Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-06-18
A FIGHT WITH BOLOMEA
How American Soldiers Outwit-
ted the Philippine Natives.
REoAPTURE OF A SCHOONER.

Lieutenant Meekins Reports a
Relief Expedition In the Southern
Hemp DIstrict-Skirmishe With n
Cunning Enemy In the Native Set
Elements at Gubat.
An interesting letter from Lieutenant
Edward Meekins of the FOrty-seventh
infantry has just been received at the
war department, says the Washington
correspondent Of the New York Even
ing Sun. Lieutenant Meekins graph
ically describes the relief of Lieutenant
Pitcairn, who with 10 enlisted men
had stood off hundreds of insurgents
in the hemp district of Gubat, in the
southern Philippines. Lieutenant Meek
ins says:
With 10 men and three days ra-
tions, 1 went to the relief of Lieutenant
Pitcairn and his 10 men in stone
chapel, surrounded by bolomen who
were burning and looting. They were
quite worn out with excitement and
loss of sleep and were trying to check
the burning by firing volleys to clear
the streets. This continued five days
and nights with little rest and less
sleep.
when the town was Quieted, went
in the launch to Bulusan and brought
such Europeans away as desired TO
leave. Two days later took five men
in the launch's cabin and steamed to
Barcelona and found the place full OF
insurgents. There were 80 in the
shore trench alone. 1 particularly wish
ed to protect the hemphouses, and SO
/ started ashore in a small Loaf rowed
by native sailor.
Three of the insurgents came out Of
the trench and called to me, NO, no,
no. but L went on and landed, where
upon they raised white handkerchief.
l found we needed an interpreter and
l persuaded them to go with me to the
launch. They finally agreed to take a
message for me to the presidente of the
place.
THE presidente would not see me be-
cause he would lose his influence ard
probably be killed. The insurgents
said he had gone to the mountains.
asked them about i small schooner
that had beeu stolen or captured from
a anu IIley Itplleu lldl
many bolomen had it, but they were
bad men. L determined to take the
boat, because the Gubat garrison need
ed it and wanted to deprive the insur-
gents of their means of communica-
ton.
THE schooner was in the river about
half mile from the coast. l brought
the small rOwbOat on the offshore side
Of the launch, placed my coolest man,
Corporal Burrows, fiat on his back in
the bow, took three native sailors to
row the schooner back and got fiat on
my back in the stern. AS we padded
up in the creek l took in the situation
by raising cautiously on my elbow.
The schooner was tied to the right
bank, and about 40 bolomen were COM
ing down toward her from the trench
es. About 30 bOlomen were on the left
bank, watching in great amaZement.
My boatmen were almost white with
fear, but l had told them, Obey orders,
or I'll shoot you"
I'VE finally got alongside, and as my
boatmen jumped in the schooner the
bolomen ran up with bowls and BRAN
dishing their long knives. 1 jumped
up and leveled my gun at them. Fully
half of them ran away; the rest stop
ped, and all screamed: Americana,
Americana"
''The chief tried to get his men to
follow him in Il rush, but all in vain.
The boatmen got the schooner into the
stream, and the bolomen chased along
the bank and got into rowboats to pur-
sue, but when the corporal jumped
up they stopped. 1 returned to Gubat,
and the Juno sailed with several hun
dred refugees.
'It was not long before the bolomen
made a daylight effort to rush. There
were about 100 in the party. l held my
men back and tried to parley and later
tried to get my men to use the bayonet,
knowing that the insurgents would run
If we charged, but when within about
40 yards l found the snakes were
off on cross streets to my
right, intending to get in between me
and the chapel, whereupon l shot the
boloman nearest me, which was the
signal for my patrol (six mem to open
fire. We knocked down FIVE, and they
broke and ran. Next morning General
Kobbe arrived. and the other day
brought 4 fun company to my relief"