behind treea, crawling
through bushes or rushing across the
open,
The trenches that were not cleared /
hs the gunboats gave considerable re
sistanee when the line was nearing the |
city and the IAguna de fny and Ocate
bonlbnrded for an hour. Ia the hope OF /
making them too warm for occupancy,
but did not sureeed in clearing them
entirely.
n~s#aiishea narrieades by nasa.
Gen. Lmwton, with the Fourteenth
iuiHatry batsalions, approached a mar
row iron bridge aerPSs creek on the
south border Of the town, Here a
company of Filipinaa was inirencllesl
across the ssream and behind a stone
bagricanE hf thRentfnnr1 10 the bridge.
The Americans rushed forward In
single file In the face Of CALLING FIRE.
demolished The baYricsie with their
hsnas aai drove the enemy from the
trenches. killing dozen.
An fnt~rerstaE fiaur.
The Filipino soiaisrs in the town,
scereted In various buildings end FIR /
ing from windows. gave sbe invaders
an interesting hour. There wss reg. /
ular nest Of them Ia the stone iaii.
which is edsrd In by wall This
was vestsab4e pepper pot. The
Asneriesnx. singiy Or In pairs. entered
this boEsss, and many warriors sz~re
taken pszsoners.
Tke Ftaipsnss In Retreat.
A considerable budy of tho Fiiipinos