The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-20

w T AsHINGToN. April 19-con-
~ siderable apprehension is felt
" by Navy Department officials
4 regarding the probable fate
of Lieutenant Gilmore and
party. While Admiral Dewey made no
mention of what steps had been insti-
tuted to secure the release of the men,
if they are alive, it is confidently felt
that every effort is being exhausted not
only to learn the fate of the members
of the party, but, if alive, to rescue
them at once
This mornings press dispatches from
Manila were shown to naval officers
and were variously commented upon.
The impression seems to be stronger
than yesterday that perhaps they had
met with serious disaster. According
to these dispatches a steam launch
with machine gun entered the river,
and later three vGIIeys were heard but
no response from the machine gun.
Some officers place various construc-
tions upon this evidence, and one or two
officers expressed their opinion that
the YorktoWn's party may have been
suddenly surprised before there was an
opportunity to bring the machine gun
into play. In case they were captured
it is thought by several officials that
the Americans will be held as prison
ers. but still there is a graver view
taken by others. especially in view of
the proclamation issued by the rebel
leaders that no quarter be shown the
enemy, coupled with the rebel warning
that our army made no prisoners, but
killed all the captured.
L. L H.,
Admiral Dewey to make every possible
effort to learn the fate of the York
towns party, no instructions have been
sent by the Navy Department and
none will be- Secretary Long stated
this morning that unquestionably light
draft gunboats had been ordered to the
assistance of the Yorktown, and it is
quite possible that a landing party had
been sent ashore to explore the coun-
try and discover what had become of
the launch and party. A vessel of the
Yorktown's size carries comparatively
few men, her crew consisting of not
over 100 at most. Her marine guard is
also small, so that Captain Sperry, her
commander. would be incapable of
landing a sufficient force from his ship
for accommodating purposes without as
sistance from other vessels.
The Navy Department having re-
quested a correction Of the portions of
Admiral Dewey's dispatch Cf yesterday
which were not decipherable was to-
day able to furnish the full text Of
the dispatch which is as follows:
MANILA, April 1S.-Secretary of the
Navy, Washington: The Yorktown Wis
tied Baler. on the east coast of Luzon,
p l., April IL, for the purpose of rescu-
ing and bringing away the Spanish
forces consisting Of eighty soldiers.
three officers and two priests. which we've
surrounded by 400 insurgents. Some of
the insurgents We're armed with Mauser
rifles, as reported by natives. Lieutenant
]: c. Gilmore, while making an examina-
armed boat, was ambushed, fired upon
and captured. Fate unknown, as insur-
gents refused to communicate afterward
The following are missing: The officer
previously referred to, Chief Quartermas-
ter w Walton, Coxswain J. Ellsworth,
Gunner's Mate H. J. Hygard, Sailmaker's s
Mate Vendgit. Seamen w. II. Rynders
and c. w. Woodbury.. Apprentices D. W.
A. Venville. ]. Peterson, Ordinary Seamen
F. Brisolese and Q. b. Mcdonald. Lands
men l. t. Edwards, T. Anderson. ]. Dill
Ion and c. A. Morrissey. DEWEY.