New-York tribune., 1899-04-26

were we'll drilled. Every foot OF the ground
was tenaciously disputed by thoroughly or
ganized troops who stood remarkably firm even
before artillery.
FAILURE TO WRECK TRAIN.
The enemy had planned to wreck the artillery
transport train. This attempt was a failure,
but a span Of the iron railway bridge over the
river was destroyed, hampering the American
transportation for some time. The Filipinos
cut the girders. intending to haye the structure
fall with the train. but it collapsed prematurely
from it's own weight.
The Bagbag River, which is about two hun
dred yards wide at that point, was well forti-
fled, and the Americans were compelled to ap-
proach across open space from which the
rebels had cleared every obstruction in sight.
The bank Of the river, a high bluff. sur
mounted with trenches. capped with rocks, loop
holed and partly hidden by bushes.
General Wheatons brigade approached the
river along the railroad. leaving camp beyond
Malolos. General Hale's brigade which started
yesterday, was earlier on the march. and swept
westward toward the railroad. The armored
train was being pushed by Cinnamon. the 10Th
Kansas advancing in extended order on the left
and the 1st Montana, with the Utah Light Ar
tlllery, on the right
The rapid-fre guns on the train opened the
fight at II 80 a. M, about mile from the river.
their popping alternating continuously with the
boom of the 6-pounders.
PUSHING THROUGH THE JUNGLE
The Montana regiment and the Utah artillery
batteries at the same time entered the Jungle,
from which the insurgents. who were occupying
a large struggling village Of huts, poured heavy
volleys In the course Of an hour the Americans
had forced passage through the woods to the
open space in front of the river. and the art
lery. Immediately on wheeling into the open,
began shelling the Filipino trenches.
In the mean time Company X. goth Kansas.
led by Captain Botwood. performed one Of the
most brilliant achievements Of the campaign.
The regiment being held In reserve. and
Company X charged quarter Of a mile over
cornheld to the bank of the river. near the
bridge. where the insurgents from trench were
peppering the armored train. then about two
hundred yards down the track. The company
found shelter in ditch.
Colonel Frederick Funston called for volun-
teers TO cross the river. and the colonel himself
Lieutenant Ball, a private of Company K, pri-
vate Of Company E, Trumpeter Barsfeld and
Corporal Ferguson, of Company l. crawled along
the iron glrders.
While this was going on the men Of Company
X. from the ditch, poured in a heavy fire on
the trenches in the endeavor to divert attention.
but the Filipinos got the range from trench
do,vn the river. and their bullets soon spattered
the water under the structure.
BRAVE DEED OF VOLUNTEERS.
Having reached the broken span. the small
party OF Americans slid down the caisson. swan
a few yards to the shore and crawled UP the
bank. the colonel leading the way to the
trenches. revolver in hand, while the few re-
naming Frpnos bolted.
Colonel Funston said afterward: 1T wasn't
much to do We knew they could not shoot
straight and that our boys would attend to
them while we were crossing"
General Hale's troops. on the right, had the
hardest fighting. They followed the north bank
Of the river. nearest the town. from the east
with the 1st Nebraska on the left and the 1st
hou a
South Dakota and the Dist Iowa oeyohu' Inc
country TO be traversed was mostly jungle. but
the FilIpinos stood their ground. even In the !
open spaces.
General Hae's right Joined General Wheaton's
left soon after noon. curve IN the river ehao-