The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-01
THE STORY OF GILMORE
AS TOLD BY soNNENsHEIN, AN
ESCAPED PRISONER.
EFFORT TO KEEP flLlPlNoEs IN SOUTH
Whereabouts Of the American Generals. Gordon
From San Fabian to San sidro. Macarthur
Prepares For Clean Sweep. Aguin-
aIdo's Mother at Manila.

M)-When the landing party from the
United States battleship Oregon. under
Lieutenant Commander McCrackin,
took the town of Nigan, Province of
South Ilocos, last Sunday. they found
there an escaped prisoner, A. L. Son
nenShein, who furnished the first au-
thentic account of the experience of
Lieutenant James G. Gilmore. of the
United States gunboat Yorktown. who,
with party of the Yorktown, was cap
fured by the insurgents near Baler, on
the East Coast of Luzon. last April,
while making an examination of the
mouth of the river in an armed boat.
Mr.. Sonnenshein was imprisoned AT
Abra for a long time with Lieutenant
Gilmore and seven sailors, but contrived
TO escape carrying a concealed note,
written IN naval cipher. dated Abra. Mo-
yenlber 18th, addressed to ANY Naval
Officer" and saying:
You may have perfect confidence iii
anything the bearer says
The note was signed "GiInlore. Ac-
cording TO Mr. Sonnemshefn. when
Lieutenant Gilmore's launch entered the
river, from Baler harbor. under cover
of Ensign w. III. Standiey's gun. the
landing was received with three yoIleys.
Two Of the Americans were killed and
two morfally wounded. Every man was
hit. Lieutenant Gilmore receiving 4
flesh wound in the leg, and his foot
stuck fast iii the mud 1t was choice
between surrender and being slaugh-
tered. Lieutenant Gilmore asked the
terms Of release. The insurgents pro-
posed that he should procure the deliv-
cry to them of the arms and munitions
Of the Spanish garrisons. undertaking,
if this We're accomplished, to send the
Spaniards and the Americans to the
Yorktown. A sailor of Lieutenant Gil
more's party carried this proposition to
the garrison. The Spanish command
ant replied that it was an insult to
Spanish arms. and expelled the sailor,
a Spanish soldier, firing upon him as
he went.
The Americans were then bound hand
and foot and taken to San Isidro, where
General Luna ordered their execution.
They were marched to the plaza, and in
the presence Of great crowd, were
aligned to be executed.
Lieutenant Gilmore said:
As AN American officer and gentle
man, | protest against being shot with
my hands tied
Agulnaldo interfered and prevented tho
execution. When General Iawton M.
preached San IIsidro last June fhe
Americans We're removed to Abra. where.
they were kept confined in cells for
two months. Subsequently they were
allowed liberty, but the report that Lieu
tenant Gilmore was given house and
servant is untrue. He had the same
quarters as the men. and the Ameri-
cans were given the same allowance as
the Spanish prisoners-iive cents a day
with which to buy rice and bananas
virtually the only rations.
General Macarthur is now in Bayam.
bang Tor Bayamban) preparing to sweer
the country on both sides Of the Manila
Dagupan Railroad General Wheaton
is at San Fabian and General LawtoI
at Tayug.
The Gordon from San Fabian to San
lsidr0 covers all the roads and occupies
all the towns on the line. The Ameri
can policy is TO prevent any more in
surgents escaping to the north and tC
force them toward the country west oil
the railroad.
Major March. with 4 battalion Of tn
I'hirty-third infantry, ocalp IS Nigan
The remainder of the regiment Is q
The way.
General Young, with handful O
cavalry and the Macababts. is in Nigan
and IIient-CoI. Howe, xith tour deci
noted companies of the Thirty fourtl
infantry barefooted and tagged, il
struggling toward Vigan fl5m Alaga
When last reported he was within fft,
miles of his destination.
There are 5000 Spanish prisoners il
Abra Province. whose release through
the military operations is expected so11
1t is learned that Aguinaldo had ;
large amount of stores at BayomboHg
Province of Nueva yizcaya, which Gen
eral Lawton's troops have probably cap
tured.
The steamer Francisco Reyes ha.
taken cargo Of supplies to Dagupaal
where base will be established Hos
pitfalls have been equipped at San Isl
dro, Cabanatuan and Tayug. Many o
the American troops are suffering from
exhaustion. fever or tysentery, and ar
In need OF hospital tr atnlsnt
Captain Fowler's march after Genera
Alejandrinos brigade. with one compan
~ the Thirty-thiri regiment was one o
the brayest incidents of the war. Th