The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1900-12-25
WARS SADDEST EPISODE
THE TERRIBLE MISFORTUNE WHICH
eEFeL MAJOR ROCKEFELLER, U. s. a.
Remarkable story Related by tn" Army
and Nnvy journal - Killed Young
Filipino Leader iu Battle Who Was
His Long-Sought-For Son.


and Nnvy journal - Killed Young
Filipino Leader In Battle who Was
His Long Sought-For Son.
Major Charles NJ Rockercllcr. of the
ninth United states Infantry. who
shot his son I'm II battle with Filipiuos
led 10y tho young man. *. according to
army records descrtcr Worse yet.
he is on record ms having left his com
mand i'm the face Of the enemy. no
cognizancc is taken of the sad story
behind his disappearance.
The fact that the major disappeared
after discovering that he had shot aud
killed his only son was first announced
i'm the Army and Navy journal. Many
of the facts Of the case were hidden.
There are few men i'm the Smith
Regiment who knew that Major
Rockefeller was married. \ Mail and
Express reporter founG member OF
the regiment who served with Rookie
Teller from the time he was licuteu-
ant and all through the Indian cam
paiguS.
Charles NJ Rockefeller served with
distinction in one of the New York
volunteer regiments during the Civil
War In 1863 nc was made first lieu
tenant in the ono Hundred and
Seventy eighth New York Infantry.
For galantry in action ut Fort Blake
ly Ala Oh April :. 1860. ne was
awarded medal of honor.
AN INDIAN FIGHTER.
At the close of the war he. as well
as Il number Of others who loved mill
tary life. continued on in the service
Of the regular army being appointed
second lieutenant and transferred To
the Ninth Infantry Afterward he
gained renown as an Indian fighter.
and finally rose 10 the position OF
major.
II was while second lieutenant. ac
cOrding To the story now told. that hr
married and in 1870 hoy named
Robert was born. The major was de.
tailed To Hong Kong with "a commits
sion and there he remained until 1871.
The Chinese nurse. engaged to look
after the boy. disappeared with him.
Search was made high aud low for the
kidnapper and the child. but no trace
could he found of them. Rockefeller
and his wife returned To this country.
where Mrs Rockefeller died. mourn
in. The loss of the little one
SEARCHED i9R HIS BOY.
Major Rockefeller never rcljnquished
the search FOR his child. I'm the years
that elapsed nc got no trace of him.
vet 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 Regiment was one of the
first to bc sent TO the Philippines. one
day i'm the month Of March last year.
he with his command met AT place
north OF San Beot u strong force of
the enemy led by big strappiug
handsome young man. apparently an
Englshman The I'lipinuS fought
fierccly. and continued the lighting
until most of them were killed or
wounded.
According TO The official dispatches
of the time. the young Filipino leader
made desperate efforts to get at Ma
ior Rockefeller with the evident in
tcntion of killing him He did sue
coed in Staying two Of the majors or
dcrlics and in another moment would
have killed Rockefeller. Then the lat
ter. not an instant too soon. shot the
young rebel leader dead
when the dead were being buried.
and the wounded cared FOR SAYS the
Army and Navy Journal among
papers found on the young insurccut
were letters of recommendation issued
10 Paul Stauhope aud written 10y we'll
known Hong Kong officials Also
diary giving the names Of individuals
in the Chinese city. These were an
turned into headquarters 10y thc ma
Tor with his report"
TRACED To COLLEGE.
Even from the field Major Rock
efeller had been pursuing his inquiries
after his lost boy. lie was 600 con
tinual correspondence with tho Amer
lean Consul $40 Hong Noug and the
latter shortly before the battle re-
ferrcd To- wrote that hc had discov
NifN llihN wv l''NN ivy Iilil Nf.'ii IfIN'f'A
in Jesuit college and that hc would
write again later
Events i'm the Philippines made thc
major FOR time forget This After
the last battle he had 20 push ON 10y
forced marches. and on April - hc
was almost in sight OF and ready 90
make forward movement against
Caloocau Then happened the extra
ordinary thing which army circles
have been discussing ever since The
disappearance of the major JIM sight of
the enc ny and no word of explanation
Letters had been forwarded tD hm
us well Hs fo One Smith Regiment men
generally Among hc number which
hc received WAS one from lhc Amrrl
can Con 1t Hong Kong Iurlpsue
Tine original letter which uc bad &c.
coivcd from thc head OF thc Jesuit in
suuuou io whom hc had written for
Information OFF the majors kidnapped
son.
rHr s0N IDENTIFIED.
T.4 i~ fHn letter.