The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-31

ter 1t was just daylight when we pull
ca out OIL the cove at the rivers mouth
On nearing the river I saw that a sentry
OF one of the numerous stations on the
coast mad seen us. l thought .DrOba bly,
that he mad also seen US land Mr. Stand
ley, so to let him think had been search
ing Tor the river l pulled for it, sounded
the bar, ascertatned the distance of the
snip from the river, and continued i'll for
about 1000 yards sounded and made a
rough sketch. This thought would make
them think I~had landed no one, but was
simply surveying the interior l knew
we would have to sustain the fire of the
enemy as we came out, but trusted to
the Colt to derange their aim, which at
the best is not good. l was confident this
would throw them off the idea of any
one landing from the cutter, and I have
reason TO believe now it did
PERFECT AMBUSCADE.
'"Fhe position of the enemy was covered
by nigh marsh grass and swamp land,
and knew that no outposts could be
there; the right bank was steep, too, and
covered with q dense growth, and from
observation [ judged the enemy had only
their stations on the left side Of the river
AS we neared the end of the swamp land
when we rounded the bend and same
full on an outpost on solid ground. He
nailed us and fired a rifle as a signal. Be-
fore l could answer the hail q volley was
fired into us at close range, fifty or sixty
yards. The effect of this volIey was ter
r1bIe. Morrissey was killed instantly, his
brains being scattered over the boat and
crew, and Dillon was mortally wounded.
never recovering consciousness, and dying
shortly afterward in the boat Seaman
Rynders had his fingers cut off the hand,
but kept bravely at his starboard stroke
oar The starboard oars were riddled and
most Of them shattered, besides the boat
was pierced by the Remington balls and
made water fast.
from the first shot we opened fire with
the Colt and rifles. The ambush was so
complete that we could not see at what
to fire, not even the smoke The Colt
was thrown out of action before the sec
Ond volley, SCATTERING the ammunition
box and cutting the load into tape The
best was done to back oars, but as only
a few could be used, the others being
shattered, the time drifted us upon
sandbar Ellsworth Elliot and Wood
burn tried to swing the boat out, but did
us from the left bank in quick success
sion, wounding mortally Mcdonald and
Nygard: AT this time L was under the
impression that most Of the crew were
either wounded or killed The bodies Of
the men who had been killed had fallen
ON the slighter men, who were struggling
In the bottom of the boat.
FEARFUL SIGHT
1.-THE boat was covered with blood and
presented a fearful sight. The cries of
the mortally wounded in the stern of the
boat, asking me to shoot them and not
allow them to fall into the hands of the
savages. were heartrending. At the same
time could be seen coming down the west
bank of the river band of men armed
with RemfngtOns, bows and arrows, bolos
and. spears. / gave the order to hoist the
white flag, which was done by Rynders,
who received q shot in the right leg and
dropped the flag. I thought the enemy
intended to massacre all of us, so con-
tinued to fire, the fire of the enemy COM
ing faster. We were now hailed from the
We did not cease fire and surrender he
would kill us ALL / then surrendered.
Before the officer on the left bank could
get across the Savages on the right bank
came to US, robbing us Of watches, rings,
caps, and, in short, everything they could
get at short notice. They tied our hands
behind with things and lined us up back
to back We were to be shot, when an
officer came up and ordered otherwise.
We were taken back to the boat and the
natives plugging up the rifle holes pulled
up the river.
81 regret to report the following casual
ties: Dillon and Morrissey, dead; Ny
gard and Mcdonald mortally wounded;
Vanville, Rynders and Woodbury., Serious
ly wounded; myself slightly wounded IN
the knee by a ball which came through
the side of the boat. The wound heaked
on arriving In San ISidro.
I'VE were landed some distance up the
river and were allowed to take the NOR
tally wounded out of the boat. The seri
ously wounded we carried with us to the
commandments office. about a mile and a
half distant We were under a strict
guard. The officer in charge of us would
IlOI dllOW the WOuHueQ u OS
taken with us. The officer said they had
medical officer, and would send him
down to attend the men. ! never could
ascertain whether this was done. as the
next day all who could were marched
across the country to San Isidro. At the
commandments office l requested to be al
lowed to write the commanding officer of
the Yorktown to notify him of the facts.
and to request medical attendance. This
was allowed, but I found later that the
letter was never sent.
PRAISE FOR CREW
Before ending this report 1 viii mem