Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-05-06
JARO RIVER BATTLE,
Martin Danielson Writes OF a
Philippine Scrap in Which
He Takes Part.
REBELS DRIVEN BACK SVEN MILES

A americans Run Out of Ammunition and
Are Obliged to Retreat to Their Trenches
Private BeahI Shot Through Heart
One Wounded Man Saves as a Relic n Bull
let That Passes Through Head and Mouth
Jaro. Philippine Islands, March 20
Here is acorrect account of the battle
of Jaro river, the 10th of March, fought
between>rhe 18th u S. infantry, 9th
u. S. artillery and the 1st Tennessee
volunteers against 80, 600 insurgents.
The natives had been sending bullets
into our lines for several days pre-
vious. When we had enough to put
our blood a boiling, we went after
them the 10th of March. After driv-
ing them back for seven miles it be-
came dark. We retreated with not n
man having more than his magazine
full of bullets. The Tennessees' loss
was only one man slightly wounded,
who had got on the firing line with
the 18th u. S. infantry. The 18th loss
was one killed and % wounded. Five
of these belonged to my company. Pri-
vate Beahl (killed) was of Company Il.
1t is now p. M March IL. and
our scrap yesterday is pretty well re-
mem bered. The 1st and I'd battal-
ions of the 18th were in it from start
to the finish At l p. m. our boys
were out in the woods and under
brush looking for the insurgents.
Company b was at the left of the Jaro
river. Not seeing an enemy but hear
ing the firing, at $3.50 they crossed to
the right of the river. They no more
than got foot on the bank after wading
the river. and long march, when volley
after volley was sent into our lines.
Capt. T. w. Griffith gave the COM
mand to fire. After six volleys, he ad-
vanced his command 100 yards and
fired some more volleys into the ma
tives. They were now $50 yards in
front of the native trenches, but those
people haven't sand enough to stick
very long. Company b drove them
out and captured block house full of
ammunition, which they soon set on
fire. A few minutes later the eight
companies were in one long line,
voIIeys and YelIs.
The line advanced with volleys and
wells on the retreating enemy. By Z
O'Clock we had driven them out some
six or eight miles from their trenches.
At this place our bows ran out of ammu-
milton and could not take Santa Bar
bara, and we retreated to our advanced
lines and held them, and have not
forced the fight since then. The 18th
infantry's loss in this battle is as fol-
lows-22 wounded and one killed.
Company b suffered the most and Pri-
vate Beahl was killed, shot through the
heart, and five men wounded. One
Tennessee man was wounded by a
stray bullet. One of the wounded
was shot through the back of his r ght
hand, the ball passing through his arm
an neck and coming out of his mouth.
He holds the bullet as relic. The
euemy's loss l have beenNnable to
learn, but it must be great. Their
trenches in one place, for half a mile,
was pool of blood and niggers piled
up six and seven high-another one of
Their sly tricks. They had a lot of de-
coys made of wood to represent sol
diers. The 9th artillery put sweet
and good end to them all. aud few
live ones among them. This makes
the loss of the 18th four killed and
26 wounded, including one officer.
Several Of the late wounded may die.
We captured several cannon of
smooth bore. The natives take scrap
iron, put it in a can, ram it in the
cannon with a lot of powder and touch
her Off. But they do not come far
enough to harm us. | was talking to
a wounded native mat was brought
in. He had a gun, ammunition and 4
knife foot long, and, the best of all,
nine bullet wounds in his legs, hips
and shoulders, and he said: Il fought
for my country and now | am willing
to die" He is still smoking cigars
and chewing his native tobacco.
A priest came into our lines yester-
day and told us that the insurgents
lost 205 killed. Reinforcements are
ON their way to help us. Our boys
killed a few sharpsooters last night.
It's an every day occurrence here now.
1t is reported that the natives have
rebelled at Negros.
Cigars are one cent each. eggs four
for one cent. No liquor is allowed to
be sold in or around Gen. Miller's
MARTIN II. DANIELsoN,
Company B, 18th u. 5. infantry.
The ARGUS has another letter from
Mr.. Danielson of an earlier date than
he foregoing, which is of a similar
interesting nature. Chris Danielson.
I51S Thirty-second street. father of
he Philippine soldier, has a letter
rom his SON dated March IS. Martin
states that he is just about to receive
lis discharge, and as soon as he
Toes, he will make for home, sweet
nome. He saws that he has been Of
erred several lucrative positions, in
;luding one in the Spanish bank at
Manila and in the postoffice at Iloilo. !
put he declined them all, as be is dis |
,usted with the people and the treat
nent he has received in that country. |
To Mt