The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-04-26
SANTA Cruz CAPTURED,
General Lawton With a Picked Force
Takes a Filipino Stronghold.
THE NATIVES PUT TO FLIGHT

Tho Filipino City Attacked by Land and
water-Little Resistance offered to
the Assault - American Loss Small
- Sixty-eight Killed and Forty
Wounded on the Other Side.
GfAy11A(9y Cable) General Lawton has
captured Santa Cruz, Mt the extreme end
Of the lake. He drove the rebels, who were
commanded by q Chinaman named Pao.
Wah, into the mountains. The Ameri'
,ans had six men wounded. The rebels
lost si1ty-eight men killed and had forty
men wounded.
Santa Cruz was the Filipinos' stronghold
IN Lake Laguna de Bay and 1t fell Into
the hands Of General Lawton's expedition
Iiter some sharp, quick fighting, forming
one of the most interesting and important
battles OF the war. About fifteen hundred
picked men composed the expedition,
which was under the personal command OF
General Lawton, on account OF the illness
OF General King. These troops partly sur
Laguna de Bay, Naptdan and Oeste, under
the command OF Captain Grant, Of the
Utah Battery, shelled the city and outlying
trenches.
At sunrise the assault commenced. The
American line south OF the city stretched
two miles inland, and, with Its left sweep
Ing the shore, it moved north, whilo the
Fourth Cavalrymen on the point advanced
toward the city, pouring volleys upon the
trenches. simultaneously the gunboats
lowering along tho shore, smelling the
~ q
FiIIpinos inland. The GatllnSs cleared sew.
eral trenches.
The whole brigade was divided into
squads OF twelve, ard the lighting was car.
rled on In the old.time frontier fashion,
from behind trees, crawling through
bushes, or rushing across the open.
General Lawton, with the Fourteenth
Infantry Battallons, approached narrow
Iron bridge across q creek on the south
border of the town. Here company oil
Filipinos was intrenched across the stream
and behind q stone burrIcade at the en-.
trance to tho bridge. The Americans
rushed forward In single Gle, in the face OF
a CALLING fire, demolished the barrtcade
with their hands, end drove the enemy
from the trenches, killing dozen.
The Filipino soldiers in the towu, Sc.
.reted In various buildings and firing from
the windows, gave the invaders an inter.
eSttng hour. There was regular nest o!
them in the stone jail, which is edged In by
a wall. This was a verltable pepper-pot.
The Americans sinSly or in pairs, entered
the houses, and many warriors were taken
prisoners.
A considerable body OF Filipinos fled
northward, crossing the open marshes, but
the Gatlings poured upon thom deadly
hail until they disappeared in the woods,
Staying dozens. Major Weisenberger de.
ployed the sharpshooters along the shore,
and they crept steadily forward. aiding the
Gatlings. Finally large body was sent
against the enemy In the woods, driving
them toward the mountains. One Filipino,
attempting to make his escape, slashed
viciously at Major Welsenberger, who shot
and killed him.
General Lawton established headquar.
ters at tho elegant palace OF the Governor,
and guard was Immediately placed In the
church, as tue sacred: edi1ces are always
the first object Of looters. Within IN hour
the town was patrollcd and all loosing rig
Idly prevented, Almost all the inhabitants
had fed during the two preceding nights,
and only few Chinese shopkeepers have
emerged from hiding and resumed busl.
uess.