The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-04-20
HOW IT HAPPENED.
Sudden Disappearance of Lieut..
enant ]. C. Gilmore
AND FOURTEEN OF THE CREW
ofthc Gunboat Yorktown Explained.
Fato of the Men, However is I'm
known-Thcrc is a Possibility That
the Spanish Garrison May Have
Rescued Them from the FilIpinos.
i Dcwcy's Cable Dcclphcrcd.

s. MANILA, April 10, 4:s5 p. m.-Admir-
al Dewey has been notified OF the
+ Strange DISAPPEARANCE of Lieutenant j.
c. Gilmore and fourteen members OF
the crew of the United States gunboat
Yorktown. On Saturday last the York
town anchored Off Baler on the east
coast OF the island OF Luzot and about
two hundred miles from here. when
there was Spanish garrison of about
fifty men. which had been defending It.
/. self against several hundred Philip
plnos for months past.
Lieutenant Gilmore, Ensign W. II.
Standby and q boats' crew were sent
up river from Baler bay to communal
cate with the Spanlards. the town OF
Baler being situated some distance In
land. Ensign Standby, who landed at
the mouth OF the river, reports thai he
Heard three volleys. bugle call and
cheers from up the river, but that the
automatic gun which was part OF the
equipment OF the boat was not heard
firing. Standley. later, padded to the
Yorktown In canoe. A search was
made for the Yorktown's boat and her
crew. but no trace Of them was found,
and the Yorktown sailed for Ilollo.
from which place her commander ca
bled to Admiral Dewey his theories that
the F'ilipinos had captured or sunk the
BOAT. or that the Spaniards had rescued
the American party.
The Cable Dcciphcrcd.
. F. q D.
The navy department having request
ed q correction of the portions OF Ad-
miral Dewey's dispatch OF yesterday
which were not declpherable, was to-
day able to furnish the full text of the
dispatch, which Is as follows.
MANILA. April IS.
Secretary OF the Navy, Washington.
The Yorktown visited GBaler, Luzon,
east coast OF Luzon. P. L.. April 12, for
the purpose Of resculng and bringing
away the Spanish forces. consisting of
eighty soldiers. three officers. and two
priests. which were surrounded by 400
insurgents. Some OF the insurgents
Were armed with Mauser rifles, as re-
ported by natives. ~
Lieutenant ]. C. Gilmore. while maxi
Ing an examination OF the mouth o.
the river In an armed boat was ambush
ed, fired upor and captured. His fate
Is unknown, as the Insurgents refused
to communicate afterward. The follow
Ing are missing: The officer previously
referred to. Chief Quartermaster W,
Walton. CoSswain ]. Ellsworth, Gum
ners' Mate H. ]. Hygard. Sallmakers'
Mate Mend!git, Seaman W. II. RYnders
and G. w. Woodbury.. Apprentices d.
W. A. Eenvllle, ]. Peterson. Ordinary
Seamen F., Brisolese, and o. H: Nc
Donald: Laldsmen L. T. Edwa SIS. f.
Anderson. ]. Dillon and C. a. Morrlssey.
Surmiscs of Navy Department..
The officials of the navy department
are confident that such OF the men OF
the Yorktown as escaped being killed
outrish. In the first ambuscada vii, be
well treated by the insurgents. Some
time nso the war department made in
quiry as to the number of American
prisoners held by the 'FllIpinos. In re-
ply General Otis referred to these SOL
oilers and said that they wcra being
fairly treated by the insurgents, he
supplying funds to defray the cost OF
their food. The reports made to the
navy department by Paymaster. Viii
cox. one OF Dewey's officers who made
@ trip across the island Of Luzon from
Manila to the north coast, described the
condition OF the Spanish officials who
were the prisoners of the insurgents
as very comfortable. In many cases
he said, the officials were only nomi-
nally In confinement, being allowed the
liberty OF the towns. The officials are
hopeful that Gilmore and his men who
survived the ambuscaLa will some. day
regain their liberty.
The department has sent no instruc-
lions to ADMIR-! Dewey as to the course
he shall pursue, believing that he Is
fully competent to deal with the s!tua-
hon and resting secure In the assur-
ance that he will spare no efforts TO
rescue Gilmore and his men II they are
alive. -.