The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-03-12
FIGHTING
FILIPINOS
AT DONSOb.
Two Companies Of the FOrty-Sevanth
Go TO DOnSOl on the
Helena.
ENEMY FLED TO The HILLS.
And Fired One vollsy-Place Taken
and Old Glory Floats
Triumphantly.

Correspondence Of the Associated FFes9'
soRsoGoN, Luzon, January 2l.-col.
Howe and the four companies OF the
Forty-seygnth regiment were no sooner
established Mt sorsogon than General
Hobbs gave orders for the occupation
of Bulan and Donsol. Bulan Is twenty
I'VE miles gouth Of sorsogon and Donsol
Is thirty miles above 1t. They are both
small coast towns.
EARLY this morning preparations were
under way to transfer Companies and
D. Of the Forty-seyenth, from the Han
cock to the Helena for conveyance to
Donsol, and for Company B to go
aboard the Nashville for BGIan. Each
OUTFIT had to take along stores and ra-
tons for 30 days. and there was much
hurrying back and forth on the Han
cock, much confusion and much work
in efectlng these transfers. Finally, by
so'clock the Helena and Nashville were
loaded and steamed away from the
fleet anchorage, the Helena heading
north for Donsol and the Nashville
turning toward Bulan. At II, the Hele-
ma was of Donsol and the men were
about to learn whether their landing
would be opposed or not.
Watched the Fleeing Natives.
Through glasses could be seen men
and women leaving the town, carrying
bundles Of household goods with them.
This looked like resistance. The beach
trenches were lined with peerlng faces
and the only flag over the town was
Spanish. Donsol appeared as a few
zinc rooted warehouses and some long
lines of thatch huts in q low tangle OF
green Jungle on the coast. The beach is
white and lined with fish weirs, drying
nets and dug-out canoes. Behind the
town some thirty miles is the wonder
fully symmetrical cone shaped volcano
Of Mayor, 5000 feet high. One COM
pany Of soldiers was loaded into the
Helena's small boats. This action was
Immediately followed by much activity
behind the trenches. whereupon the
leaders Of this expedition decided upon
another course of action. The Helena's
launch with Major Wisz and Lieutenant
Kobbe on board, ran III for the beach,
towing small row boat When close
to the fish weirs, the launch stopped
and the row boat,manned by three Fill
pIros and carrying bis white flag Of
truce. landed In front OF the trenches.
Meantime. the Helena had cleared for
action and the soldiers sin on board
were sent to cover. and those already
la tbs small boats were waiting Just as
tern in low OF the tug Nunez. The Bril-
t.Sh 5anb0at Clover had meantime como
Ia from the south, AMI was now lying
TO. Il few hundred yards from the Hele-
ra 1t Is doubtful II she was recog-
nilpd from, the shore as other than an
American shlp-there was little
b.tcze ard her big white ensign hung
CUwn lImply-so those on shore thought
Themselves confronted with two war
ships and debated the advlsablllty of
resisting them with the twenty rifles at
their disposal,
The boat with the flag of truce was
watched closely. There was confer
ence with three white figures on the
beach, and then she pulled back to the
launch and the launch started for the
Helena. The trenches on shore were
still lined with curious. peering faces,
watching with interest every move our
vessels made.
Wanted Time, as Usual.
''They want until this afternoon to
decide whether they want to resist US
or surrender" said Major Wise. but
guess We will be going ashore right
now"
At quarter to /, the Company D
boats started in for the beach. the Hele-
ma prepared to blow that pretty little
village up into the mountain tops in
case our men were fred on. and every
one waited expectantly. Not shot
was fired. and our men landed on the
beach. Not a face was to be seen at
the trenches. We formed in company
front and then small squads were start
ed through the town. It was absolute
ly deserted, not soul being in sight.
Our men proceeded through the streets.
expecting attack at any moment, but
none came. Dogs howled dlsmally on
deserted door steps or skunk rapidly
away behind the corners. The chickens
and the hogs and the dogs alone wit
messed our entrance. 1t was hard to
tell where the enemy had gone 80
quickly. We Ind evidences of their
hurried flight for in the streets were
half pillaged trunks and bundles OF
household goods. food and clothing and
dogs and hogs and chickens and moth
ing else.
Old Glory Flies.
Then, on low hill about 600 yards
behind the town the enemy were dis
covered. They were clustered in and
about a small trench and around last
century muzzle loading cannon,
Meanwhile Major Wise had gone to
the door OF the house from which few
the Spanish flag; 1t was on a high
pole and Major Wise wanted that pole
for the American flag under his arm.
He knocked on the door and the COM
mander of the Filipino forces in that
town, the local president and the civil
governor Of the district, all in the per-
son Of a brown man in a Filipino uni
form, came and let him in.
'rwrI you haul down that spanish
hag7" asked the major. II want to