Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-13
Americans Are Active in
the Philippines.
THE WORK OF GUNBoAT
Aided the Infantry in Their Landing
on the Coast Of Luz0n-The Des-
cripti0ns OF the Battle Are Just
Coming In.

On Board the Steamer Venus, Legas-
pie. Luzon, Jan. 23.-(Correspondenc of
the Associated Press. s.)-Five companies
of the Forty seventh volunteer infantry
aided by the gunboat Nashville, to-day
fought their way into the native towns
of Legaspie and Albay. We had five men
slightly wounded. Forty-five dead Fill
pinos had been counted by nightfall and
we are caring for a dozen of their wound
ed. Shells from the Nashville ignited
two warehouses filled with baled hemp
These fires could not be put out and
5000 bales with a total valuation Of
$120,00o were destroyed by nightfall.
After the fighting was over and men
had time to talk, an officer said BY
God, Is this what I've been waiting 30
years to see, the shooting down of black
men as IL they were rabbits?'
The distorted, shattered and bloody
bodies of our former enemies lie in two
rows in Legaspie's principal street, two
blazing warehouses glare and roar in the
darkness and the American soldiers are
stumbling through the village streets
working to get settled for the night
Companies H, F, G, e and c, of the
Forty-seventh came back on the Han
cock from Manila to Sorsogon. For con-
veyance from Sorsogon to Legaspie these
companies We're transferred to the local
steamers Venus and Castellano, accom-
panyiMg the expedition as transports and
late yesterday afternoon the two vessels
conveyed by the Nashville with General
Y NJ hE m ayf7
bay for Legaspie. Sorsogon is on the
west and Legaspie on the east side OF the
southern extremity of Luzon island. The
run between the two ports is about 10
miles by sea. though not more than 10
miles overland.
So the insurgent soldiers who abandon
ed Sorsogon to US three days ago, have
had. ample time to come over to Legaspie
and swell the ranks of the garrison here
granting, of course, that they did not pre-
fer the greater security of the mountains
Early this morning, the Venus, closely
followed by the Castellano, with tn.
Nashville an hour and a half behind
them, steamed into Albay and three niles
of Legaspie waited for the warship. Lee
gaspie, on the east, and Albay a mile and
g half inland, are at the base of the Ma
you volcano. On the southern edge of
Legaspie and at our left as the ships
steam in there is a steep hill used as
lookout station. Here can be seen with
the aid of strong glasses, a Filipino flag.
There are no flags over the warehouses
of the town and these two facts point
to probable resistance to our landing. We
have heard that General Panan, a Chi
nese half caste, commands here and that
he will fight.
At 7:45 the Nashville passed us and
steamed close into the beach. She ex-
amined the shore and from the Venus
we could see a long line of black sand
trenches to the right of the town also be-
tween the stone warehouse in the center
of the village there were other trenches
and heavy stone walls. The trenches
We're crowded with men, some with rifles
ana uniformed. others in white. They
watched the actions of our vessels close
ly. but no shot was fired on either side.
The Nashville's inspection OF Legaspie
was long and careful.
The English gunboat Plover came in
behind us this morning and followed the
Nashville close to the beach. Her big
white flag swung out in the breeze tell
ing those on shore she was not of our
party, but merely neutral and inactive
spectator.
AT 9:45 the Nashville came alongside
the Venus and General Kobbe mega
phoned to Major Shipton. commanding
the battalion on board Move your ship
in to the first wharf and land your men,"
There is deep water off Legaspie and
coasting steamers can swing their sterns
into any of the several bamboo docks in
front Of the hemp warehouse. But the
captain Of the Venus demurred. He had
seen the trenches lined with Filipinos,
he had seen galloping officers giving orr
ders. concentrating the soldiers into posi-
tions from which they would have his
vessel under q cross fire II he landed at
the wharf and he explained that it was
impossible to get into this dock with less
than one hours backing and hauling.
Further, that his stern lines had to be
taken ashore and made fast to the sand
anchors well upon the beach, that his
drew would be shot to pieces II he at
ttmpted to land. In short, landing there
Sgd then was out of the question.
s Ne Meantime a boat from the Plover had
gone u the Nashville and from there to