The San Francisco call., 1899-09-15
DESTRUCTION OF
THE SATURNUS
Steamer Captured by
Filipinos.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

WASHINGTON, Sept. IA report has
been received by mail at the War Depart
ment giving an account of the capture
and destruction of the steamer Saturnus,
which carried $40 900 in cash and yalu-
able cargo. The report follows:
The United States gunboat Pampanga ar
rived here yesterday morning bringing news Of
the capture OF the steamer Saturnus, belonging
to the Compania Martina. The facts as gath-
cred from those who know are as follows
The Saturnus sailed from Manila on the
morning Of July 80 for San Fernando de la
Union. on the north side Of the Gulf OF LIN
which are northern ports. 1t is supposed the
vessel arrived off San Fernando on the S4sl
uanga pan she was lying with her nose buried in
the sand Of the shore south OF the city OF san
Fernando. Both anchors were out ana smoke;
which hovered closely over the vessel. snoWgu ,,a
her to be on fire. Small boats with naive
crews could be seen carrying the cargo OF the
Little suspecting the true condition OF affairs
the gunboat Pampanga sent a boat out 70 the
burning vessel to Investigate but upon the ap-
proach of the boat with her American blue
Jackets the natives Immediately retired ana
opened fire upon the boats crew, using Mauser
and Remington rifles from concealed trenches
and sending shells from two three-lncn guns
which formed a concealed battery, over and
close to the little boat
The watchful officers on the Pampanga i'm
nediately ordered the fire from the rebel
trenches to be returned by the crew OF the gun
boat. and under cover OF the guns OF tne war war.
ship the boat reached the Saturnus- brief
inspection of the vessel showed every lnQlcd-
ton that she had been looted by the rebels,
but the examination failed to disclose any sign
OF the crew anything TO indicate that d
struggle had taken place on board. The boat
crew then attempted to raise the anchors, but,
failing in this they cut the anchor chains and
attached a hawser from the Pampanga to the
propeller of the Saturnus. An attempt was then
made TO pull her out OF the mud and sand, but
was unsuccessful
The Pampanga then abandoned the wrecked
Saturnus and signaled the Concord, which was
sighted as she was crossing the Gulf Of Lin
gayan and reported all the facts Of the dis
covery to her commander. The Pampanga was
thereupon ordered TO Manila TO report the af-
fair while the Concord remained TO attend the
rebels and the wreck. When the gunboat left
the scene the flames on the Saturnus had en-
veloped the vessel, and she, TO all appearances,
doomed
Antonio Aralueea and had two officers, three
engineers and a crew Of thirty-six natives. 1t
is supposed that all were taken prisoners by the
The cargo of the vessel consisted of $50 cases
of petroleum. OF ten gallons TO the case; 600
dernftohns of wine 143 barrels Of wine, so sacks
of rice 10 cases of linen cloth, cases of money,
containing $40 900 in cash, and 1896 packages
and bales of various kinds. In addition to the
cargo the vessel carried twenty-six passengers
and two children. all of whorH were either
Fflipinos or Chinese
There is absolutely no truth in the rIrnor of
the assassination murder of the crew OF the
vessel.
The steamer Union. belonging TO the Com