The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-03-12

send them WORD tuht * IhSy y" Aot
surrender and bring In their cannon in
two hours, I'll have the navy shell
their, position" answered Major Wise.
The presldente found a messenger
for this reply, and he was on his way to
the hill top when the hrst volley was
hred. Then began the stormlng Of
ponsol heights. We had been told
there were but twenty rides and a
small store Of ammunition among the
insurgents. and as our soldiers started
for the hill we saw the enemy disap-
pear from their trenches at its top.
No one thought they would wait for US.
Our soldiers went laughing, painting and
stumbling through the Jungle that grew
on the hillside and came to the top VIC
toriously, for there was no enemy In
sight.
Showing Their Heels.
From beside the old brass cannon
there was good view Of the country
behind the town, and as we looked the
woods began to show our fieet-footed
enemy. They peered out at US from
behind nearly every clump Of trees. We
caught sight Of them in threes and in
dozens as they skunk through the jun
gle, apparently waiting to come back
into town, but not quite daring to at
tempt 1t. From clump Of bushes not
a hundred yards away we presently
flushed two natives. They came for
ward holding out their bows and ar
rows and trembling with fear. When
Major Wise told them later they would
be paid money for carrying water for
the American soldiers these two men
asked: SIS this true, or is 1t some
Joke" Harsh tales had been told them
Of what the Americans would do to
prisoners, and this promise Of work
and wages could not be believed with.
out especial assurance Of its truth and
validity.
The Chinese residents of Donsol had
not abandoned the town. They hid
away in shacks and warehouses, COM
ing out later in the afternoon and TAX
ing advantage Of such opportunities as
the occupation by our soldiers made
possible to loot Filipino houses. But
this practice was quickly terminated by
the American officers.
This morning, before we landed,
there had been meeting Of the towns
people in the principal plaza of Donsol.
Some men with property interests and
bales Of hemp ready for the market,
were in favor OF surrendering. But
there was revolutionary hot-head, an
officer, in the gathering, who turned
to his followers and said:
Shall we tamely surrender our
town to the enemy and become the
laughing stock of our fighting brothers
in the north Let US show them we also
have the courage to fight and, IL need
be, to die, for our beloved country"
This kind OF talk, properly prolonged.
won the orator a certain following. and
It was thus decided to ask for three
hours for elaboration. But when our
boats were actually seen coming
ashore, the Tagalos In the party for
resistance could not hold their less
sangulnary followers, and the army
broke for the hilltop. There they were
persuaded to fire that one volley, and
then they gladly ran away.
People Short Of Feed.
There was little enough food In this
town Of Donsol. and back in the hills
there is still less. The natives already
have begun to come back to the viii
lage, bringing their families, and Us
this continues they will be sull-
ell and Indifferent to US, for they are
stlll under the fear OF Tagalos, but
when they see we intend to remain and
will afford them protection against re-
tallatIons. they will accept US more
gladly and be ready to do a little work
for a good wage. The local presidents
did not fee with the others, because, as
he said, IT am unused to the bush and
there is little food there" He was told
for the first time Of the occupation of
sorsogon and that the insurgent garr!-
son had abandoned the tom at our APP
proach, whereupon he seemed more
cheerful, for now he can say. that,
having heard Of his chiefs surrender
at the more important town he deemed
1t hopeless and unwlse to resist the
same superior force of the enemy.
Nashville Met No Resistance.
Company B and the Nashville met
with no resistance at Bulan. The ma
tlves did not abandon the town. but
instead crowded down to the beach to
witness our landing. 1t seems that
about nine months ago three Tagaios
with rifles stalked into Bulan and in
the name Of the Filipino government,
ordered the townspeople to construct
trenches for the defense OF the place.
This the people did, whereupOn the
Tagalos went away, and that was the
first and last time the people Of Bulnn
ever saw any insurgents. There was
not a soldier In the place When our
mon landed. A few frightened women
had run into the country when the
Nashville steamed in, but they soon
came back to their homes and were
laughed at by their neIghbors for their
fears. Our officers talked with the
towns presldente. who is to be contln-
ned in ONCE as before. and. following
his suggestions, our troops were quar-
tered in comfortable houses near the
beach. The presIdente seemed pleased