The Topeka state journal., 1899-12-20
AMERICANS TRAPPED.
Attempt to Blow Up a Small Party
In Cebu.

Manila, Nov. q, (via San Francisco.
Cal, Dec 19-)-Belated mail reports
have reached Manila of an expedition
on the Island of Cebu last month by a
small force Of American soldiers Of the
Sixth infantry which was -epulSed by
insurgents mainly through the desertiOn
of native allies, upon whom the Ameri-
cans depended. Two of the Americans
were killed and two wounded and in the
force OF native police accompanying
them one was killed and four wounded
No official report of the affair has
reached General Otis, consequently the
censor refused to permit the incident to
be ca.bled but the correspondent of the
Associated Press has obtained an ac-
count from a. thoroughly reliable source.
The Sixth infantrymen killed We're:
DANIEL r. ADAMS, company A
CHARLES N. COLEY, company A.
Wounded:
William Stowel, company a. through
chest
Bert Hutchinson, company c, through
hips.
The American commander at head
quarters in the town of Cebu received
information that a force OF insurgents
had occupied the village of Maulbaul on
the west coast of the island, that they
were leVying heavy taxes and taking
food and horses and that the villagers
would be glad to have them driven
away. Captain Walker took a detach-
ment of ten soldiers aboard the steam
launch Powerful on the 14th of October
ana proceeded along LHe coast stop
ping at the towns of Naga and Carcai
where other men were added to the
force from each garrison. At the latter
town a body of sixty native policemen
who were friendly to the Americans
was mustered into the service by their
captain. Senior Malta. These natives
were armed with spears and bOlOs and
had but few guns among them. on the
evening of the 18th. the Powerful reach
ed Maulbaul and her passengers were
landed with difficulty through a rough
sea. The insurgents had retreated to
the hills so the force camped for the
night. Early in the morning they We're
on the march. The company c detach-
ment acted as advance guard and the
natives brought up the rear. For three
miles they advanced along a narrow
road with the sea on one side and high
cliffs on the other Finally they were
compelled to enter q rocky pass, ap-
preaching it across a bridge so narrow
that they were compelled to march two
abreast. Just as they entered the pass
there was a great explosion almost in
their faces and they were covered by q
shower of soft earth. The insurgents
had prepared a gunpOwder mine to an
initiate the party, but the soil and
rocks We're so pOWdery that the Amer
leans suffered no injuries beyond
bruises.
The explosion was followed by a brief
but exciting experience. Immediately
after the report FiipinOS hidden in the
cliffs opened fire. Two Americans and
which came from very short range. The
commander of the police was hit in the
hand and a pair of field glasses which
he carried was shattered. The police
were thrown into confusion and after
a moments hesitation they fell back
and began to run, leaving the few Am
orleans to bear the attack. This the
men of the Sixth cavalry did bravely-
They retired in good order, carrying
their dead and wounded and returning g
the insurgent fire with such effect that
eighteen of the enemy We're killed. The
party returned to Maulbaul and re-em-
barked for Cebu, where they arrived the
following day with their dead and
wounded. The conduct of the native
police found some excuse in their poor
eOuiDment