The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-27
GILMORE IN WASHINGTON.
Secretary Long Presents the Naval
officer to the President


officer to the President.
Lieutenant Commander J. C. Gilmore
L. s. n. whose captivity in the hands Of
the Filipinos made him an object Of intense
interest to the American people for eight
months last year. arrived in Washington
yesterday from san Francisco. He was ac-
companied across the continent by Mrs.
Gilmore, who went to san Francisco to
meet him on his arrival there in the trans
port Solace.
Immediately after reporting TO the Blu
reau OF Navigation, Lieutenant Gilmore
paid his respects to Secretary Long, who
gave him a warm greeting. At the Secre-
tary's suggestion Lieutenant Gilmore &C
companied him to the White House. where
the officer had a chat with the President
about his experiences as prisoner.
Lieutenant Gilmore has gained since his
returned to this country twenty pounds
of the flesh he lost while a Filipino captive
His present rank is held subject 10 ex-
animation, his promotion having occurred
in natural order during the period OF his
captivity and he has been ordered to ap-
pear for examination to the grade OF lieu
tenant commander before the examining
board at the Washington Navy Yard on
April 8.
Most Of the ten or fifteen minutes that
Lieutenant Gilmore spent in the Presi-
dents office was given to a recital by the
officer OF the story Of his capture and es-
cape. It 1t was a graphic narrative and
held the interest of President Mckinley
and Secretary Long. In some respects it
differed from the accounts Of Gillmore's
experiences that have appeared in the
newspapers.
According to the officers story the habit
of the sun to rise very quickly. without due
warning. was the cause of the capture Of
himself and his boats crew near Baler last
April. They had spent the night in the
boat, which was lying in the stream lead
ing TO the town. The sun came so rapidly
in the morning that il was broad daylight
before they could get away from their
dangerous position. Numbers of FilipinOs
suddenly appeared on the banks OF the
stream and opened fire. Two enlisted
men were killed outright. one being shot
through the forehead and the other
through the eye. Gilmore and others OF
his men were wounded
Two Filipino officers. both Spaniards.
called out to Gilmore that he and his
party would be blown to pieces il they
didn't surrender. The resistance which
the Americans had made had not any ef-
feet on the enemy, and to save the lives
of his mer, Gilmore complied with the de-
maud. He was partly stripped Of his
clothing and securely bound. Then the
Fflipinos stood him up to be shot and were
getting ready to fire at him when for
mer Spanish officer. serving with the Fill
Pine troops, appeared in the nick of time
and prevented the execution
Lieutenant Gilmore briefly described his
experiences as a prisoner of war. He was
left incomunicado for three months. see
ing no one except his jailers, and having
no one with whom to converse. Once he
was brought out to be executed. but his
life was again spared Lieutenant Gill
more did not tell the President that the
story that he had been saved on that oc-
casion BY Aguinaldo was true.
Concerning his escape, he said that the
Filiplnos in charge OF his party eamped in
a fastness of the northern mountains which
they considered absolutely impregnable
but they fed when it was assaulted by
American troops, taking the prisoners vita
them. A little later, on reaching a wide
stream. the officer in charge of the prison
ers told Gilmore that he could not care
for him any longer on account of the
smdllness Of the Filipino force and would
therefore have to let the Americans shift
for themselves. Gilmore protested that
his party had no food and no weapons with
which to defend themselves against the
savage people who lived in that region.
The Filipino officer was Obdurate, however,
and went away with his men.
CimoTes party had two axes, their only
tools and weapons, and with these and
some slaves. started to build a raft in
~ hich to float down the river. They had
started on this work when a number of
armed natives, TO whom Gilmore referred
as savages in his recital to the President
and Secretary Long, appeared, and after
lowering about the Americans for some
time make token Of friendly feeling Their
advances were accepted, and the savages
TO assist in the construction
Of the raft Their actions were such. how
ever. that the Americans feared treach-
err. Confident that an attack meant death
to themselves the party under. Gilmore
determined to sell their lives dearly aud
big stones with which to fight
Just as the savsges were apparently ready
to begin the massacre a party Of American
troops appeared and rescued Gilmore and
those with him.