The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-15
PURSUING AGUINALD0.
MAJOR MARCH'S EXPEDITION OVER DES-
0LATE MOUNTAINS.
OTIS SENDS STIRRING NEWS.
Aguinaldo I'm Flight. Accompanied by
Only Fifty Men-Desperate Effort of
His Rear Guard to Check Pursuit.
Insurgents Near the End of Their
ources-Provinces Surrendering.
Our Troops Pursuing the Enemy In
Every Portion OF the Island.


Manila, December 13.-The following
dispatch, dated Cerventes, December
5th, has been received from a corre-
spondent of the Associated Press with
Major March's battalion:
Major March, with Captains Jen-
knson and Cunningham, Lieutenants
Tompkins, Rucker, McClelland and
Power and 125 men, is about starting
for Bontoc, the principal town in the
province Of that name to the northeast,
through an absolutely desolate coun-
try and over a mountain 10000 feet
| high. He is pursuing Aguinaldo, whose
escort, now reduced to fifty men, is
known TO be there
According to the natives, Aguinaldo
| intends to disguise himself and to take
circuitous trail toward Bayombong,
| province of Nueva Vizcaya.
Major March, with 300 men, arriv-
| ed at Cervantes, in the heart of the
| Tilad mountains, on THE evening Of
December 3rd, about twenty hours be-
| hind Aguinaldo, who believed he had
| found an inaccessible refuge. On De-
| cember End the American commander
| had a wonderful fight in a cloud-en-
veloped mountain pass, 5000 feet above
the sea, completely routing General
| Gregorio del Pillars force of 200 picked
men, in position almost strong
| enough to rival Thermopylae.
| General Pillar died ait the front of
| his men, urging them ito make a stand,
until the ball of sharpshooter pierced
his head. His followers tried to carry
away the body, but were compelled to
| lay it down.
1.-TWO of the Americans were killed
| and were buried by their comrades
| where they fell The others, carrying
| nine wounded, camped for the night on
| top Of the mountain, an eminence of
| 1000 feet, suffering greatly from the
cold blasts. In the morning they moved
| down the trail to Dagaqui, where they
| learned that Aguilnado, with few
men and three women, all carried on
/ litters born by Igorrotes, had passed
! a-Sng the same trail to Ceryantes,
where he was during the fight A run
ner had brought him the news of the
death of his chief of staff. He was
| greatly affected, and prepared in
stantly for flight.
General Conception, with six Off
GERS, who had deserted Aguinaldo,
surrendered when Major March reach
| ed Cayan, province of Lepanto. On ar
| irving at Cervantes, Major March's S
| battalion was without food, except rice,
and had only a small supply of ammu-
| milton. Major March secured five days
rations, made arrangements for his
sick and wounded, and, having chosen
! twen'ty-fiv mounted and 100 unmount-
ed men. resumed the chase at day
| break"
STIRRING NEWS.
Washington, December 13.-General
Otis had some stirring news to report
today from Manila, his advices going
to show that the insurgents are, as ne
predicted a few days ago, at the end
OF their resources from a military poin
of view and are melting away before
the rapid advance Of the American
troops at all points. His cablegrams
We're as follows:
! Manila, December 13.
\ Fifty men of the navy and fifty mer
/ Of the army, transported by the navy
! took Laoag on the 10th instant. Gen.
i eral Young with his staff followed the
| next day. He reports Howe with
i PENIS battalion of the Thirty fourth
j followed by a portion Of the Thirty
third infantry, passed north to Pidding
i east of Laoag. March's battalion OF
the Thirty-fOurth was at Cayan, prov.
ince of Leganto on the 7th instant. The
Third cavalry was along the coast an(
in the mountains pursuing the enemy
Young states his extreme northern
force passed over the mountains, driv
ing the insurgents under general Tino
who was badly wounded, killing fifty
| and wOunding many. He made large
captures of rifles and property with al
insurgent transportation and released
all the Spanish prisoners in that sec
ton, to the number of about 1000. Ou1
casualties were two wounded. Oul
troops are still pursuing the remnan
of Tines command. March's battalion
| of II, T,I,; +I,;~
Lepanto province, on the 7th instant
that he has destroyed Aguinaldo':
body guard, killed General Pillar; re-
| ceiyed the surrender of General Con
cepion and staff; killed and wounded
fifty-two insurgents. released 81!
Spanish prisoners, including $50 friars
and captured considerable property
His loss was two killed and nine
wounded My information is thai
Aguinalde has disguised his individu
ality, abandoned his troops and is hid
ing in the province Of Banquet
General Otis second dispatch fol.
fows:
Manila, December 13.-
Admiral Watson informs me thai
the province of Cayagan surrendered
Internationally to Captain McCalla, o1
the Newark, on the 18th instant, all
arms being surrendered. Major Ratch-
elder is ninety miles south OF Aparri
command in good condition. Navy will
take supplies to Batcheider in launch
at once: this surrender doubtless in
cludes the province OF Isabella
General Bates at ZamDoanaga re-
ports affairs there satisfactory. Nearly
all rifles surrendered; Macarthur a;
Bamanbang reports that he holds as
prisoner OF war, Mabini, the ablest OF
insurgents and founder OF the late
government"
The naval account of the operations
Of the ships in Luzon is contained IL
two cablegraIns from Admiral Watson
at Cavite The first reads as follows:
"Cavite, December 13.
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