The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-04-27
CApTU RED IsE THE ENIINi y. .
The NOrltOwn's Crew arc AmbuShcd
and Tnkcn Prisoners by the Fill
DinOS.


The navy department has been mott
lGd by Admiral Dewey in dispatch
from Manila Of the strange disappear
uHcc Of Lieut. }. G.. Gilmore and four
cen members Of the crew OF the United
States gunboat Yorktown. On Satur-
day last tue York town anchored of
i'Aicr, on the cast coast OF the island
e L1Zon about TWO hundred miles from
here. where there was Is Spanish gar
riSOD OF about 90 men, which had been
defending Itself against several hun
drcd Philippine insurgents for months
past.
Lieutenant Gilmore, ka5ign W. III.
STANDBY and q boats crew were sent 40
the river from Balcr TO communicate
with the Spaniards, the town OF Balcr
being situated some distance inland.
Ensign STANDBY, who landed at the
!uOuLh OF TIL river. reports that he
heard three vollcys, Il bugle call and
| cheers from up the river, but that the
automatic gtiu, which was part Of the
! equipment Of the boat, was not heard
| firing.
Standlcy later pAddlcd to the York
| .Uwn in u canoe. a search was made
!or the IorktowL's boat and her crew,
| but no trace Of them was found and
the Yorktown sailcf for Iloilo, from
which place her commander cablcd tC
Admiral Dewey his theories that the
tllipinos mad captured or sunk the boat
or that The Spaniards had rescued the
American party.
Lieut. }. q. Gilmore, the officer who
was captured, is well known in Wash
ington, where his wife and family live
| lie was born in Philadelphia, July TO-
| 1871, and was appointed a naval cadet
| frm Arizona in September, 1871. He
reached his present grade OF licuten-
ant in 1891. His main service has beon
on the Monongahela. Marion, Bancroft,
Ncsuvius, and Machias, besides con-
siderable service on boards. Just a
| year ago he reported to the ST. Paul,
then commissioned as an auxiliary
cruiser, aud served on that vessel under
Ga January II, he WAS ordered to the
nospltal ship SOlacc, which was about
TO sail for Manila, and on arrival there
WAS assigned by Admiral Dewey to the
| \ Urk town.
The capture OF the Yorktown's men
WAS discussed with much feeling in
naval circles. The misfortune was felt
with added kccnncss rs tho navy has
pridcd itself thus far on immunity
| from rcvcrScs. The admiral's dispatch
WAS the first knowledge the department
| mac LnaL the yorktown had gone on
this special mission to relieve tho
Spanish garrison at Balcr. That the
capture should have been ELECTED while
tnc American forces were on mission
OF mercy toward the Spaniards rather
| than in &c prosecution OF q campaign
t"d TO me belief that Spain would have
40 turtuur ground for questioning the
good Ij,Ith with which the Americans
were seeking to relieve the condition
Of the Spanish prisoners. Although
the dispatch gave no indication that
Lieutenant Gilmore and his mon haC
lost thcir lives, yet great anxiety was
aroused by the mystery surrounding
their fate whiic in the hands OF an un
civilized enemy. This is the first cap
luru ol any Americans, military on
naval, 80 that IT is unknown how tho
; insurgents will treat our men. |
civiIiH d methods were pursued an cx
chargc could be quickly Effected, a.
Genera! O.is has . large numbcr 0
Filipino prisoners, but the insurgcnt'
have been avcrac, thus far, to c&chang
ing Spanish prisoners, ana this raise
u question as 70 what they will 40 will
the Yorktown mon. The purpose o
: the officials is to spare no C!lortto secure
the speedy release OF our men.