The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-06-02

SCOTS guns were planted against the
Philippine trenches in the first days
fighting at Manila. Nearly 300 soldiers
are buried on a bleak mound surround
ed by rice fields, rough boards, mark
ing the a which are ranged in
five unbroken rows. Beyond these are
Spanish block houses and bamboo
hedges, which were mown by shells Of
the American guns.
The few soldiers who could be spared
from the trenches came % Battery Knoll
dusty and bronzed, bearing flowers
with which to strew their comrades
graves. A silk flag was placed above
each mound. The day was mild as a
New England spring day, when just
before sunset a few hundred Ameri-
cans gathered in a circle around Bat
terry Knoll in blue and brown uniforms.
Among the soldiers were groups of
American ladies and broWnfaced ma
tlVes peer1ng c~uriously at the unwonted
spectacle, from points nearby. The
guns of the monitor Mondanock bonn
harding ~Paranaque, doomed a signif-
C~HI ANAliAuCl vi IuC ucSo vi wal.
Just as the Sixth artillery band began
a dirge, the thunder of the Monadnock's
guns ceased, while taps sounded from
the bugle.
Colonel Charles DENLY, of the United
States Philippine commission, presid-
ed at the exercises. He spoke briefly
of thep peculiar ~solemnity of the day to
Manila. The chaplain of the British
cruiser Powerful made an invocation.
Chaplain Pierce, of the T~wenty-third
infantry and Chaplain Cressey, Of the
Minnesota volunteers, delivered ora
lions, and the soldiers sang appropriate
hymns.
After taps had been sounded the SOL
diers took the flags from the graves to
send to relatives of the dead.
Similar services were held at other
cemeteries this afternoon, Colonel Den
by being the orator on this occasion.
The graves were decorated with a vast
quantity of magnificent flowers.
High mass for the dead of the Roman
Catholic communion was celebrated at
Pace cemetery in the morning. Ora
lions were delivered by Fathers Nc
Kinnon and McQuade and Chaplain
Stevenson Of the Idaho regiment, a
Methodist, and Rev. Peter Mcqueen, a
congregational clergyman of Boston.
Most of the business places of Manila
were closed in observance of the day.
The American and many foreign flags
were displayed at half mast. The graves
Of the soldiers and sailors at Cavite
and Iloilo were also decorated today.
THE BODY OF CAPTAIN TILLEY
FOUND.
D;-o;- C..u I'LL -lo -o-
sent with a detachment Of troops On
board a gunboat in search of Captain
George H. Tilley, of the signal corps,
reported missing at Escalante, on the
Island of Negroes, sent the body of Cap
tain Tilley to Iloilo today on board a
launch. The body of Captain Tilley
was buried later in the day with suit
able ceremony. The English Captain
Joined with his comrades Of the signal
corps in arranging for Ie funeral and
heaped wreaths of flowers upon the
coffin of the dead soldier.
General Smith remains at Escalante
with his soldiers tt search for the miss
ing men who were with Captain Tilley
when he met his death.
DISPATCHES AS TO DEATH OF
CAPTAIN TILLEY.
Washington, May 30.-The following
dispatches were received at the wal de-
partment today and give the first de-
tails Of Captain Tilley's death on the
island of Negros that have beer re-
ceived since the first announcement of
that fact in a message from Major
Thompson to the chief signal officer,
General Greeley The most important
additional information is hat Captain
Tilley's body has been recovered n is
buried at Iliilo and that General Smith
is in possession of the town where the
murder was committed. The dispatch
from General Otis indicates that the
captain of the cable vessel and two
other men were also victims OF the am
. bush. but it does not make 1t clear
whether they eventually escaped or
whether they were killed and their
bodies not. recovered. The dispatches
follow.
"Iloilo, May 80, 1899.
"Adjutant General, Washington:
Captain George H. Tilley, U. S. V
corps, was killed at Escalante, east
coast Of island of Negroes by insurgents
Saturday, May 9th, at II o'clock a. m.
details not known; buried at Aoilc
May 80.
VAN vEL7AH."
Manila, May 80, 1899.
"Adjutant General, Washington:
Gable company's vessel placing ca
BILE betwee Iloilo and Cebu ran to Esca'
lente, east coast Of Negros, to remove
old cable connections; Captain Tilley
signal corps, accompanied and Will
captain of vessel and three men visite.
the town, the natives making a friend
ly demonstration. While there am.
pushed; Captain and one man escaped
to vessel in launches; Tilley and twt
men taking to water and not rescued
vessel then reported at Iloilo; Genera
Smith informed, who Immediately tool
seventy-fve men and proceeded II
Escalente. He reports this mornin,
that body Of Captain Tilley was foun'
floating in river; marks of violence o.