The times., 1899-07-26


Capt. A. s. Barker, who succeeded Admiral
Dewey in command of, the Asiatic Naval
station. an account written in diary of the
operations of his feet covering the period
from May 20. the day of Dewey's depart
ure for home, to June II. In the report
Captain Barker tells something about Lieu
tenant Gilmore and the other American
prisoners in the hands OF the insurgents
the report follows:
THE vessels on that day were distrib-
uted as follows: The Oregon, Baltimore
and Concord off Manila, together with the
Culgoa, one of the refrigerator ships. The
Monterey and Callao were at Cayite
guarding the arsenal; the Monadnock off
Paranaque protecting the right flank of
General ovenshines brigade, two or three
miles from Manila. -and' keeping a search
light watch on. the insurgent trenches in
that neighborhood. The Helena was on her
way to Jolo to be present when our troops
should relieve the Spanish garrison, and
the Castine to Zamboango, to afford pro-
lection to the Spanish troops should they
desire 1t, when evacuating that place. The
Petrel was cruising along the east coast
OF Luzon in search of q steamer supposed
TO have arms for the Insurgents The York
town was at Iloilo. and the Boston at Cebu.
Inc wheeling was in Lingayen Bay, block
aiding Dagupan, port of considerable i'm
portance at the northern terminus of the
railroad which runs north from Manila.
Inc Charleston left Manila on the goth
! Tor lloilo. with Senator Beveridge aboard
and the Celtic sailed the same day for Syd
ney. The insurgents still held the country
southwark OF Manila, including Paranaaue
Las Pinas, Bacoor Old Cavite. etc. and If
N-l- RrN CtfNrr, TO-,
10 exchange shots with the insurgents near
ly every day. The Callao and Manila had
stations guarding the narrow neck connect
ing the naval station and San Rouue to the
main land, to prevent the insurgents from
fortifying and also advancing on the troops
which were protecting our possessions ON
this small peninsular. On May q. hayine
offered to take the purchased gunboats as
part of our naval force, the Albay was
turned over TO US by General Otis and the
soldiers who had manned her were with
drawn. On May % the Newport arrived
with the marine battalion, under Colonel
Pope. United States Marine Corps, and on
the 24th the marines were landed at the
navy yard, Cavite.
''On May % l directed the Princeton at
lloilo to take Senator Beverldge to the
southern islands OF this group, including
Cebu, Mindanoa, and Sulu l considered
that the department would be only TOO glad
to have every facility given distinguished
Senator to learn what he could OF the situa-
| tion from actual observation. Senator
Beveridge visited Cebu. Zamboango, and
Sulu, returning from the latter place to
Manila in small Army transport. The
Princeton returned direct to Iloilo to re-
sumo duty of blockading.
''On May 26 the Leon XIII arrived from
Zamboango. having on board the Spanish
troops taken from that place, General
Montero dying on the day of her arrival,
of wounds which he had received in action
with the insurgents a short time before
the evacuation of Zamboango. At Fam
boango the Castine pulled off the Leon
XIII, which had run aground in the har-
bor she also saluted the Spanish flag,
when the Spaniards evacuated the place
On May q the Iris arrived from lloilo,
| where she had been stationed as collier
in addition to doing duty in assisting to
protect the troops at that place.
"On May 20 General Otis, the Military
Governor. visited me on the Oregon. and
was given the proper salute upon his de-
parture The same day the Boston ar
rived from Cebu, leaving the Charleston
to guard that important port. Captain
Whiting relieved Captain Wilde OF the
command of the Boston and brought the
| latter officer to this port to take command
of the United States steamer Oregon, ac-
cording to the departments order. Captain
Wilde having relieved me in the afternoon,
l transferred my senior officers pennant
to the Baltimore, and soon afterward
General Wheaton called officially and was
received with proper ceremonies.
ION May 80 the Zafro brought from Lin
gayen Bay an escaped Spanish prisoner
who said he had seen Lieutenant Gilmore
and several American sailors, that they ap-
peared to be well, and that Lieutenant
Gilmore was permitted to have a horse
This l cabled to the department. On May
81 We entertained at lunch the President of
the Philippine Commission and other dis
tinguished guests.
"On June l Captain Lambton, of H. NJ
s. Powerful, who has entertained nearly
all our prominent officials, announced his
intention of leaving for Hongkong as soon
as his relief should arrive.
On June 2 the Powerful sailed for
Hongkong. having been relieved by
H. NJ. S. Grafton. Captain Fisher. Sena-
tor Beveridge returned from the south
much pleased with his visit. On
June / telegraphed to the department
recommending the formal transfer of the
purchased gunboats to the Navy, General
Otis cordially approving. The Concord
sailed for Lingayen Bay to relieve the
Wheeling.
ION June 4 the Bennington arrived
from Hongkong. where she had been re-
pairing, having some time before run
upon a rock OFF the coast of Panay. Com
nander Ackley was a passenger from
Hongkong, having been ordered by the
Department to command the Concord. His
health. however, was so bad a med
ical survey was considered necessary. On
June Commander Ackley left for Yoko-
hama Hospital for treatment, having been
condemned by medical survey. The Prince
ton arrived from Iloilo for coal and re-
pairs. On June the Wheeling arrived
from Lingayen Bay, and the Dutch cruiser
Friesland came in from Sourabaya.
Heard good reports OF the value Of our
little gunboats. which had been cruising
among the islands to the southwark the
Albay and Samar, using Iloilo as a base
and the ManiIeno, Cebu. Several captures
had been made The Boston. with short
term men. the sick and prisoners. left for
San Francisco, via Hongkong. On June
the Helena arrived from Jo!o. where she
had been stationed while our troops were
| relieving the Spanish garrison. During
the day had an interview with General
Otis in regard TO an advance TO be made
by the army on the insurgents between
Manila and Cavite. This Will be made the
subject Of a special report.
"on June 10 the proposed advance was
made and our vessels took part in the en-
gagement and Las Pinas and Paraneque
were captured. On this day Capt. II. E.
Nichols, United States Navy, commanding
I the Monadnock. died suddenly, having been
| exposed to the hot sun while his ship was
| engaged.
ION this day also, the 10th. the Benning-
| ton left Manila with the President and Sec
retary of the Philippine Commission to
visit the southern islands At Ceou Presl-