The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1899-04-11
Yesterdays BATTLE
Particulars Of the Capture of
Santa Cruz by LawtOn.

Manila, April 1O-7 p. m.-Santa Cruz
was the Fihpinos stronghold on LAX,
Laguna De Bay and It fell into the hand.
OF General Lawtons expedition after
some sharp quick fighting forming one
of the most interesting and important
battles OF The war. The plans of the
American commanders worked perfect.
~, with the exception that the progress of
the expedition was delayed by the diff
cult navigation of the river. About 1900
picked men composed the expedition.
which was under the personal command
of General Lawton. on account of the
Illness of General King. These troops
parNy surrounded the city. while the
gunboats Laguna De Bay Napidan and
Oeste, under the command of Captain
Grant Of the Utah battery. shelled the
city and outlaying trenches.
General Lawton and his star accom-
pankd the troops. some times leading
charges IN Indian lighting tactics which
eventually resulted In the complete rOut
OF the rebels. with the smallest amount
of damage to the city and slight loss to
the Americans.
The expedition started from San Pedro
Mac / at dusk on Saturday. intending to-
capture Santa Cruz by assault at day
break. But in navigating the shallow.
torturous Pa .g river. perhaps through
the cunning OF the native pilots who were
not anxious to see the Americans success
ful, several boats grounded and IL was
nearly dawn when the troops reached the
lake The expedition then steamed eau
tiously forward. the Napidan and ,ae
Oeste a mile ahead Of the Laguna De
Bay. which guarded the rear.
Rebel signal fires however were lighted
on the mountain tops, giving alarm Of tho
approach Of the troops II was noon
before the white church towers of tho
city appeared IN the shadow of great
volcanic mountain on n marshy plain
dotted with occasional palm groves.
A casco, with a force of 200 picked |
snarpshooters. under Major Wesenberger |
mostly belonging to the first Washington |
regiment, was run into a shallow inlet |
about five miles south Of the city.
Then few shells were sent toward |
The entrenchments Of the rebels at the |
edge Of the woods, sending the enemy |
scampering inland.
Then a number of Americans jumped in
20 the water, and wadng for about a
hundred yards, crept forward and forged |
in line, covering the landing Of the re-
iidiiiAhtIf MAitif liiiallti dbbuA llNt % tlDNks
The three troops OF the fourth cavalry. |
unmounted, We're sent ashore on a
dangerous marshy point. directly south
of the city under fire from the enemys
trenches.
WAITED UNTIL MONDAY.
Meanwhile in the town itself there was
utter silence and not sign of life.
General Lawton, desiring to make an
ispectiOn and to give the inhabitants an
opportunity TO surrender went on board
the Laguna De Bay, and accompanied
by the Associated Press launch, steamed
slowly to the dock, the whole feet |
watching anxiously. When It was discov-
cred by the glasses that the trenches
and stone buildings were swarmed with
white clad soldiers. the two boats with
drew receiving volley from the trenches
thrown up on the marshy plain north of
the city. The fiotilla anchored in COM
pact formation for the night ready to
resist any surprise from the rebel gum
boats supposed to be in the lake. At sun
rise today (Monday) the assault COM
menced. The American outlines south of
uhe city stretch two miles inland and
with its left sweeping the shore, 1t moved
NORTH while the fourth cavalry men on
the point advanced toward te city, pour
ing volleys upon the trenches. Smultan-
eousy the gunhoats hovered along the
shore, shelling the woods ahead Of the
drops and driving the Fllipinos inland
The gatling cleared several trenches.
INDIAN FIGHTING.
The whole brigade was divided into
suads 0f u and the fighting was car
ed on in the old time frontier fashion,
from behind trees, crawling through
bushes or rushing across the open. The
trenches that We're not cleared by the
gunboats gave considerable resistance
when the line was nearing the city, and
the Laguna De Bay and Oeste lombard
ed for an hour in the hope Of making
them too warm for occupancy but did
not succeed In clearing them entirely
General Lawton with the fourteenth
infantry hattalions, approached narrow
iron bridge across a creek on the soutn
of the town. Here a company Of Fliplnos
was entrenched across the stream and ne
mind a stone barrlcade at the entrance
OF the bridge. The Americans rushed for
ward IN single file in the face of a calling |
fire. demolished the barrcade with their
hands and drove the enemy from the
trenches killing a dozen
TOOK THE TOWN.
The Filipion soldlers in the town, Sc
creted In various buildings and firing from |
the windows. gave the invaders an in- |
aeresting hour. There was "A regular nest |
of them. In the stone jail which is edged
in by a wall. This was a veritable pepper
pot. The Americans. singled or In pairs
entered the houses and many warriors /
were taken prisoners.
A considerable body Of Filipinos fed |
northward, crossing the open marshes,
but the gatlings poured upon them "a
deadly hail until they disappeared in the
woods. staying dozens.
Major Weisenberger deployed the sharp
shooters along the shore and they erept
steadily forward, hiding the gathnss