The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-01
THE FIRST NEWS
FROM GILMORE
Escaped Prisoner Tells an Inter-
esdng Story
LUNA ORDERED EXECUTION
The Murderous Plan Stopped
8 guinaIdo.
OFFICERS OWN NO COURTESY
Many of + & merican Troops Are Suf-
ferink G n Exhaustion, Fever or
cry, and Are in Need
ol1Tospital Treatment.
The Murderous Plan Stopped
8 guinaIdo.

Manila, December 1-Q50 a. m.)-When
the landing party from the United States
battleship Oregon, under Lieutenant Com
mander McCracken, took the town of Vi
gan, province of South Ilocos, last Sunday
they found there an escaped prisoner, A. l..
Sonnenshein, who furnished the first au-
thentic account of the expedition of Lieu
tenant James C. Gilmore, of the United
States gunboat Yorktown, who, with
party of the Yorktown was captured by
the insurgents near Baler on the east coast
of Luzon last April while making an exam
ination of the mouth of the river in an
armored boat
Mr.. Sonnenshein was imprisoned at Abra
for a long time with Lieutenant Gilmore
and seven sailors, but contrived to escape,
carrying a concealed note written in naval
cipher dated Abra, November 10, addressed
to "any naval officer" and saying "you
may have perfect confidence In anything
the bearer says"
The note was signed "Gilmore."
According to Mr.. Sonnenshen, when Lieu
tenant Gilmore's launch entered the river
from Baler harbor under cover of Ensign
w. II. Standley's gun. the landing was re-
ceived with three volleys. Two of the
Americans were killed and two mortally
wounded. Every man was hit, Lieutenant
Gilmore receiving flesh wound in the leg
and his foot fast in the mud. It was
choice between surrender and being slaugh-
tered. Lieutenant Gilmore asked the terms
of release. The insurgents proposed that
he should procure the delivery to them of
the arms and Americans of the Spanish
garrisons undertaking, If this were accom-
pished, to send the Spaniards and Ameri-
cans to the Yorktown.
A sailor of Lieutenant Gilmore's party
carried this proposition to the garrison.
The Spanish commandant replied that it
was an insult to Spanish arms, and ex-
PEELED the sailor, a Spanish soldier firing
upon him he went. The Americans were
then bound hand and foot and taken to
San Isidro, when General Luna ordered
their execution. They were marched 10
the plaza, and in the presence of great
crowd were arranged to be executed. Lieu
tenant Gilmore said:
LAS an American officer and gentleman,
1 protest against being shot with my hands
tiedl'
AguinaIdo stopped Execution
Aguinaldo interfered and prevented tho
execution. When General Lawton ap-
preached San Isidro last June the Ameri-
cans were removed to Abra, where they
were kept confined in cells for two months.
Subsequently they were allowed greater
liberty, but the report that Lieutenant Gill
more was given house and servant is un-
true. He had the same quarters as the
men, and the Americans were given the
same allowance as the Spanish prisoners
cents day with which to buy rice and
bananas, virtually the only food.
General Macarthur is now In Bayam-
bang preparing to sweep the country on
both sides of the Manila-Dagupan road.
General Wheaton is at San Fabian, and
General Lawton at Tayug. The Gordon
from San Fabian to San Isidro covers all
the roads and occupies all the towns
the line. The American policy Is to pre-
vent any more insurgents escaping to the
north and to force them toward the coun-
try west of the railroad. Major March,
with a battalion of the Thirty third in
fantry occupies Vigan, having made a
forced march from San Fabian. The re-
mainder of the regiment is on the way.
General Young, with a handful of cavalry
and the Maccabees Is in Vigan and Lieuten-
ant-Colonel Howe, with four decimated
companies of the Thirty fourth infantry,
barefooted and ragged, is struggling toward
Vigan from Alaga When last reported he
was within fifty miles of his destination.
There are 5000 Spanish prisoners in Abra
province whose release through the mill
tary operations Is expected soon.
1t is learned that Agunaldo had large
amount of stores at Bayambang, province
of Nueva. Viscaya, which General Lawton's
troops have probably captured.
The steamer Francisco Refs has taken a
cargo of supplies to Dagupan where base
will be established. Hospital ships have
been equipped at San Isidro and Tayug.
Suffering From Exhaustion
Many of the American troops are suffer-
ing from exhaustion, fever or dysentery and
are in need of hospital treatment.
Captain Fowler's march after General
Alejandrino's brigade with one company Of
the Thirty-thrd regiment. was one of the
b-avest incidents of the war. The company
left Dagupan alone. under orders to locate
the enemy. Captain Fowler had been
warned by the natives that he and his men
would be exterminated. The guides de-
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