The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1899-12-14
An Act of Bravery.

"a 1eoH Story Oh QaVal O1nCef
courage in the Philippines is brought
TO Washington by Surgeon Stone, late
OF the Bennington, who is now In the
city, says the Washington Star. Its
hero is Lieut.. Emory Winship, also of
The Bennington, and now on leave in
this country. recovering from the effects
of FIVE Mauser bullets gathered in vari-
Gus parts of his anatomy while saving
landing party of l25 men from being
cut up by a regiment of Filipinos Win
ships exploit dates back to last March,
but 1t is characterized by those who
saw 1t as the equal of anything done
by Ensign Davis OF the Helena who
took a machine gun ashore early in
February and fought with the land
forces in the battle of Caloocan and
the vicinity. 1t will be remembered
that Ensign Davis and his gun played
an important part in capturing half
dozen Filipino positions, and that he
was subsequently advanced ten num-
bers in his grade on recommendations
OF Gems. Otis and Macarthur and OF
Admiral Dewey Winship has been ad-
vanced from assistant engineer to lieu
tenant, and at last accounts had got
rid of all but two of his Mauser SOU
venirs. It happened shortly after the
bombardment of Malabon, about March
5,that Admiral Dewey expressed wish
for some photographs of the earth
works and houses that had been struck
by the ten-inch shells from the Mon
adnock. Commander Tausis said that
If he were allowed to land a few boat
loads Of men he could get all the pho
tographs wanted. 1t was believed at
that time that the hostiles had all va
Gated that part of the shore, SO permits
sion was given to land party Sew
eral boats with between 125 and $50
men started ashore and on landing
made for an old church which was the
chief object of interest A false idea
OF security led them to advance very
carelessly, throwing out no advance
and taking nothing but their side
arms. Only boat guard of two men
under Winship was left to keep up
steam in the launch which had towed
in the landing party, but fortunately
the launch had small automatic gun
mounted forward and Winship was
we'll acquainted with it's working. The
landing party had gone inland some
little distance, when they were sur
prised by whole regiment of Fill
| pinos, who suddenly appeared out of
| the jungle. The natives advanced on
the run, shooting wild, but confident
| Of cutting off the whole party. Those
ashore expected little else, but seeing it
was case Of foot race or funeral
they doubled back for the boats, yell.
ing Justify. That was where Winshir
came on in star part. He unlim-
bered his machine gun on the Filipi-
nos, calculating closely, so as not te
| enfilade his own comrades. 1t was
practically one man against a thou,
sand and the natives came on with a
rush, hoping to put the lone gunner
out of action before his fellows could
reach the launch Winship received
the bulk of their fire, thereby also con-
tributing to the safety of the landing
party, and he stood UP to his work. He
was struck five times-once in the
shoulder, the arm, the hip and twice
in the leg. He braced himself and
continued to train the gun while his
men fed it ammunition. Thirty Fill
! ipinos dropped under his fire before
| the little jungle men decided they had
enough. Their rush was checked and
then they ran, pursued by the relent-
less fire Of Winship's lone gun. The
retreating boat crews reached the
| shore just in time to see Winship sink
down in the bow of the launch The
closest estimate that could be made
of the enemy's loss was about sixty
killed and wounded. Commander
Tausig said that but for Winship the
entire landing party would have been
cut off. The young assistant engineer
was taken back to the Bennington,
where he was patched up temporarily
and subsequently sent back to Wash
| ington, where he passed mis- examina-
ton for promotion with two Mauser
bullets still in him. But the exam
lining board said they did not seem to
disagree with him at all.