Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-14
ENSIGN STANDLEYS STORY
His Expedition Which Resulted in Lieut.
Gilmore's Capture.
Warmly Praised by His Superior Of
Mystery Still Unso1ved.


of Lieutenant Gilmore and party of the
United States ship Yorktown at Baler, Lu-
zon, by Filipinos In April last. Ensign w.
H. Standley supplied the following details
of the affair, under date of the United
States ship Yorktown. off Ba1er, April II,
1899:
At $40 a. m. (before daylight, April II,
1899, Lieutenant Gilmore, In charge of sec
ond cutter, with Colts automatic gun
mounted in the bow and an armed crew OF
fourteen men, landed j. Lysaght, quarter
master. third class, and myself on the
beach at point about quarter of a mile
to the south and east of the mouth Of the
Baler river. Before 1 landed Lieutenant
Gilmore informed me that he would pull
down to the mouth of the river and at day
light would be sounding near the bar, as q
blind, and soon l signaled he would
pick me up. He said that he would not
open or draw fire unless the insurgents
tried to cross the river, and If / heard firing
l was to understand that the insurgents
were coming across
"Lysaght and myself went down the
beach about 200 yards toward the mouth Of
the river, wading a deep, narrow slough,
and thence up the mountain on course
nearly parallel to the river at its mouth
After one hours climb We were on top of a
high hill overlooking the Baler river valley,
but, owing to the thick brush and trees,
nothing could be seen from here. While
meditating upon the best course to take to
obldlu SOOu view, we H6elTU three S1OlS
close together. followed by desultory firing
concluded that the insurgents were cross
ing the river, and, as this firing was to me
only means to further my purpose, paid
no further attention to it except to notice
that 1T continued, and, with this idea in
mind, my whole attention was given to OBJ
tanning the required Information and get
ting back to the boat as soon as possible
To this end We descended some distance
nearer the river on the west slope of the
mountain until we found suitable tree
sketch of Baler, Baler river, church and
During the time I was in the tree-that
Is, from 9 TO o'clock-there was firing at
times rapid and then desultory. Lysaght
who was on the ground, states that he
heard at least 800 shots. and that he heard
the natives calling. Mira este hombre'
look at that man. I also heard natives
shouting and saw seven or eight of them
at the second bend Of the river, shouting
and splashIng the water. and they seemed
TO nave boat of some description around
Whlch they were gathered. / supposed
them to be natives in bathing and the boat
could not be seen clearly on account of the
trees along the bank of the river.
AT o'clock We left our position on the
hill, made the best of our way to the beach
and signaled for a boat; the signal was an
sWered from the ship, and the whaleboat
came In to take US off, instead of the sec
ond cutter, as agreed upon. / respectfully
qesire 10 call attention to the conduct Of J.
Lysasht, quartermaster, third class. Ly-
saSnt did not Know the character of the
expedlt1on upon which he was asked to go
and. notwithstanding, he willingly consent
ed to go. and his cool and collected manner
under trying circumstances deem worthy
of special notice."
Commander Sperry's Enforcement.
In his report to Admiral Dewey of Stand
ley's exploit Commander Sperry says:
No map Or plan of Baler was to be had.
and no person was to be found who had
nurla Sfcrl Of r.
OFF the town it was found that it was so
tar back from the beach as to be COM
pletely hidden, and until 1t could be located
no operations were possible Any attempt
TO proceed through the jungle up the mar
row and tortuous creek on which the town
was believed to be situated would evidently
be fatal. and Ensign William Fl. Standfey.
United states navy, suggested climbing the
mountain side and overlooking the fnsur-
gent camp and volunteered for the ser
wee considered the attempt very ffa zard-
Gus, but finally permitted 1t to be made as
there seemed to be no alternative.
Landing in the dark without guide
Wadlng breast high through an unknown
slough, Standby and Quartermaster Nv
saght forced their way up the mountain
side, over powders and through dense and
.horny underbrush, and when the firing
was commenced which indicated an at
tack, they descended still lower toward the
hsuigent camp TO point where Stand
ley finding suitable tree climbed it with
sketch with a hand steady as If at his
desk. hrst directing Lysaght, who stood at
Inc loot OF the tree. should they be at
lacked to make for tie beach, as he him
self would probably not be discovered in
the tree Fortunately they We're not at
tackled. and Lysaght had no occasion to
violate orders which he certainly would
never have obeyed
Il earnestly recommend that J. I,ysapht
quartermaster, third class, be given a per-
Gnanent appointment chief quartermaster
In recognition of his conduct He Is thor.
oughly competent and has been conspicu-
ously and uniformly efficient in the perform
ance of his duty, notable instance being the
discovery of the steamer San joaquin in the
hands of the insurgents at st. Thomas Gulf
of LinSayen. For Ensign STANDBY the spe-
cial commentator of the comma nder-in-
chief and the department is asked, not only
that his conduct may receive its merited
reward, but that the service may know of
another of the gallant deeds which are its
pride"
Captain Whiting, who forwarded Com
mander Sperrys report, Endorsed 1t as fol-
lows: Approved and respectfully forward
ed From conversation with the command
ing officers and other officers of the York
town. 1 personally consider Ensign Stand
leys action heroic and that he Is entitled
by his brave and courageous conduct to
all the reward the department Is able to be-
stow. / recommend to the department that
]. Lysaght. quartermaster, third class, be
given a medal of honor for conspicuous
I1ap