Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-14
CAPTURED BY INSURGENTS
Looting of a Vessel That Sailed From
Manila.
Ran Ashore Opposite n Rebel Battery
-Inefectual Attempt to Pull
Her OF.

A report has been received by mail at the
War Department. giving account of the
capture and destruction of the steamer
Saturnus, which carried $40, 900 in cash and
a valuable cargo. The report follows
The United States gunboat Pampanga
arrived here yesterday morning, bringing
news of the capture of the steamer Satur-
nus, belonging to the Conlpania Martina.
THE facts, as gathered from those who
know, are as follows: The Saturnus sailed
from Manila on the morning of July 80 for
San Fernando de la Union, en- the north
side Of the Gulf of Lingayan, Cavayan.
Currimao and Aparri. all of which are
northern ports. 1t is supposed the vessel
arrived off San Fernando on the 31st ul-
timo
When discovered by the gunboat Pam
panga she was lying with her nose buried
n the sand of the shore south of the city
of San Fernando. Both anchors were out
and smoke which hoVered closely over the
vessel, showed her to be on fire Small
boats, with native crews could be seen
carrying the cargo of the burning vessel
ashore.
Little suspecting the true condition of
aIlalfs. the Sunboat Pampanga sent a boat
out to the burning vessel to investigate.
but upon the approach of the boat. with
her American bluejachets, the natives i'm
medlately retired and opened fire upon the
boats crew, using Mausers and Remington
rifles from concealed trenches and send
ing shells from two 3-inch guns, which
formed concealed battery, over and close
to the little boat.
vain Effort to Recover the Boat.
Ihe Watchful officers on the Pampanga
Immediately ordered the fire from the rebel
treFches to be returned by the crew of the
sphpoat ana under cover of the guns Of
the warship the boat reached the Saturnus
n of
every indication that she had been looted
Wy me rebels, but the examination failed
R diSciose any sign Of the crew or any-
tMng to indicate that struggle had taken
piac@Nh board. The boats crew then at
tempteN to raise the anchors but, falling
IN thls. <hey cut the anchor chains and at
tached a&awser to Saturnus An attemnt
vas then made to pull her out of the Md
ara sand, but was unsuccessful
Inc SaturnuS was commanded bv Cant
Ahtohio Araiucea, and had two officers
three engineers and a crew of tbirtvsiy
natives. 1t is supposed that all were taken
prisoners by the rebels.
a Valuable Cargo.
The cargo of the vessel consisted of 100
cases OF petroleum of ten gallons to the
case, 800 demijohns of wine, 143 barrels of
wine, eighty sacks of rice, ten cases of
linen cloth, seven cases of money contain
ing $4,000 in cash, and 1916 packages and
cargo. the vessel carried twenty-six pas
sengers and two children, all of whom were
either FilipinoS or Chinos.
There is absolutely no truth in the ru-
NOR of the assassination or murder of the
crew of the vessel
THE steamer Union, belonging to the
Compania General de Tobacco, which sail
ed few days after the Saturnus for the
same port, returned yesterday with the in
formation that the United States gunboat
Paragua has refused permission to her to
enter the port of San Fernando and was
ordered to return to Manila
1T is generally believed that portion of
the crew. and perhaps some of the passen-
gers, were in league with the rebels. and
knowing that the insurgents had a CONCEAL
ed battery planted there, ran the vessel
ashore under the rebel guns, SO as to make
the looting more easy, and the capture Of
the vessel and its valuable cargo, together
with Its officers, more complete and with
little danger to themselves"
Crew and Pnssensers Safe.
subsequent report received here states
that the crew and passengers of the Sat
urnus were all safe and uninjured at Tar
lac, the Filipino capital. 1t was expected
that the crew and passengers would arrive
in Manila soon, as it was said that they
were free to go where they pleased nm
melested. The Saturnus was fully insured
against loss. including the risk OF war.