Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-10-25
MAJOR KILLED HIS SON.

Major Charles M. Rockefeller, of the
famous Ninth United States Infantry.
In a word, he disappeared from the
army after killing his only son, who
was leading a Filipino command. The
son had been stolen from b is home in
infancy by Chinese nurse, and after
long years Of search Major Rockefeller
made the terrible discovery that the
Filipino officer was the mar for whom
he was searching The story, as told
in substance by the Army and Navy
journal, a leading organ of the, United
States service, follows sst
Charles M. Rockefeller served with
distinction In one Of the New York
volunteer regiments during the Civil
War. In 1863 be was made first
lieutenant in the, One Hundred and
Seventy eighth New York Infantry,
For gallantry in action at Fort
Blakely, Ala, on April Sth, 1865, he
was awarded medal of honor. At
the close of the war he continued on
in the service Of the regular army,
being appointed d seonnd lieutenant
and transferred to the Ninth In
tautry. Afterward he gained renown
as an Indian fighter. and finally rose
to the position of major.
1t was while second lieutenant,
according to the story now told, that
be married, and in 1870, boy named
Robert was born. The major was de.
tailed to Hoogkong with commission
and there he remained until 1872. The
Chinese nurse engaged to look after the
boy disappeared with him. Search was
made high and low for the kidnapper
and the child, but no trace could be
found of them. Rockefeller and his
wife returned tn this country, where
Mrs. Rockefeller died mourning the
loss of the little one. .,
: Major Rockefeller never relinquished
the search for his child. In the years
that elapsed he got no trace of him,
yet he still hoped against hope OF one
day meeting him. He never told his
trouble to any Of his brother officers
and thus it was that few IN the Ninth
Regiment knew Of his marriage.
The Ninth r, giment was one of the
first to be sent to the Philippines. One
day 10 the month of March, last year,
he with his command met at place
north of San Beoir q strong fore, OF
the enemy, led by big, strappiug,
handsome young man, apparently an
Englishmnn. The Filipinos fought
fiurcely and continued the fighting
until most of them were killed or
wounded. According 10 the official
dispatches of the time, the ,uung
Filipino leader made desperate efforts
to get at Major Rockefeller, with the
evident intention Of killing him. He
did succeed in staying two of the
majors orderlies and in another mo.
mont would have killed Rockefeller
Then the latter, not an instant too
soon, shot the young leader dead.
when the dead were being buried
and the wounded cared foI," says the
Army and Navy Journal, "among
papers found on the young insurRent
were letters of recommendation issued
to Paul Stanhope and written by we'll
known Hongkong officials. Also a
diary giving the names of individuals
in the Chinese city. These were all
turned into headquarters by the major
with his report." ,5.
Even from the field Major Rookie
Teller had been pursuing his inquiries
after his lost boy. He was In continual
cor dependence with the American
consul at Hongkong, and the latter
shortly before the battle referred to
wrote that he had discovered that the
lost boy had teen placed in Jesuit
college, and that he would write again
later. Events in the philippines made
the major for o time forget this. After
the last battle no had to push on by
forced marches, and on April 2Sth, he
was allnoat in sight Of and ready to
make forward movement against
Caluoeau. Then happened the extra
ordinary thing which army circles have
been discussing ever sinoe--the dis
appearance OF the major in sight of
the enemy andlno VOID OF explanation.
Letters had been forwarded to him,
as well as to the Ninth Regiment men
generally. Among the number which
he received was enc from the American
consul at Hongkong, inclosing the
original letter, which be had received
from the head Of the Jesuit institution
to whom he had written fol- infoIma-
tion of the MAJORS kidnapped son.
This is the letter: K,
House of the Holy Ghost, Hongkong,
Feb. 81, 1S99.-Dear Sir: | am instructed
by the Very Rev. Dean Xavier Constant of
this order to report that your communica-
tion was duly received, and since have
made diligent inquiry for the boy mem
toned. He was placed in the school of our
years OF age. His name was given as Paul
Yen. taking the last name from the Chinese
woman who entered him and paid his tut
tion for the first two years. Although bear
ing the name of Yen, it was clear there was
no Chinese blood in his veins. In 1881 he
was .een by a wealthy gentleman, who took
great interest in him, paid bis way here and
later on adopted him. giving him his name.
This gentleman was Henry Stauhope,
merchant In this city.
l find, upon inquiry, the young man has
lsft China and thrown his fortunes in with
the insurgents in the Philippines. where he
is supposed to be. attn at your service at
any time. .-,l, }rlHt.s i.sp.
La Monte, Secretary and Prior.
With what feelings he read the letter
can be hetter imagined than describe.
Paul Stanhope, the adopted son of
Henry Stanhope, Hongkong, the young
Filipino leader whom the major had
killed, was his own and only son, the
one for whom be had been searching
all these weary years. Whether or not
the thought drove him mad ia matter
of conjecture. Certain 1t is that he
disappear ed that very night walked
through the lines and refused to stop
when halted ,s
Gen. Otis spread the mantle CT
charity over the ma, or's disappearance
in his report to the War Office. This
is the official announcement made by
the War Department:
"a report from Gen. Otis transmitting
the reports of officers ef the Ninth In
fantry has been received by the War
Department. 1t gives the details of
the disappearance of Major Charles M.
Rockefeller. The report consists of
statements by Capt. George Palmer of
the Ninth Infantry and four pickets,
who last saw the missing man.