The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-09-20
AGUINALDO'S
PROFFER TO
GEN. OTIS
To Deliver American Prisoners
Who for Many Months Have
Been in Insurgents Hands
INDICATES SOME WEAKENING
On the Part Of the Rebels..some
speculatiOns as to Latest
Turn in Affairs.


WASHINGTON, Sept. to.-secretary
Root to-day received a cablegram from
General Otis that seemed to Indicate
weakening on the part OF the Insurgents
IN Luzon. 1t contained proffer to de-
liver the American prisoners who have
been for SO many months in the hands
OF the insurgents and also sought per-
mission to parley with General Otis.
This cablegram was at once taken by
Secretary Root over to the cabinet
meeting and formed the main topic for
discussion at the beginning of the ses-
sion. However, upon reading the mes
sage carefully, It's apparent Importance
seemed to diminish. Secretary Root
himself did not regard the matter as of
Importance at this time. He recalled
frequent efforts on the part Of the In
surgents in the past to gain time at
critical moments by opening negotla-
tIons, astensibly with the object Of
making peace. and he was not sure but
this last oner was something OF the
same kind. However, the secretary
was OF the opinion that 1t would fail to
AFFORD the insurgents any advantage.
Would Lose no Ground.
General Otis would receive any mes
senger and listen to him and make an
swer to his proposals, but this would
not restrain the military operations in
the slightest degree, and the American
arms would lose no ground, no matter
how the negotiations turned out There
is possibility also that the insurgents
may have become dIsheartened at the
renewed and intense activity in the d.
rection OF reinforcing General Otis and
concluded in view OF the great force
gathering to open the campaign in the
dry season that further resistance
would be useless.
1t is pointed out as a noticeable fact
that Agulnaldo's name does not appear
in General Otis dispatch and though
this may not be of great significance,
still among. some of the army officers
1t is surmlsed that there are serious dis
senslons among the Insurgents and that
perhaps some OF the dlscordant ele-
ments are acting on their own responsl-
blnty. The text of the dispatch fol-
lows:
MANILA, Sept. 19.
Adjutaut General, Washington.
Macarthur reports from Angeles,
visit Of two insurgent officers with re-
quest for permission to send into our
lines American prisoners, and to send
TO Manila prominent insurgent general
officer for conference. The requested
interview granted and insurgent Off
GERS at Angeles return north this morn
ing with information. OTIS.
The Capture OF The Party.
The capture of Lieutenant Gilmore
nnd his party was one of the most stir
ring Incidents of the ingurrcction. It
occurred while the cruiser Yorktown
was making a survey OF the western
coast of Luzon with view Of locating
some of the detached Spanish garrlsons
which had been long cut of from the
populous centers. 1t was known that a
Spanish garrison had been surrounded
ut Baler on the eastern coast and Lieu
tenant Gilmore with q boats party from
the Yorktown, was sent ashore to re-
connoitre the surrounding country. He
divided his command, one party re-
naming near the shore, while another
pushed inland. This was the last heard
Of the lieutenant and tho fifteen men
who accompanied him. The other
members Of the party waited for n long
time, but got no trace OF their compnn-
ions, and finally were obliged 10 return
10 the ship without them. Admiral
Dewey at once reported the loss to the
navy department, and. before he left
Manila, used every possible means to
learn the condition Of the captive
Americans. At first tt was feared they
had lost their lives but later, definite
Information was received that the fol-
lowing ure alive at San Isl1ro, an In
uuFgent stronghold:
Lieutenant Gilmore. chief quarter
master William Walton. snIlmakers
mate Paul vandolt, coxswaln John
Ellsworth, apprentice third class Al
bert Peterson, landsman sIvlo BrIso-
iez, landsman Lyman Paul Edwards
and lnndsman Fred Anderson
Captain Charles NJ. Rockefeller, Of the
Nineteenth infantry, is also supposed to
be prisoner with the Insurgents. He
disappeared last April. and no trace Of
him ha5 been discovered.