The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-01-30

1OWerS, members or the crew Of the
Inflated Urdanita, describing the cap
ture of that boat by the Filipinos last
September. In endorsing the reports
Admiral Watson says that they show
that the little gunboat, under command
of late Naval Cadet Wood, was gallant
ly defended and only captured because
she was hard and fast aground. Cap
tain Wilde adds to his endorsement the
following:
The conduct OF Mr.. Wood n of the
entire crew under the terrible fire is
praiseworthy to the last degree and
reflects additional lustre upon the bril-
liant record of the United States navy"
Greene in his report says that the Ur-
danlta grounded about a quarter of a
mile below Balanga, on the Orani river,
about 10 O'Clock a. m. Sunday, Sep
TENDER 18th. All hands were sitting
around the deck playing cards or read
ing, waiting for the tide, when, at $3.50
o'clock, two volleys were fired from
the shore, almost racking the deck.
Most OF the ammunition was below, but
at Cade Woods order the men manned
he guns and smothered the enemy's
hre In about fifteen minutes. Stone,
the man at the Nordenfelt, had been
shot twice, when he was relieved by
Mr.. Wood, who had been firing the
l-pounder. Within five minutes Wood
was shot through the stomach; Gray
had been hit; Stone had his ear knock
ed off and received another wound in
his head. Gray continued to fire a
small rifle after receiving his wound.
Powers put fifteen holes in one man
with a Colt gun. The Filipinos were
invisible, so the sailors fired where
thew thnU0ht thaU uara yNhan yJTooI
was hit, the Colt u was red hot, the
two firing pins Of the ~1-pounder were
broken so that she could not be used;
n barrel of the Nordenfeldt would
not fire, and three or four of the Lee
rifles had broken eXtractors. Wood re-
vived and ordered out the boat. Green
advised that they stay by the ship till
dark, but Wood insisted on trying to
reach the other bank
The Insurgents had reopeneG fire
from concealed places and the bul-
lets We're flying like hail when
he boat got away, carrying the sail
ors h could not swim, while those
who could hung OF TO the gunwale.
Filipinos doubled their fire and rushed
into the river after the boat. The oars
were hit until finally only one was left,
so the men started to swim ashore,
leaving Wood dead in the bottom of
the boat. Stone and Drummond were
shot close TO the boat and Gray had
been killed in the boat, Green was
helping Herberts ashore. and Powers
was trying ITO save himself. As soon
as they reached the beach twenty-five
boiomen rushed at them, but their
captain prevented them from killing
the sailors. They killed the Chinese
servant, wy Lee, and Mitchell was
shot while in the water.
The Americans were confined in y
stone convent for several days and
hen semitic Porac. Within W days
that place was attacked by the Ameri-
IA troops, and hen the prisoners
were carried from one point 70 another
until in uhe mountains, five of them
made their escape n reached the
American lines.
SKIRMISHING WITH INSURGENTS.
Manila, January ga dispatch from
Sorsogon, dated Thursday January
18th, says Brigadier General Kobbe'
expedition has occupied S~orsogon, Don
sol, Bulan, LegaSpi n Virac, on Ca
t~anduanes island. The only resistance
was at Legaspi, where five Americans
were wounded and forty-five dead and
fifteen wounded Filipinos were found.
1t is estimated that there are 125, 900
bales of hemp in these provinces and
$4,000 bales in the ports of Sorsogon
and Legaspi. The United States gun
boat Nashville's schrapnel burned So
900 bales in Legaspi. The expedition
arrived off Sorsogon January Goth and
the town displayed white flags. Gen
eral Kobbe and Colonel Howe, with a
battalion of the F~orty-seventh infan-
try, landed and raised the United
States flag. The insurgent force, NUM-
ber1ng 800 men, evacuated the place.
The natives were passive. During the
morning of January 23rd the Nashville
and the Venus, with four companies of
the Forty-seventh infantry regiment,
under Major Shipton, approached Lee
gaspi. Filipino flags were flying and
the trenches were crowded. A detach-
ment of $50 picked men, led by Major
Shipton, landed on the beach about a
mile north of the town. the Nashville
bombarded the trenches and the enc
my retreated to Albay, whence they
were easily dispersed to the hills.
About 200 insurgents, armed with
rifles, forced 600 unwilling villagers,
armed with bows and arrows, to serve
in the trenches in the close range street
fighting before the enemy fled. The
Filipino dead were mostly villagers
who were attempting to flee.
The expedition will proceed to Samar
and Leyte, where the Forty-third in
fantry and a battalion of the Third
artillery will be distributed.
The natives complain of lack of food,
resulting from the blockade. They are
strongly opposed to the return of the
friars. Native priests are officiating in
the churches.
Lieutenant Colonel Webb c. Hayes
has defeated an entrenched force Of
the enemy at Sariaga. One American
was killed and five were wounded.
a record of eleven American prison
erS has been found Captain Casteel,
while scouting lee BaraS, with his
company, encountered 400 insurgents.
He was reinforced by Captain Oracle
n the enemy was driven to Tanay.
One American was killed and one was
wounded.
ACTION OF THE NAVY.
Washington, January 26.-Admfral
Watson has cabled the navy depart
ment an account Of h part taken by
the navy in the splendid campaign now
being made in southern Luzon by Cen
eral Schwan. The admiral's dispatch
refers to the series of engagements
which took place along the eastern and
southern shores of Lake Taal a week
ago.. There is no outlet from Lake
Ta-1 49, -- CO.. r-o -