The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-20
DIED IN CEBU PASS
Bclated Account of Brave Fight
BY Members of the Sixth
Infantry
FILIPIN0S TRIED
TO BLOW UP PARTY
Mine Failed to Do Work-TWo Of
The PrivateS Shot From an
Ambush

Manila, Nov q, via San Francisco,
Dec. 19.-Belated mail reports have
reached Manila of an expedition on the
island of Cebu, last month, by small
force of American soldiers of the Sixth
infantry, which was reported by insur-
gents mainly through the desertion of
nava allies upon whom the Americans
depended. Two of the Americans were
killed and two wounded, and in the
force of native police accompanying
them one was killed and four wounded.
No official report of the affair has
reached Gen. Otis, and consequently the
censor refused to- permit the incident to
be cabied, but the correspondent of the
Associated Press has obtained an ac-
count from thoroughly reliable
source.
The Sixth infantry men killed were:
Daniel e. Deans, Company A.
Charles L. Coiey, Company A.
Wounded:
william stowell Company A, through
chest.
Bert Hutchinson, Company c,
through hips.
The American commander at head
quarters in the town of Cebu received
information that a force of insurgents
had occupied the village of Malbula. on
the west coast of the island that they
were paying heavy taxes and taking
food and horses so that the villagers
would be glad to have them driven
away.
Capt. Walker took a detachment of
10 soldiers aboard the steam launch
Powerful on Oct IA and proceeGG d
along the coast, stopping at the tol-'- S
OF Maya and Carcai, where 10 men
were added to the force from each gar
rison At the latter town 16 native
policemen who We're friendly to the
Americans were mustered into the
service by their captain, Senior Mejia.
These natives were armed with spears
and bolos and had but few guns.
On the evening of the 18th, the Pow
erful reached Maulbaul, and her pas
sengers were landed with difficulty
through a rough sea. The insurgents
had retreated to the hills, so the forces
camped for the night. Early in the
morning they were on the march. The
Company C detachment acted as ad-
vance guard, and the natives brought
up the rear For three miles they ad-
vanced along a narrow road with the
sea on one side and high cliffs on the
other. Finally, they were compelled
to enter a rocky pass, approaching it
across a bridge so narrow that they
were compelled to march two abreast.
Just as they entered the pass, there
was a great explosion almost in their
faces, and they were covered by a
shower of soft earth. The insurgents
had prepared gun powder mine to an
1nihilate the party, but the soil and
the rocks We're so powdery that the
Americans suffered no injuries beyond
4bruises. The explosion was followed
@by a brief but exciting experience. I'm
mediately after the report, the Filipi-
nos hidden in the cliffs opened fire.
Two Americans and five natives fell
at the first volley, which came from
very snort range. The commander of
the police was hit in the hand and
pair of field glasses which he carried
were shattered. The police were thrown
into confusion, and after few mo-
ments they fell back and began to run,
leaving the few Americans to bear the
attack
This the men of the Sixth did brave
ly They rallied in order, Carrying their
dead and wounded and returning the
insurgent fire, which was so effective
they retired. The party returned to
Maulbula and re-embarl1ed for Cebu.
The conduct of the native police found
some excuse in their poor equipment