The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-04-11
HOW THE CITY WAS CAPTURED.
shelled BY the Utah Battery Under
Captain Grant.

Manila, April TO, y. m.-Santa cruz
was the Filipinos stronghold in Lake
La Guna. Bay, and it fell into the hands
Of General Lawton's expedition after
some sharp, quick firing, forming one
of the most Interesting and important
battles OF the war.
The plans Of the American command
eqs worked perfectly with the eAcep-
ton that the progress of the expedition
was delayed by the difficult navigation
of the river. About 1,500 picked men,
commanded by General Lawton, on ac-
count of the illness of General King
partly surrounded the city, while the
gunboats La Guna de Bay, Oesta and
Napidan. under the command of Cap
tain Grant Of the Utah battery, shelled
the city and outlying trenches.
General Lawton and his staff accom-
panied the troops. sometimes leading
charges in Indian fighting tactics, which
eventually resulted in the complete
rout of the rebels with the smalless
amount of damage TO the city and slight
loss TO the Americans.
The expedition started from San Pc
dro Macati at dusk on Saturday, in
tending to capture Santa Cruz by as
sault at daybreck. But in navigating
the shadows in the Pasig river, perhaps
through the cunning of the native pi-
lots. who were not anxious TO see the
Americans successful, several boats
grounded. and il was nearly dawn when
the troops reached the lake. The eXpe-
dition then steamed cautiously forward
the Napidan and the Oesta a mile ahead
of the La Guna de Bay, which guarded
the rear.
Rebel signal fires, however, were
lighted on the mountain tops, giving
alarm of the approach of the troops 1t
was noon before the white church tow
ers Of the city appeared in the shadow
of the volcanic mountain. on marshy
plain dotted with additional palm
groves.
MOVED on THE CITY.
A casco.i with force of 200 picked
sharpshooters, under Major Weisenber-
ger mostly belonging to the First
Washington regiment. was run into q
shallow Inlet about five miles south of
the city.
Then a few shells were sent toward
the entertainments Of the rebels at the
edge Of the woods, sending the enemy
scampering inland. Then number OF
Americans jumped into the water and,
wading for about 400 yards, crept for
ward and formed in line, covering the
landing of the remainder, which finished
DISSEMINATING about O'Clock.
The three troops of the Fourth cav
airy. ungnounted. were sent ashore on
q dangerous marshy point, directly
soU0h of the city, under fire from the
enelny's trenches.
Meanwhile. in the town itself, there
was utter silence. and not a sign Of
life. General Lawton, desiring to make
an inspection and 10 give the inhabi-
tauts an opportunity to surrender. went
Dn board The La. Guna de Bay, and. ac-
conranied by the Associated Press
launch. steamed slowly to tie dock, the
whole fleet watching anXiOus}y.
When il was discovered by the glasses
that the trenches and stone buildings
were sNarming with whitehead sol
dfers the two boats withdrew, receiv-
ing volleys from the trenches thrown up
on the marsSly plain north Of the city.
The hotilla anchored in compact form
alton for the night, ready TO resist any
SURPRISES from the rebel gunboats sup
posed to be in the lake.
At sunrise today (Moniay) the as
sault commenced. The American out
lines south Of the city stretch two miles
inland. and with its lett sweeping the
shore it moved north while the Fourth
cavalrymen on the point advanced to-
ward the city, pouring volleys on the
trenches.
simultaneously the gunboats hover
ing along the shore shelled the woods
ahead OF the troops. and drove the Fill
DinoF inland. The gaGthngs cleared
several trenches,
The whole brigade was divided into
squads Of twelve. and everything was
carried on in frontier fashion, behind
trees, crawling through bushes or run
ming across the open. The trenches
that were not cleared by the gunboa1s
gave considerable resistance when the
line was nearing the city, and the La
Guna de Bay and Oesta bombaTded for
an hour in the hope of making them too
warm for occupancy, but did not sue
coed in clearing them entirely.
sKIRNIIsH WAS A HOT ONE.
General Lawton, with the Fourteenth