The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-28
GOOD WORK OF THE NAVY.
PART TAKEN BY MARIETTA IN
CAPTURE OF TAAL.
Admiral Watson sends Report OF
Survivors of the Urdanetta Reint-
ing the stubborn Defense of
the Crew Under Cadet Wood.

WASHINGTON, jan ZI-Admlral wat
son has cabled the navy department an
account Of the part taken by the navy In
the splendid campaign now being made in
southern Luzon by Gen. Schwan. The adj
miral's dispatch refers TO the engage
ment, or, rather, series of engagements.
which took place along the eastern and
southern shores of Lake Taal week ago.
There is no outlet from Lake Taal into the
sea navigablo for warships, but the Mari
eta took up position close to the mar
row neck of land which separated the
lake from the sea and threw shells across
into the insurgent defenses. The ad-
miraPs account Of the affair Is as fol-
lows:
'eThe Marietta, with Green commanding.
on the 10th co-operated with the army in
the capture of TaaL Lieut. Price landed
with a Colt gun. Green reports that a
battalion of the Forty-sixth, under Maj.
Johnston, carried the bridge and town
very calamity facing artillery and rife
fire."
The navy department has made public
reports from Coxswain Green and APP
prentice Powers, members OF the crew Of
the Inflated Urdanetta, describing the cap
ture of the boat by the Fflipinos last Sep
TENDER. Indorsng the reports. Admiral
Watson says they show that the little
gunboat, under command of the late Naval
Cadet Wood, was CALAMITY defended and
was captured only because she was hard
and fast aground. Capt. Wilds adds to his
Endorsement the following:
1.-THE conduct Of Mr.. Wood and Of the en-
tire crew, under the terrible fire, Is praise
worthy to the last degree and reflects adj
ditional luster upon the brilliant record
Of the United States navy
Green, in his report, says that the Ur-
danetta grounded about a quarter of a
mile below Betanga. on the Orani river.
abb ~ nAou hal
II. All hands were sitting around the
deck. playing cards or reading, waiting
for the tide, when, at $3.50 O'Clock, two
voleys were fired from the shore, almost
raking the deck. Most of the ammunition
was below, but. at Cadet Woods order
the men manned the guns and smothered
the enemys fire in about fifteen minutes
Stone. tho man at the Nordenfeldt, had
been shot twice, when he was relieved by
Wood, who had been firing the one-pound-
er. Within five minutes Wood was shot
through the stomach, Gray had been hit.
Stone had his ear knocked off and re-
ceived another wound in his head. Gray
continued to fire a small rife after receive
ing his wound. Powers put fifteen holes
in one man with a Colt gun. The Fill
pinos were invisible, SO the sailors fired
where they thought they were. When
Wood was hit the Colt gun was red hot,
the firing pins of the one-pounder were
broken so that the gun could not be used,
one barrel of the Nordenfeldt would not
fire, and three or four Of the Lee rifles
had broken extractors. Wood revived and
ordered out the boat. Green advised that
they stay by the ship until dark, but Wood
insisted on trying to reach the other bank.
The insurgents had reopened fire from
concealed places and the bullets were fly
ing like hail when the boat got away,
carrying the sailors who could not swim,
while those who could hung on to the
gunwale
The Filipinos doubled their fire and
rushed into the river after the boat. The
oars were hit until. finally. but one was
left, 50 the men started to swim ashore,
leaving Wood, dead. in the bottom OF the
boat. Stone and Drummond were shot
close to the boat and Gray had been killed
in the boat Green was helping Herbert
ashore and Powers was trying to save
himself. As soon as they reached the
beach twenty-five bclo men rushed at
them. but their captain prevented them
from killing the sailors They killed the
Chinese servant, Wy Lee, and Mitchell
was shot while in the water.
The Americans were confined In q stone
convent for several days and then sent to
Porac. Within two days that place was
attacked by the American troops and then
the prisoners were carried from one point
to another until, in the mountains, five OF
them made their escape and reached the
American lines.