The Portland daily press., 1900-04-04
CAPT. BAKER UNDER FIRE.
Company Under His Command Makes
An Important Capture


Baker Of this city In an expedition
against the gilipinos;
Company e Of the 4oth infantry nm
ished its campaign In ths country abound
subig with . sharp engagement in which
they killed nftsen Of the enemy and
wounded % others, besidss capturing
four eannonh nine Mausers. two Rem
ingtons, several thousNnd rounds OF ana
munition and . lot Of hats, belts, KNAPP
sacks and personal property, dropped ~
the insurgents In their flight
The company, In Command OF Captain
J. II. Baker, started from Subig Saturday
morning, January Gosh, to clear the coun-
tsy toward San Narcisso CT band Of bril-
gAnds who wers said 20 infsst that vieini-
| ty. They went by the way Of Castellojos
and San Marcelio and arrived at San
Naroisso at $50 the same evening. AL
seemed friendly there and many spent
the rest Of the evening inspecting the
beautiful little city, which Is place Of
some ten thoussnd. neatly laid Oh In
squares, with the unsual church and
plaza In the center. Its order and cleanli-
neSs attracted much attention.
The company slept In the church that
night; It's massive walls Offering the best
protection 20 BE- found in case Of need.
After breakfast and q oersmonious fare
we'll from the city leaders, the column
took mp Its return march. going back by
way Of San Antonio. It got TO the latter
place In time for an early dinner.
The peopls OF Fan Antonio were very
frisndly-excessi lively so. They didnt
| want the troops 10 move on. They insist
cd that they should ct least spend the day
and did ell that they could to delay their
start. 10 was necessary to buy some
horsss. and though they were assured
that plenty were to be had, none seemed
to be forthcoming. One beautiful cream
oolored horse took the captains eye.
but 10 could mot be bought at any price.
1t was admired, petted and examined,
thu the whole company knew 1t uniDis-
takabiy, even without the big letter "H"
branded on its flank. Binaliy one horse
was negotiated for and the company pre-
pared to move.
But their fluctuations were not over
yet. Their hospitable entertainers bad
won the bull-driver over to their side,
and he announced that the caraboa.
which drew the cart Of ammunition and
supplies, was sick ami could 60 no far
Their. Under gentle pressure another was
found by the prssidsnte, who also fur
pished q driver with 1t.
At last the company movsd out toward
| Castello1os. marching in columns Of two.
No thought of the enemy was enter
ta,ned, because q detachment Of forty
scouts from the Twenty fifth had been
over the same road only few hours pre-
yiously, meeting and scattering band OF
the insurgents, and 1t was not supposed
they could have rallied ana returned in
so short time.
| When two miles out Of San Antonio.
marching sill In q column OF twos,
along an open rosd. they approached a
large dixie. running at right angles across
the line Of road on both Sides. A small
fridge Of bushes along this dixie hid the
view beyond. When the head Of the ool-
umn Was within rs yards OF this it was
cred upon with q cannon and a shower OF
bolts and scrap iron fell around.
| That seems 10 have been q signal, tor
Immediately the enemy opened up from
behind the dixie on both sides, while
TIRES other cannon added their jagged
scraps and whistling bolts to these Of the
first.
Mechanically At the first sound, the
whole company, without waiting for or
ders laid down. Then the command was
given to deploy, and like fan the com
pany began to spread ont into the skirm-
ish line. Though this took but q short
time, 1t seemed long Is the storm OF nails
sles began to rain around. But the effect
was Noticeable as soon as the regular
soIleys began, and In less than half an
hour the enemy was slisnosd and scat =
| tered.
The ground behind the dixie showed
plainly the marks OF the combat. The
DEAD Filipinos were lying about. while
hats, belts. knapsaoks and evsryth 9
which could impede flight were scattered
around. These vera all gathered up and
formed Q unique collection. In a KNAPP
sack was found an American sailor
blouse marked &C. II. Prime" 1t
caused much speculation and wss alter
wards turned over to the naval authori-
ties, In the hope that 1t might lead to the
discovery Of Its owner II he should be
lost.
Another find which attracted much
| attention Was the cream colored horse,
branded "H" which had been admired
an hour before at San Antonio. 1t WAS
lying In the field, dead, and furnished
an explanation of the very evident de-
sire of the preslisnts and people Of that
place to delay the column.
1t was found that the horse which was
| bought In the town was an interesting
animal. 1t showed ths splendid training
given 1t by its former owners by lyinR
down at the first shot.
On our side the casualties wera light.
but thFss men were wounded. only one
of them seriously. After the fRht the
march was resumed to Castellsjos, and
the night was spent in the splendid quar-