Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-09-29
LAID A TRAP FOR THEM
Finding of Wrecked Gunboat
Reveals Sharp Practices
by the Filipinos.
CREW WAS AMBUSHED.
Seized by Large Band of Natives
and Removed to Porac While
Boat Was Being Looted.

Two Englishmen Escape From the
Filipino Lines and Convey News
to General Otis-Natives Strip the
Wrecked Warship of Nearly all
Her Guns.
Manila, Sept. PA boats crew of
the Petrol proceeding down the Pasig
River found the gunboat Urdaneta
which had been burned and riddled by
the Filipinos The wreck was lying
opposite Orani and had not been heard
from for ten days A Colt automatic,
a Nordenfeldt and one II One-pounder
had been taken off. One officer and the
crew of nine were missing.
The Urdaneta had been patrollng
the shore on the north of Manila Bay.
and her longcontinued absence caused
great anxiety, as it was thought that
her coal had been eNha ed. \ search
was then decided upon. Natives who
were Intercepted by Lieut.. Franklin,
in command of the gunboat Laguna
de Bay. told that officer that the Urda-
meta had bomharled the town of Orani
on Sunday. The crew had landed to
take possession. when they were seized
by a large body of Filipnos who had
laid trap for them. According to the
natives, the prisoners were removed
to Porac. and the gunboat was at once
looted and scuttled.
Two EngliShmen who say that they
were wrecked in an open boat last
July. and held as prisoners by the FL.
ipinos ut Vigan in the northern part OF
Luzon, have entered the American
lines. They brought Il message from
Gen. Pantaleon Garcia, saying that
fourteen Americans. who are held by
the natives as prisoners at Tcrlac. will
he released next Wednesday i'm accord
ance with Il decree of the Filipino Con
gress." 1t was stated that other pris-
oners who were i'll would he released
as soon as their physical condition
would justify such a course. The ma
tives also sent word that the cause of
the delay in the release of the pris.
oners was the fact that the Filipinos
could not furnish the Amerncan pris
oners with suitable clothing.
The Englshmen also brought mes
sage from Grcgorica GanZaga. the Fill
ipinO envoy who came through the
lines several months ago for the pur
pose of holding consultation will
Gen. Otis regarding a settlement Of the
rebellion. GOnZaga. who was the Pres
ident of the Filipino Commission tina
called on Maior-G,n II. Otis. sent word tt
Col. Smith. of the Twelfth Infantry
who Is in command ut Angeles that h,
had made the most diligcnt inquiry al
over the island of LuZOn. but had beer
unable to find any trace of Major
Rockefeller Of the 9th Infantry. whC
disappeared in a mysterious manner
shortly after the arrival of his regi
ment Mt Manila. 1t was stated at IirS
that Rockefeller wandered beyond tn,
American lines and was taken priSone
by the natives. Later it was an
nounced that he was alive and wei
and was held as a prisoner. The Eng
lishmen say there are three othe
American prisoners-a sergeant of al
unknown regiment. corporal of
California regiment. and n negro VIII,
offered to accept a commission in tn
Filipino army.
Lieutenant Gilmore and his men. &C
cordng to these EngliShmen. are still
at Nigan. but will be released later on
Gilmore and the sailors receive an al
loWance of 90 cents n day.