The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-05-26

the names of the fifteen Americans from
the Yorktown. From Colonel Ray
the Spanish officer whom we rescued,
| learned that one of the American pris
oners escaped from his captors. His
freedom was short lived. for he was re-
captured. He was stretched on the
ground before his fellow prisoners and
twenty lashes were given to him. We
found a letter near San Isidro, written
by one of the Yorktown's crew, saying
that they were being kicked, that their
hair was being pulled out and that they
were cruelty treated in various ways,
and praying their fellow countrymen to
hurry to their release. The insurgents
make a praotice Of numbering China
men who fall into their hands, and our
men, I suppose. should consider them
selves fortunate that they have not been
similarly treated, though the cruelties
and indignities heaped on them must
be hard to bear.
II would have advanced to Tarlac,
the insurgents main forces. Hence I
asked for Hobbies brigade. I car adj
vance and reach Tarlac in six days I'M
less the present negotiations between
the Filipinos and our commission ac-
complish peace. The whole country is
nothing but intrenchments. I have
had during the last month twenty-five
been killed in the field, two have died
from wounds and thirty five have been
wounded. The losses of the insurgents
were over 400 killed, while we have
/, 900 prisoners. I released eleven
Spanish prisoners, established civil gov
eminent in San Miguel, Balanag and
San Isid1o and safely conducted $40
Chinese refugees, who were in fear for
their lives. In the section traversed 1
have destroyed 200. 900 bushels of rice,
165 tons of sugar and 10, 900 bushels of
corn. The supplies I destroyed would
feed an army Of 10000 men six months.
I gave each of my prisoners a square
meal and then TUNED them loose, after
destroying their arms. There are
whole companies of bolomen at Tarlac,
with no other weapons except the
primitive ones they carry.
cit is my opinion, once the insurrec-
ton is over, little trouble will be X
pe1ienced with the natives, who have
been falsely impressed with their W
powers by their leaders. The native
priests have given much assistance to
me. The country is grandly beautiful
and fertile. Few white men have ever
penetrated into the mountains on &C.
count Of the prevailing fear of the
Igorotes, who inhabit the highlands
and whose fierceness has been greatly
exaggerated. The mountaineers are
really harmless. In the provinces of
Bulacan and Neuva Ecia my men stood
we'll the long marches they were forced
to make and they are in a healthy con-
dition. I must mention my brave
1875 in number. I deeply de-
plore the loss of Chiefs Young and Har-
two as brave and fearless men
I ever met. The work done by the
scouts has been equal to that Of any
regiment in the Philippines. In all
the towns through which I passed 1 es-
tablished town. councils, made up of
natives. In San Miguel the council
a mayor and 1 remained there
long enough to witness the municipal
government in actual operation. It
proved satisfactory.
Ten Of the twenty-five engagements
by us were very severe. My
small loss was due to the fact that |
fanked the enemy each time and came
in on his trenches in the rear