Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-01
WITH AGUINALDO
The Interesting Story Of Corporal
Salisbury.
IN CAPTIVITY WITH TIE INSURGENTS
Made His Escape, but Was Recap
tured.
TREATMENT W HILE PRISONER

Il LETT Manila OCTOBER II, Win SisHdi
corps party under command of Captain
Russell, proceeding by way of San Fer
nando de Pampanga, Mexico and Santa
Anna arriving at Arayat about noon Oc-
tober Is. / learned that our forces were
then fighting near Cabaio. and in order TO
obtain, if possible. pictures of this work l
had permission from Captain Russell to
push on with d Troop of the Sd Cavalry,
which was then leaving Arayat. We
reached Cabaio at about O'Clock and
camped for the night. l was joined mere
by my assistant. l.. S. Smith. who had
been with loves scouts. Next morning,
October 10 we Joined the advance upon
San Isidro. The day being rainy oar work
was very difficult, and finally our material
became saturated as to render further
signs Of insurgents in that vicinity every
thing being ahead of our line) we took
refuge in a native nut which stood close
to the road, intending to dry our material
and, if possible. wait until the weather
cleared. As troops had just passed over
this road and supply trains and hospital
carts with guards were passing from time
to time this was considered safe. How
ever about an hour later we We're fired
upon by party Of insurgents at such short
range to make 1t impossible for two
men armed only with revolvers to do other
than retreat.
''Our property being spread out to dry,
We were unable to collect all of it in our
packs, but left it there. hoping to be able
To return later ana reclaim IT, heep1ng
under cover as much as possible. we man.
aged to reach San Isdro (Which had then
been taken) in safety. AS soon as more
troops reached San Isidro. l endeavored to
learn of them if they had seen our property
and if there were still any natives in the
vicinity. AS several guards of the 9th
Infantry supply train and several men Of
the 4Jh Cavalry, but of what troop l am
unable to recalD had seen the property and
reported that it was still there, but had
seen no natives, l started back to recover
it, if possible. When within about one hun
bred yards of the hut 1 was again fired
upon and my horse killed. / then returned
to San Isidro, where l camped with the 9th
Infantry. In the morning l started again
with my assistant, resolved to regain our
outfit, or If that was impossible, to return
to Arayat and report to Capt. Russell. When
we reached the hut (Which we did in safety
We found that the property had been re-
moved. so We hurried on, passing Cabaio
about noon.
bario about half way between Cabaio and
Arayat, where We were attacked by a
large body of Filipinos, who drove us off
the road toward the river. At the river
however we met two gunboats towing cas-
Goes. in one of which 1 saw General Law
ton. who. upon my reporting to him the
attack which We had received, told us that
from there to Arayat either the road or
the river was clear, and that l could pro-
coed by either route. AS he had just come
up the river / took that as the best course
and embarking in small banca started
down the river. At the mouth of the Rio
Chico we were suddenly fired upon by a
party of about sixty insurgents, who were
In concealed trenches at that point. several
balls entering the banca and many more
struck in the water close by, but fortu-
nately neither my companion or myself
was hurt In the excitement of the mo-
ment the banca was overturned, and We
took refuge behind It, firing with our re-
volvers whenever we could see any of the
enemy. On account of the bullet holes in
the banca it soon sank so low as to no lon
ger afford protection, removing shoes.
leggings and coat, sank my revolver, and
taking one of the bamboo poles from the
side of the boat, swan down stream, keep
Ing under water as much as possible. A
few minutes later a ball struck in the
water. Just grazing my head, and l was
stunned when the natives pulled me from
the water to the bank. where Smith had
gone some time previous.
Prisoners of the Insurgents.
I'VE were taken before Lieut.. Texol. who
was in command OF the battalion located
there. and by him sent to Tarlac. going by
Magaleng and Bamban. At Tarlac we were
by Col. IIeba, who was English
interpreter for Aguinaldo. and confined in
the rear of the office of Brig. Gen. Macabu-
los. who was secretary Of war We arrived
at Tarlac October q. Next day Smith, with
several other prisoners who were then in
Tarlac. was sent to Victoria. When we
We're captured l was suffering from dysen-
terry, and, owing to the exposure, had grown
rapidly worse. and was unable to be moved
l finally became so sick that it was evident
that unless I obtained medicine 1 would
certainly die. l endeavored In many ways
to secure my return to Manila for treat
ment. even agreeing to sign an agreement
similar TO that signed by the prisoners who
had formerly been released. knowing that
II would not be binding. Just at this time a
Spaniard, who was also prisoner obtained
some raw opium for me, and this with the
diet Of rice which / was given l began
to get better rapidly, and October % was
sent to San Carlos, where November 1
there were assembled as prisoners twenty
four American soldiers. three deserters, one
American and one English civilian While
l was in Tarlac a Spaniard showed me
papers that proved that one William Miller
an American soldier who had been a pris,
oner and had been released, was giving in.
formation to and acting agent for the in
may be investigated.
In San Carlos We were separated into
PARTIES OF four and sent to different towns
my assistant who had Joined me there) 70.
ing with myself and two others to Asiny,n
In the province of Pangasinan We we've
quartered here from November to Noven-
Der -. on which later date news having
been received that the American cavalry,
which was much feared was in San lose
We were sent to Binalonan. Here We were
Joined by ten others and sent north along
the coast. making, however frequent dc.
ltHIS INTO lIle mountains until = reached
Candon November "a
when we Were first captured and in ~
the time we started north our treatroc>1t
by the Filipinos had been very kind There
we We're placed under guard Of new trocos
who had never seen an American before
and who seemed 10 take pleasure IN. NAL
treating US at every opportunity. and IN
Candon l resolved to escape at any cost
My companions were not in favor OF this as
We had been told that in event of an escape
rcapture meant death. so / went alone
Escape and Recnpture.
Il concealed myself in the building by get.
ting between the rafters and the rooc on
the morning of November %. just as We
were preparing to leave. Although tie Eli
ipinos searched long ard thoroughly they
failed to find me- and finally came to the
conclusion that had left the building. Re
manning in hiding until I succeeded In get
ting out of the building and reaching tho
rice fields east of the town. l Travelled south
all that and the following night, lying con-
cealed during the day in the hedges As
was barefoote0 and only half clothed with
feet and limbs cut. insect-bitten and biIs-
tered, made slow progress and on the
third night had not yet reached Santa Cruz.
As l was nearing this town I encs- m
tered a sentry, and although 7 killed ~,