Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1900-11-09
KILLS His SON In BATTLE.
Young Rockefeller Was Lead
ing Filipino Command.

tnS EuipinO command.
A strange end terrible story, hard
ly surpassed in the Imagination OF
writers of fiction, has come to light in
partial explanation of the disappear
ance of Major Charles M. Rockefeller
of the famous Ninth United States
Infantry.
In word, he disappeared from
the army after killing his only son,
who was leading Filipino command
The son bad been stolen from bis
home In infancy by Chinese nurse
and after long years of search Major
Rockefeller made the terrible disoov.
cry that the Filipino officer was the
man for whom he was searching. The
story, as told in substance by the
Army ard Nary Journal, follows:
Charles NJ. Rockefeller served with
distinction in one of the New York
volunteer regiments during the Civil
War. In 1868 he was made first
lieutenant in the One Hundred and
Seventy-eighth New York Infantry.
1t was while second lieutenant that
he married, aud in 1870 boy, named
Robert was born. The major was
detailed to Hongkohg with a
commission, aud there be remained
until 1872. The Chinese nurse en-
gagged to look after the boy disap-
peared with him. Search was made
high and low for the kidnapper and
the child, but no trace could be found
Of them, Rockefeller and his wife
returned to this county, where Mrs.
Rockefeller died, mourning the loss
of the little one.
Maj. Rockefeller never reliuquish-
ed the. search for his child. In the
years that elapsed he got no trace of
him, yet he still hoped against hope
of one day meeting him. He never
told his trouble to any of his brother
officers and thus it was that few in
the Ninth Regiment knew of his
marriage.
The Ninth Regiment was one of
the first to be sent to the Philippines.
One day in the month of March, last
year, he with his command met at a
place north of San Beoir a strong
force of the enemy, led by big,
strapping, handsome young man,
apparently an Englishman. The
Filipinos fought fiercely and con-
tinued the fighting until most of them
were killed or wounded. According
to the Official dispatches of the time,
the young Filipino leader made des-
peratc efforts to get at Major Rookie
feller with evident intention of kill
ing him. He did succeed in Staying
two of the Majors orderlies and in
another moment would have killed
Rockefeller. Then the latter, not an
instant too soon, shot the young lead
er dead.
"When the dead were being buried
and the wounded cared for" says the
Army and Navy Journal, "among
papers found on the young insurgent
were letters of recommendation is
sued to Paul Stanhope and written
by well-known Hongkong officials.
Also a diary giving the names of in
dividuals in the Chinese city. These
were all turned into headquarters by
the Major with his report"
Then happened the extraordinary
thing which army circles have been
discussing ever since-the disappear
ance of the Major in sight of the
enemy and no word of explanation.
Letters had been forwarded to him,
as well as to the Ninth Regiment men
generally. Among thenumber which
he received was one from the Ameri-
lean consul at Hongkong, inclosing
the original letter which he had re-
ceived from the head of the Jesuit
institution to whom he had written
for information of the Majors kid
mapped son.
Paul Stanhope, the adopted son
of Henry Stanhope, Hongkong, the
young Filipino leader whom the
Major had killed, was his own and
only son, the one for whom he had
been searching all these weary years.
Whether or not the thought drove
him mad is matter of conjecture
Certain it is that he disappeared that
very night-walked through the lines
and refused to stop when halted.
General Otis spread the mantle Of
charity over the Majors disappear.
ance in his report to the War Office
This is the official announcement
made by the War Department:
ga report from General Otis gives
the details of the disappearance OF
Major Charles M. Rockefeller.
"The pickets say they were frs
made aware of Major Rockefeller'l
presence by hearing the CRY oi