The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1899-09-21
SPANS PAGE OF GLORY.
HANDFUL OF MEN HELD A CHURCH
AGAINST A HORDE OF FlLlPlNos.
Da'er's Heroes worthy TO Rank with the
Cid and with Lycurgus-Heid Out For
J37 Days, Feeding ON Bats aud Snakes.
and Rejecting All Terms of Surrender.

Cld and with Lycurgus-Heid Out For
331 Days, Feeding on Bats aud Snakes
and Rejecting All Terms of Surrender.
Hollow.eyed and exhausted the
remnant of the Spanish garrison at
Baler has arrived in Manila. They find
themselves heroes, for the word of
their plucky fight has gone out to the
world. They have endured siege
such as few troops in history have en-
dured. They have starved, and many
OF their comrades accepted honorable
death rather than an inglorious sur
render. Thirty-one came back, in
Guiding a Lieutenant--who is the
lion OF the hour--and surgeon.
Twenty are enlisted men, but
they rank as heroes. The sutferings
they endured were terrible and the
odds against them were great. But
for more than year they held back
the insurgent forces, and at last won
from them such admiration that the
garrison was allowed TO march out
with all the honors OF war. 1t was
this for which they had fought, as
they had long given up the hope of
being rescued or relieved.
Baler is little town on the east
,oast Of Luzou. There is the least
bit OF bay there. The Baler River
flows into tho bay. Just before it
reaches the tide water it makes
turn around a hill, and this high
ground shuts the town out Of sight
from the bay and sea. 1t was around
this bend that Lieutenant Gilmore
and his boat crew with rapid FIRE guns
from the Yorktown were captured by
the insurgents. At that time it was
made known to the world that Span
sh garrison had been left by the con-
luered nation and apparently had
been forgotten by its Government.
The history of the siege is rs fol-
lows:
A garrison of flfty-one officers and
men was in Baler when the insur-
rection broke out against the Spanish
But the soldiers were able to hold
their own and live in the barracks for
some time. AS the insurgents pro-
gressed and grew in strength a strong
force was sent before Baler and an at
tempt made to capture the Spaniards.
The Spaniards were under the COM
mand of Captain Don Enrique de las
Morenas y Fossi, with two Second
Lieutenants, Don Juan Alonzo y
Zayas and Don Saturnino Martiz
Cerezo and Medico Don Rogelis Vigil
de Quinones. On the Captains order
all ammunition and supplies were
taken into the church, and on June
81, 1898, the little garrison took
refuge in that strong edifice. The
stone floors were pulled up aud the
material so obtained was used in
barricading the windows and doors.
The belfry was fortified and used as
place from which to carry on sharp
shooting while the soldier was pro-
tected from the insurgent fire by an
extemporized stone wall with port
| holes. The insurgents suffered
severely from this method of warfare
and attempted on many occasions to
dislodge the Spaniards. The first
attempt was in August.
The siege had been thoroughly laid
| III tut intHubiuts
was carried on under cover of dark
ness until the insurgents had two rows
of trenches surrounding the church.
From the nearest ..ench charge was
J. made on the church. 1t was at the
time the Spaniards were preparing
their evening meal aud the kettle of
soup was bubbling over the fire in the
court The call to arms brought the
little garrison to its post, but not be-
fore the insurgents were under the
walls and battering at the doors.
They were so close that they were
safe from the Spanish guns and were
shouting in anticipation of victory as
they hammered against the great
door, the side door and windows
Captain Fossil made tour OF inspeo-
ton, and in doing so passed the kettle
of boiling soup. He hurried on his
rounds and saw that his stronghold
was fast giving way under the blows
of his enemies. When he again
entered the court two soldiers were
with him. They were directed u
pick up the kettle OF soup and hurry
to the balcony leading to the window
over the great door. The stones thai
were piled before the window as q
barricade were torn down aud the sasl
was thrown open. The besiegers sup
posed that parley was wanted and
ceased their battering, stepping back
to see what was going on. The kettle
was poised on the window sill an6
then its steaming contents were spilled
upon the besiegers. There was q cry
of pain as the scalding liquid fell upoi
the upturned faces and bare shoul
ders below. Those that were un
touched ran away, and their less for
tunate fellows writhed and staggered
toward their trenches. Volley aftel
volley followed them as they ran, ant
when dnrkness fell they had retroate'
to the farthest trench, defeated in thei
a;tempt to force the stronghold of tn
Spaniards.
The suffering was terrible. Pro
visions ran low. From the start th
garrison was put on short rations
which were reduced as time went oil
until the soldiers aud officers wer
compelled to live on rats and mice
of which there seemed tn he nlentv in