Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1899-04-20
CAPTUREDBY REBELS
SAILORS OF THE YORKTOWN FALL IN
TO HANDS OF THE INSURGENTS

Natives Refuse to Treat With Americans.
Lieutenant Gilmore and Fourteen Men
Taken-Gunboat Was Making Attempt
to Release Spanish Garrison at Balem.
WASHINGTON, April 19.-The navy
department has given out the following
dispatch from Admiral Dewey:
"MAN1LA, April 1s.-Secretary Of the
Navy, Washington: Yorktown visited
Balem, east coast of Luzon, April IL.
for the purpose of rescuing and bring
ing away the Spanish forces, consisting
OF so soldiers, three officers and two
priests, which were surrounded by 400
insurgents Some of the insurgents
We're armed with Mauser rifles.
Lieutenant j. G. Gilmore. while
making ambushed were fired
upon and captured. Fate unknown, as
insurgents refused to communicate aft
erward. The following are missing:
The officer previously referred to, Chief
Quartermaster w. Walton, Coxswain
J. Ellsworth, Gunner's Mate H. j.
Hygard, Sailmaker's Mate Vendgit,
Seamen w. H. Rynders and G. W.
Woodbury., Apprentices D. w. A. Ven
vile, A. ]. Peterson, Ordinary Seamen
F. Brisolese, o. B. Mcdonald, Lands
men L. T. Edwards, F. Anderson, j.
Dillon and G. A. Morissey. DEWEY
The 'sdenote portions of the dispatc I,
which could not be deciphered.
Landsman Morrissey is from Lincoln,
Neb.
WASHINGTON, April 19.-The capture
OF the 9orktown's men was discussed
with much feeling in naval circles The
misfortune was felt with added keen
ness, as the navy has prided itself thus
Tar on immunity from reverses The
admlral's dispatch of yesterday was the
first knowledge the department. had
that tho Yorktown had gone on this spe.
clal mission to relieve the Spanish gar
rison at Balem. That the capture should
have been effected while the American
forces were on a mission of mercy to-
ward the Spaniards, rather than in the
prosecution of a campaign, led to the be-
lief that Spain would have no further
ground for questioning the good faith
with which the Americans We're seeking
to relieve the condition of the Spanish
prisoners.
Although the dispatch gave no indica-
ton that Lieutenant Gilmore and his
nnen n;ld lost thefr lives, yet great anx.
iety was felt by the mystery surround
ing their fate, while in the hands of an
unclvlllzed enemy. This is the first
capture of any Americans, military or
naval, so that it is unknown how the
insurgents will treat our men, If civil
lied methods were pursued an exchange
could be quickly effected, as General
Otls has large number of Filipino
prisoners, but the insurgents have been
averse thus far to exchanging Spanish
prisoners and this raises question as
to what they will do with the York
towns men. The purpose of officials
here is to spare no effort to secure the
speedy release of our men.
Lawton Says 1OO,O 900 Men Are Needed.
MANILA, April 17.-During the alb
sence of Major General Lawton's expe-
dltlon to the Santa Cruz district, on the
southeastern side of Laguna de Bay, the
insurgents have been concentrating at
the northern end Of the lake near Pasig
and the American scouts report that
several thousand are already there.
General Lawton's expedition is now on
its way back. Two hundred and fifty
Chinese from Santa Cruz have arrived
here. They left the town, owing to
their fear that the rebels on re-entering
it, would wreck vengeance upon them
for favoring the Americans
Major General Lawton's expedition
to the Laguna de Bay district reached
Manila yesterday morning, bringing all
the men'and captured insurgent boats.
Its objects, the capture of the insur-
gents boats and the distribution of the
proclamation, emphasized by a lesson
OF American power throughout the lake
region, have been attained. General
Lawton Immediately began prepare.
tlons for an important expedition on
land. There has been no fighting on
the lake for three days.
General Lawton authorized this state
ment: "The present prospect is that
100000 troops will be necessary to pac.
ify the islands. The difficulties are
those of fighting guerrillas in trop-
ical country. With brigade I could
force my way to the end of the island
IT did not have to hold the ground
traversed. But leaving garrisons be-
hind soon eats up my force. 1 regret
the evacuation of the territory taken. y
| Otis List of Casualties.
MANILA, April 17.-Adjutant General,
Washington: Casualties not heretofore
reported:
Wounded Nebraska: Company
H, Private Deeds Forsberg, abdomen,
slight; F, Private Ora Rosi, side, slight;
Q, Private Jesse Baird, hand, slight; E,
Edward Mathews, wrist, slight; X,
William L. Gilberts, side, slight; L,
Sergeant William L. Baehr, shoulder,
slight; B, Privates Herbert Rasmussen,
thigh. severe; E, Frank A. Graham, leg,
slight.
Killed-First North Dakota: Com
pany Q, Corporal l. Driscoll, Wagner
J. Peter Tompkins. Privates Alfred AL
men, William G. Lamb; I, Musician