The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1900-03-15
TEN MONTHS OF I'M
PRIS0NMENT.
WM. BRUCE TELLS OF HIS CAP
TURE BY THE FILIPINOS.
His Subsequent Privations and
Escape.

I'm the preceding chapters of this mar
rative, Private Bruce told OF the cap
ture OF himself and Private Honey
man at Cavite Niejo and their
march the same evening to San Fran.
cisco de Malabon, where they spent
the night. The present chapter re-
sumes the narrative of events on the
following day.]
Jan. 31st.-As soon as it was light
enough TO see, we arose and began
walking around our cell to rest our
cramped bodies and also to see in what
manner of place we were confined. We
found our prison to be the basement OF
an old Spanish convent, which the In
surgents were using as prison and
barracks. About A. NJ. one of The
guards informed us that If we had any
money we could obtain something to
eat, so we ordered bread and coffee.
After an hours wait he returned with
two small rolls and cup of some mix.
ture, which he called coffee, but which
we were una ole to drink, and think it
would have taken a chemist to have
told what it contained. We ate the
dry bread and made the most of bad
bargain.
At Ga. NJ. we were escorted to large
room on the second story and informed
by the officer in charge that we were to
receive a courtmartial as spies, and
knowing what show man stands even
in a civilized country when charged
with such crime, | expected very lit
tie mercy from drum head courtmar.
tial among some savages. The court
martial was conducted by eight officers,
but as every thing WAS done in u man.
ner different from anything had ever
seen, and as they always spoke their
native language when addressing each
other, we could not tell who was getting
the best of the trial. We were not to
be kept very long in suspense, however,
as to how The trial was proceeding.
There is at least one advantage in IA
Filipino courtmartial they never both.
or the accused in any way by asking
him questions.
At 1890 A. NJ. the officers conducting
the trial received visit from three OF
their lady friends who were brought
into the room where the courtmartial
was in progress. On their entrance
everything pertaining to US aud our
troubles was completely forgotten. All
bo xrfad VII ask III
seeing which could make himself most
agreeable to the fair damsels. Chairs
were brought them and they were
seated in the center of the room, en-.
tirely surrounded by the officers: Gig
ars and cigarettes We're passed around
and after each of the ladies' had lighted
a cigar nearly foot long. they began
to discuss the latest scandals, at least,
| thought that was what they were dis
cussing, as 1 believe that is what the
ladies usually talk about. During this
time myself and companion we're ig-
nored completely. | tried to appear as
If was enjoying myself nut it required
great effort. and | am still in doubt as
to whether | acted the role successfully
or not.
At 100 the ladies departed and the
officers proceeded with our trial, and
soon came to an agreement One Of
them brought us paper and asked us
to sign 1t. We asked him what 1t was
he wished US to sign and he then read
and translated the paper to US, and we
found it to be our death warrant. He
wished US to sign and we, to be oblig-
ing, did so. | thought perhaps the pa
per might some time fall into the hands
of our troops and would furnish them
evidence as to what beca me of US. AT.
ter we had signed our death warrant
we were invited in to dinner, The meal
consisted of rice and water, for which,
after we had eaten, we were asked to
pay ten cents each. | thought this was
adding insult to injury, but we paid it,
as we did not think we would have any
use for money in the next world and
they had already informed us that we
were to go there that evening.
After paving for our dinner we were
given permission to lie down on the
floor and sleep. 1t is the custom of
these people to have siesta from l P.
NJ. until p. NJ, as they think at that
time OF day it is too warm to work. We
took advantage OF the privilege of w.
ing down, but for my part | can truth
fully say | was anything but sleepy.
At P. NJ. we were called by the guard
and again conducted to the courtroom,
where on entering, [ observed strange
officer in the most gorgeous OF uniforms.
| This officer soon introd uced himself as
the Adjutant-General of the Philippine
army and informed us that he had
come there to assist in ourcourtmartial
as he could speak and understand Eng
fish, so the trial was again resumed. He
questioned us AS our business within
their lines, he made a note of our an
swers, writing them in Spanish, and
after an examination lasting nearly tbir-
| ty minutes he informed us that he was
satisfied with the explanation we had
made and that he would set aside the
/ finding OF the former trial. which we
were overjoyed to hear. He also in-
formed us that he would send an of
ficer. who on the following morning
would escort us to our lines, that he
was going to Cavite that same evening
and as Capt. Healy, lst California heavy
artillery, was personal friend of his. he
would call on him and inform him that
we were prisoners and would be re-
turned to our command the next day
This officer, l have unfortunately for
gotten his name, came to Cavite from
Hong Kong on board the OLYMPIA in
company with Aguinaldo and had in
his possession pass from Gen, Green
U. S. Army, giving him permission
to pass through the lines at any time
with his side arms on, but he was like
all other Filipinos, lit is impossible for
them to tell the truth-and we learned
from experience that the story he was
telling us in regard To our being re-
turned the following day WAS false in