The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-17

DIV VI tic "tSltEH Office mere
from Sergeant w. B. Boulter of the
signal corps, now stationed at Iloio,
regarding the death of Capt George II.
Tilly;
''Iloilo, Isle de Panay, May 3l-I
suppose you have heard before this of
the sad death of Capt. George lilly.
AS near as possible will give you an
account of how he met his death
ION May 81 or % Captain lilly, as
guest of the English Gable company on
board their cable ship Recorder, left
for Cebu, situated south of here They
were to repair the cable and on their
return home stopped at Escalante, a
small town on the island of Negros.
The captain Of the steamer Recorder
asked Captain lilly to change his uni
form for a civilian suit, but Captain
Tilly had been told before leaving Ilo 10
that the citizens of Escalante wtra
very peaceful and loyal 10 the United
States, so did not think it was neces-
sary to change his clothing. This was
on the 9th of May.
'They were received on shore and
given a fine reception. Provisions and
wine We're offered them, and while
making some changes in the power
house the natives lent hand and
helped them lift the cable. All at once,
without any warning, a vCllay was
fired at them from ambush Captain
Tilly and three men started to swim
across a small river to gain shelter
from the insurgents, while the captain
of the Recorder ran towards and got
into his launch, cutting the, fastening
with an axe. He Immediately started
for his ship to get his crew and arms.
Of the three men who accompanied
Captain Illly one escaped. The last he
saw of Captain Tilly was the captain
swimming very feebly in the Water and
1rt III ~, lyav
load of natives. Upon the return of
the Recorders crew armed, they asked
for Captain Tilly About 200 insur-
gents, armed, came down on the beach
and said that Captain lilly was all
right Come ashore and get him.
they hollered.
las the captain only had 20 men he
returned to the Recorder and started
full speed for Iloilo for reinforcements.
Upon his arrival here General Smith
with one company of the 18th infantry
started Immediately for Escalante.
Upon their arrival there the body of
Captain lilly was the first thing discov-
cred floating in the water 1t was
bloated and. the face was pounded all
to pieces, one eye being gouged out
and his face and head one mass of cuts
and bruises. 1t seems that the insur-
gents had beaten him to death with
their paddles when they overlook him
in their canoe
General Smith started in pursuit of
the insurgents, capturing two officers
and sentenced them to death by shoot
ing. They begged to let them show
General Smith where the rest
were located. and I guess we will get
the whole gang. / hope l may have
the pleasure of being in the firing squad
when they do get them.
I'VE buried Captain lilly here in a
metallic coffin in the German cemetery,
situated near the bay. The funeral pro-
cession started from the brigade hos
pital, led by the LIST Tennessee band;
then came the adjutant general of the
army, Captain Woodward, and follow
ing him was the 9Th artillery ammuni-
ton wagons. drawn by four mules and
carrying the body His company
marched on each side of the wagon. The
pail bearers were Sergeant Strachan,
of Clancy, Corporal Crooks of Clancy,
Private Rutter of Butte, J. ]. Lynch
of New York Corporal Leahy of Logan
and myself. Honorary pail bearers were
composed of officers from the 18th Tn
tied States infantry and Tennessee vol
unteers. The ceremonies were conduct
ed by the chaplain of the list Tennes-
see volunteers. As an escort to the
grave, four companies of the TenneS-
see fired three yolleys and then their
bugler stepped forth and sounded taps
and our captain and friend was no
more.
Captain Tilly was liked by every
body. His casket was one mass Of
flowers, the German, English and
American consuls sending large
wreaths of flowers, as also did the cit
liens of Iloilo, including Spanish, Fill
pinos, English and German. The oper-
ators of his company had a beautiful
wreath with 49, another with his sign.
ct and a beautiful cross of orange
blossoms. Col. Van valzah and Colonel
Kellar of the 18th and every officer who
could be spared was present to show
their respect.
The Montana signal men have had
IL hours duty straight since Christmas
and during enga gements We're on duty
continuously. SO we are all anxious TO
get home. We are now without an Of
ficer to represent us, as Captain Tilly
was the only officer here who had any
knowledge of the telegraph service.
There has not been a Montana man
in the guard house since we arrived
here and several have done duty when
they should have been in the hospital
Three out of the Is who enlisted at Hell
ena have been recommended for medals
of honor for bravery"
Another letter from F. ]. Kelley,
headquarters Viscayan military dis
trict, was also received with a similar
account, in which he states:
"You have learned full particulars
about our losing Captain Tilly and
will not dwell on that part of the sub
ject, as it is painful to me, knowing
that he was the only friend the tele-
graphers had in this QSth) com
pany. He was a willing worker, and no
operator here ever received anything
but the best of it from him. He was
the only officer in the company who
was a practical worker, the rest being
mere theorists. The only men men
toned for bravery were operators and
they got decidedly the worst of 1t in
every way, shape and form.
ITO say we will miss Captain Tilly
is putting it mildly, as he was a
thorough Christian gentleman and
charitable in all his doings. 1t is in
deed a pity, and he figuring and smil-
ing on the expectation of returning
home in three or four short weeks"
SIS to loan at s per cent. Reynolds