The Elbert County tribune., 1899-05-04
BRAVE KANSAS MEN.
THEIR woNDERFuL ACHIEVE
nssds-l 1t The. Cross . nivss Uadsf
Fire and ch,ss rhsssa.ds Of KII'pisss
Froo rhslr Treschs-.


Chicago. May 1.Aspecinl dispatches
from Manila to the Record give fur
thcr details OF the remarkable success
e. Of the American troops few dayt
ngo In the face OF great obstacles. The
correspondent snys:
The tnking OF the bridge over the Bit
Grnnde at CnIumpit was deed OF as
fonishing daring. II was the most
strongly defended position held by the
Insurgents. Located on the north shore
OF the Rio Grande. opposite Calumplf
II Is the most valuable strategic point
In Luzon. The fact that II was guarded
by the most trustworthy and best dis
clpliued regiments OF General ATuin
aldo made the feat the more note
worthy. Army officers tonight say the
daring displayed by the American
troops to-day ~ almost unparalleled
In the nnnnls Of modern warfare.
II was n red-leifer dny for the Twen-
tieth regiment OF Kansns volunteers
commanded by Colonel Funston. One
hundred and twenty men belonging to
that regiment crossed the river In the
fnce OF n deadly fire from 5000 insur-
gent Mnusers. This torrent OF bullets
was augmented by the fusIIlade OF q
Maxim gun of which the Insurgents
have obtained possession.
Colonel Funston. with only nine men,
charged the trenches manned by thou
sands OF insurgents, dlscbnrRing their
rifles ms they ran up the embnnkment.
The American artillery, on the south
shore OF the Rio Grande. poured shot
and shell into the Filipino stronghold.
The rebels were sinmpeded. They
went to the north toward Bncolor.
Despite the extraordinary risks and
chances taken by the Americans. our
troops suffered very few casualties.
Only one man was killed nnd the
wounded do not exceed dozen. The
Insurgents lost heavily, fully twenty
FIVE were killed during the mad charge
OF Colonel Funston's men OH the
trenches.
counted fifteen bodies in the trench
es and nlong the railway in distance
OF a quarter OF mile.
The bridge where the desperate fight
ing took place IL about 100 yards long.
II extends over the Rio Grande and Is
the gateway. practically, to the entire
northern portion of the Island OF Lu-
zon. All the ties and rails had been
removed from the structure. making 1t
almost impossible to cross, Ms the men
had TO creep along the Iron framework.
At the further end OF the bridge. op-
posite Cnlumpit. were the most care
fully constructed and formidable
enrthworks. They seemed almost i'm
pregnnble. They were In the form OF
seinicircular trenches around the mp
pronch of the bridge. These trenches
have roofs OF steel rails. These roofs
formed splendid protection against
bursting shells. and for time made
the work Of the artillery almost futile.
About 800 yards west OF the railroad.
on the north shore OF the Rio Grnnde,
a deep narrow stream cmpties into the
river. Beyond this stream are other
trenches commanding the south shore
OF the river.
The American forces occupied the
south shore. within 400 yards Of the
insurgent eartliworks
Early In the morning the Fllipinos
began a steady fire from both their in
fantry and artillery. Most OF II was
directed upon the freighthouse where
the 9Th artillery gun was stationed.
The Americans. however. returned
such heavy fire that the Insurgents
were obliged TO keep beneath the cover
OF their eartllworks.
II was during this fire that Colonel
Funston md his 100 Kansnns per-
formed the exploit OF the day.
They marched down To the river, n
distance of 800 yards from the freight
house. In plain view OF the Insurgents.
Immediately the Filipino fire was di-
rected upon the kansas men. Colonel
Funston and his men were prepared to
cross the river SO that they could make
flank attack upon the rebels In the
trenches.
Privates White and Trembly of COM
pany ID Of the Kansas regiment strip
ped of their uniforms. jumped into the
river and swan directly toward the
Filipino breastworks. Almost immedi-
ntely they drew the fire from the
trenches Of the insurgents, but evil
IDENTIFY they had not been noticed by
the insurgents at the end Of the bridge.
The latter were fully occupied by the
artillery and infantry fire OF the Amer
icnns.
When White and Trenbly reached
the shore they carried rope to the
beach. tied II TO an upright of the
bridge, and by making n tremendous
noise frightened the Insurgents out.
They had no arms. but they threw
clods Of dirt into the trenches and kept
up such terrific yelling that the In
surgents thought whole company
was upon them. All this time Colonel
Funston md his men on the south
shore OF the river kept up n steady
fire. thereby protecting White and
Trembly. Two more Kansans follow
ed In small boat with the clothes and
rifles which had been stripped on by
Trembly and White, hut the bont cap-
sized. Its contents were lost and the
two men in 1t were obliged to swim
for their lives.
Colonel Funston In the meantime fol.
lowed on n raft with about twenty
men. Close behind him came two more
RATS on which were thirty men. The
appearance of this number reyenled ia
the main force of the Filipinos the dar-
Ing trick which Ind been prnctlced up.
on them. Immediately they directed a
Wild fire toward the RATS. 1t was In.
effective. As soon ns Colonel Funston
reached the opposite shore with his
fifty men he rushed down to the small
stream which cmptles into the Ric
Grande about 100 yards from the rail.
road bridge. His men We're yelling like
demons. They were pouring terrific
cntilading fire into the main trenches
OF the insurgents across this small
stream.
The Filipinos became panic-stricken
There was n regular stampede. When
Colonel Funston saw them running he
searched for some place to cross, and
in no doing got under fire from several
hundred Insurgents who had retrented
some distance from the smaller stream
A Maxim gun was opened on them
from different direction and this
cross-tlre compelled them to retire
When the Maxim ceased the Filipinos
returned.
Finally Colonel Funston found @
smnll boat and with Captain Orwie
and eight men crossed the small river
nnd with this handful OF volunteers
charged straight into the heavy trench
es held by the Fllipinos. They chased
the insurgents out of their protected
position, and by the time Colonel Fun