Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-11-10
WARS SADDEST EPISODE
THE TERRIBLE MISFORTUNE WHICH
eEFeL MAJOR ROCKEFELLER, v. S. A.
Remarkable Story Related by the Army
and Navy journal - Killed II Young
Filipino Leader In Battle who Was
Ills Long sought For Son.

he Is on record ms having lett MS conf
mand in the face of the enemy. No
cogniZance is taken Of the sad story
behind his disappearance.
The fact that the major disappeared
after discovering that he had shot and
killed his only son was first announced
in the Army and Navy Journal. Many
of the facts of the case We're hidden.
There are few men in the Ninth
Regiment who knew that Major
Rockefeller was married. A Mail and
Express reporter found member Of
the regiment who served with Rookie
Teller from the time he was lieuten-
ant, and all through the Indian cam.
paigns.
Charles NJ Rockefeller served with
distinction in one Of the New York
volunteer regiments during the Civil
War. In 1868 he was made first lieu
tenant i'm the One Hundred and
Seventy-cighth New York Infantry.
For gallantry in action at Fort Blake
ly, Ala, on April 9, 1865, he was
awarded 4 medal or honor.
AN INDIAN FIGHTER.
At the close of the war he, as well
MS n number of others who loved NH
tary life. continued on in the service
of the regular army, being appointed
a second lieutenant and transferred to
the Ninth Infantry. Afterward lie
gained rcnown as an Indian fighter,
and finally rose to the position Of
major.
1t was while second lieutenant, ac-
cording to the story now told, that he
married and in 1870 boy, named
Robert, was born. The major was de-
tailed to Hong Kong with commits
sion and there he remained until 1872.
The Chinese nurse, engaged to look
after the boy, disappeared with him,
Search was made high and low for the
kidnapper and the child, but no trace
could be found of them. Rockefeller
and his wife returned to this country,
where Mrs. Rockefeller died, mourn
ing the loss of the little one.
SEARCHED FOR HIS BOY.
Major Rockefeller never relinquished
the search for his child. In the years
that elapsed he got no trace of him,
yet he still hoped against hope Of one
day meeting him. He never told his
trouble to any of his brother officers
and thus it was that few in the Ninth
Regiment knew of his marriage.
The Ninth Regiment was one Of the
first to be sent to the Philippines. One
day in the month of March, last year,
he with his command met at place
north of San Beoir a strong force of
the enemy led by a big, strapping.
handsome young man, apparently an
Engllshman. The Filipinos fought
fierccly, and continued the fighting
until most of them were killed or
wounded.
According to the official dispatches
of the time, the young Filipino leader
made desperate efforts to get ut Ma
ior Rockefeller with the evident in
tcntion of killing him. He did sue
coed in Staying two Of the majors or
derlles ana in another moment would
have killed Rockefeller. Then the lat
ter not an instant too soon, shot the
young rebel leader dead.
when the dead We're being buried.
and the wounded cared for" says the
Army and Navy Journal, among
papers found on the young insurgcnt
were letters of recommendation issued
to Paul Stanhope and written by we'll
known Hong Kong officials. Also n
diary giving the names of individuals
in the Chinese city. These We're all
turned into headquarters by the ma
jor with his report"
TRACED TO A COLLEGE.
Even from the field Major Rock
pfcllcr had been pursuing his inquiries
after his lost boy. He was in con-
Iinual correspondence with the Amer
lean Consul at Hong Kong. and the
latter shortly before the battle re
fcrrcd 10 wrote that he had discor
,rcd that the lost boy had been placed
in II Jesuit college, and that he would
write again later.
Events in the Philippines made the
major for a time forget this. After
The last battle he hrd to push OH by
forced marches, and on April % he
was almost in sight of and ready to
make Il forward movement against
'aloocan. Then happened the extra
luvc been discussing ever sincc-the
disappearance of the major in sight of
he enc ny and no word of explanation.
Letters had been forwarded to him
Is we'll as to the Ninth Regiment men
generally. Among he number which
IL received was one from the Amcri-
an COna'l at Hon" Kong, inclosing
he original letter which lie had re-
.rivcd from the head of the Jesuit in
to whom he had written for
of the majors kidnapped
;on.
THE SON IDENTIFIED.
Tn.s is the letter:
House of the Holy Ghost,
Hong Kong. February 81, 1890.
Dear Sir--.1 am instructed by the
Very I've. Dean Navicr Constant of
his order, to report that your cOmmu-
lication was duly received. and since
lnvc made diligcnt inquiry for the boy
II" vas placed in the
school of our society in 1879, and was
lrr SAIL TO lac eight years Of age. Ills
name WAS given as Paul Yen, taking |
he last name from the Chinese woman
who entered him and paid his tuition
or the first two years, Although bear
ne the name of Icn it was Gle: T. there
vas no Chinese blood in his veins. In
SS1 he was seen by II wealthy gentle
nan, who took great interest in him.
aid his way here and later on adopted |
lin. giving him his name. This gen.
lpn1n WAS Henry Slauhnnp. n mpr- |