The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1900-02-15
TEN MONTHS OF IN
PRIS0NMENT.
wM BRUCE TELLS OF HIS CAP
TURE BY THE FlLIPIN0S.
His Subsequent Privations and
escape.

The following Is true description OF
the capture OF myself AMI companion,
E. II. Honueyman, by the natives Of
the Philippine Islands, and also a par
lial diary kept By myself during our
Imprisonment.
Myself and companion. being he for
tunate, or-as 1t afterwards proved for
us-unfortunate possessors Of good
army records for sobrietg. succeeded on
January 30, 1899, in obtaining from
Corp. Smith, 1st. Tennessee Volunteer
Infantry, a pass to visit san Rogue, a
suburb of CaVite some five hundred
yards away. The two places are con-
nected by turnpike, which also con-
meets Cayite with the Mainland, as at
high tide Cavite Is entirely surrounded
by water, with the exception Of this
road. Our passes were good from ) A.
NJ. until p. NJ. on Jan. 30th. The eoun-
try was In such a state Of disquiet at
that time, that there were no passes is
sued for p hours. the usual length OF
time allowed a soldier coming OFF guard
duty.
We engaged a earametta in Cayite to
convey us to San Rogue and also 10 any
places of interest we wished to visit. l,
as usual, took my note book thinking
might see something worth making a
note of for THE WHITE PINE NEWS
for which paper | was and am still act
ing correspondent.
We passed the American ontposts
stationed between Cayite and San
Rogue at 9 A. NJ. and left them with a
laugh and joke. remember distinctly
and always shall, my last words to Ser
geant Lighster who was Sergeant in
charge of the oatposts. They were
these: IF never return, write and in
form my relatives and friends that ]
died with my boots on. little dreamed
then, while saying those words in jest,
how nearly was telling the truth; al
though, if had died, IL would nave
been barefooted. as my shoes were stolen
or, rather taken from me, and during
my entire Imprisonment | was COM
PEELED to go barefooted.
On arriving at San Rogue we passed
the day until P. NJ. visiting places Oi
interest, and then decided 10 get some
lunch. The driver OF our rig RECON-
mended native house v mere our wants
could be supplied. On arriving AZ The
place We gave our order aud then palG
.b4f4s
aear Cavite aud our Intentions were 10
return by foot in the cool Of the eve
ding While eating our lunch We be-
came engaged in conversation with our
INST who mentioned several places Ol
ints in ii near by town, named Ca
vie Vlrjo (which TRANSLATED, menus OlG
Gavite) and as this town claims The
louor of being Aguinal1ois blrbhplice
we Of course wished 10 visit il. Gu
most also informed Us that several art
lcles we wished To purcha-e We're pleuti-
ful and cheap at this JOan. On finish
ing our meal We touk IA stroll afoanC
own, and meeting several insurgent vi
Fl ,ers, lrs-ented our passes aud they
MS and all, assured us we could sdfe,
visit any OF the surrounding towns, i
we did not make any attempt to draw
plans or maps of their trenches or foi'ti-
locations. Upon being iured by every
one that we were taking no chances,
we decided to visit the above mentioned
place, as we still had several hours re-
manning Of our pass.
Cavite Viejo IS nearly three miles dis
tant and directly across the bay from
Cavite. As the nearest way was by
water, we engaged u native boatman
for the round trip, leaving Cavite at
2:45 p. NJ. and expecting to arrive at
Cavite Viejo by 4. Our intentions were,
on arriving, to take short stroll around
the town, see the sights, purchase what
curios we could find and leave in time
to return to Cavite by 6:40 or O'Clock
p. NJ.
On arriving near the shore we saw a
small bamboo house, which our boat
man was approaching. This house we
learned later was an insurgent outpost.
When quite near the house we were
halted by the sentry, who asked Us il
We had any passes. Upon our replying
In the affirmative, he permitted the
boatman to land. The Sergeant asked
for our passes, which we gave him. and
he informed us that he would have to
take them to the officer in charge be-
fore he could allow us to get out of the
boat. In few minutes the Sergeant
returned with an armed guard, re-
turned our passes and informed us that
he had orders to escort us TO the Pres
ldencla, as the Office of the local Gov
ernor or President, Is called.
The moment we set foot on shore we
were surrounded by armed guards, and
then knew we were prisoners, but even
then was not alarmed, as | thought |
could explain things to their satisfac.
tion. When we were surrounded the
Sergeant gave orders to fix bayonets
and IN this way we were marched to the
Presidential. Arriving there, we were
Questioned by tire officer in charge as
to our business, but as he could not
speak any English aud myself aud com
panion very little Spanish, the inter.
view was very unsatisfactory to both
parties, and especially to us. as they
held the top hand and decided to hold
us prisoners. AT the conclusion of the
interview we were marched to the
guard house and placed in large room
on the second story.
Within few minutes the news be.
came known throughout tho Village
that there were two American prison
ers in the town, and soon the crowd be-
gan to assemble around our prison.
which was situated on the corner of the
street facing the public square. In lie. =
than thirty minutes the building WIS
surrounded By u half frenzied mob of
both sexes and all ages aud sizes. On
all sides could be heard the words
screamed Berlin mo". which trans.
lated means, kill them; shoot the
Americans" Fortunately we were
well guarded by u strong guard and