The Wilson times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1896-19??, 1899-04-21
IN THE HANDS OF THE FOE
Capture of Americans on an
Errand of Mercy.

Washington, April lS-The Navy
Department has given outthe following
dispatch FROM Admiral Dewew:
"Manila, April 18th.
"Secretary of the Navy, Washington.
"The Yorktown visited Baler, Luzon,
east coast of Luzon, P. Y, April 12th,
for the purpose of rescning and bring
ing away the Spanish forces consisting
of eighty soldiers, three officers and
two priests, which were surrounded by
four hundred insurgents. Some of the
insurgents armed with Mauser rifles
by natives. Lieutenant J. c.
Gilmore, while making am
bushed we're fired upon and captured.
Fate unknown as insurgents refused to
communicate afterWard. The follow
ing are missing; the officers previously
referred to, Chief Quartermaster W.
Walton. Coxswain J. Ellsworth,
Gunper's Mate H. J. Mygard, Sail
makers Mate Vendgit, Seamen W. H.
Rynders and c. w. Woodbury. Ap-
prentices D. w. A. Vanville, J. Peter
son, Ordinary Seamen F. Brisoies, O.
B. Mcdonald, Landsmen l.. T. Ed
ward, F. Anderson, J. Dillon and c. A.
MOrrissoy.
(Signed) "Dewey."
The dispatch from Admiral Dewey
caused much excitement in naval
circles as soon as its contents became
known. 1t was received late in the
day and considerable delay was occa'
stoned by the blindness of some of the
cipher words. 1t was impossible to
completely decipher it, and the as,
terisks indicate the unintelligible
words.
Lieutenant J. c. Gilmore, the officer
referred TO as captured, is well known
in Washington, having been stationed
here for some time. His wifeand family
live here. He was born in Philadel-
phia. July 10th, 1854, and was ap
poinred a naval cadet from Arizona in
September, 1871. He reached his
present grade of Lieutenant in 1891.
His main service has been on the
Monongahela. Marion, Bancroft,
Vesuvius, and Machias; he has seen
besides considerable service OH boards.
Just o year ago he reported to the st.
Paul, then commissioned as an auxiliary
cruiser, and served on that vessel,
under taptain Sigsbee, throughout the
war. On January 14th last he was
ordered to the hospital ship Solace,
which was about to sail for Manila, and
on arrival there was assigned by
Admiral Dewey to the York town.
The capture of the Yorktown's men
was discussed with much feeling in
naval circles. The misfortune was felt
with added keenness as the navy has
prded itself thus far on immunity FROM
reverses. The Admiral's dispatch of
today was the first knowledge the De
partment had that the Yo. ktown had
gone on this special mission to relieve
the Spanish garrison at Baler. That
the capture should have been effected
while the American forces were on a
mission of mercy toward the Spaniards,
rather than in the prosecution of a
campaign, led to the belief that Spain
would have no further ground for
questioning the good faith with which
the Americans were seeking to relieve
the condition of the Spanish prisoners.
Although the dispatch gave no lndica-
ton that Lieutenant Gilmore and his
men had lost their lives, yet great anx-
iety was aroused by the mystery sur
rounding their fate while in the hands
of an uncivilized enemy. This is the
first capture 0fany Americans, military
or naval, so that it is unknown how
the insurgent will treat our men. If
civilized methods were pursued an
exchange could be quickly effected, as
General Otis has a large number of
Filipino prisoners but the insurgents
have been averse thus far to exchang-
ing prisoners, and this raises a question
as to what they will do with the York
town. The purpose of officials here is
spare no effort to secure the speedy
release Of our men.
Manila, April 49, 6:l5 P. MA
number of prominent and wealthy
Filipinos are organizing committee to
take steps to bring about If possible an
understanding between the rebels and
tho p,urioans Cna branch of this