St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-12-05
Vermont'S Soldiers in the Philippines.
Important Capture by Go. ID, Goth v. 4.


Zone of the most important captures
that has occurred on this island for a
long time was accomplished recently by
Company D, 26th infantry, commanded
by Capt Brownell, saysa correspondent
of the Boston Herald at Iloilo. Twenty
five killed, SO wounded, % prisoners and
quantity of arms and ammunition is
the way that the boys OF the Goth figure
up their score. while the loss OF Company
D is only two wounded. Private Thomas
MCGEE of Utica, N Y, and Private Joseph
Watson OF Vermont are the men who
were wounded, but neither ofthe wounds
is considered serious. Private MCGEE
was brought to the hospital in this city
today, but Private Watson stayed with
his company. Capt. Brownel belongs
in the Green Mountain state, as do many
of his men, and the chances are more
than even that more than once during
the early morning hours ofOct. II, 1900,
they wished themselves nearer the snow
banks of northern Vermont than the
mud banks OF Panay. Capt. Brownell
at Donate and some OF the naval officers
got wind OF what was doing in the ap-
of the island. A few nights since, the
tinclad Paragua let loose from her moor
ings in lloilo and went away no one
knew whittier. Undercover of darkness,
she steamed up to Donate and took on
board Capt. Brownell and 50 of his men,
Careful though they were, yet they ran
into an outpost of he enemy and could
not capture it. Thus the news was car
rled to the town, and the Kakiaks had
time to prepare reception. When the
American force arrived at the town, it
was found that an impossible swamp
was on one side, mountains on another
and river behind it. There was but
one way to 60 and that was ahead. At
this time it was about 2 O'Clock in the
morning. The enemy had made unusual
preparations. All OF the bolomen were
sent to the outskirts of the town. The
rltiemen were distributed around in diff
terent houses covering the crossing of the
TWO principal streets to enable them to
pour more deadly fire on the Americans.
Capt Brownell knew that the ammuni-
ton would not hold out for such fight
ing, and so whisted the signal cease
firing. The firing ceased. Lie down,
came the order, and all obeyed it. The
real lay of the land was then discovered.
A little barricade was hastily formed
and our boys were afforded some shelter
from the storm OF bullets. Private Wat
son was wounded in the arm. The fire
OF the American troops was intelligently
directed, and few volleys sent where
the enemy seemed most numerous. The
Tagals fled.
Twenty-Five live Tagals were found in
the shacks. fen men and two officers
were found dead and some wounded
Twelve rifles and 6OOrounds of ammuni-
ton were found. From the prisoners it
was learned that the place was a recruit.
ing depot. When the rifemen had killed
or wounded most OF the Americans, the
oolomen were to rush in to finish the
work. The houses used as headquarters
were burned, the dead and wounded
cared for the prisoners secured, and the
line OF march taken up for Estancia. The
Neesan, government boat, had been
sighted by the Paragua in the morning
and was signalled to come in and help
take the prisoners down the coast. The
Neesan had been in a scrap Of her own,