The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-27
FOUGHT TO THE End
ED THE GUNBOAT URDANETTA
TO THE LAST
SURPRISED BY INSURGENTS

Concealed FiIipinos Raked the
Stranded Vessel With Calling
Fire, Which the Americans Re-
spOnded To Until Their Guns
Failed Them-Reports of UnfOr-
tunate Affair Are Made Public.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26.-The navy de-
partment has made public reports from
Coxswain Greene and Apprentice Powers,
members of . the crew of the Inflated
Urdanetta, describing the capture of that
boat by the Filipinos last September. In
indorsng the reports Admiral Watson
says that they show that the little gun
boat, under the command of the late
Cadet Wood, was gallantly defended and
was captured only because she was hard
and fast aground. Capt. Wilde adds to
his Endorsement the following:
"The conduct of Mr.. Wood and of the
entire crew under the terrible fire is
praiseworthy to the last degree, and re-
fleets additional luster upon the brilliant
record of the United States navy
Greene. In his report, says that the
Undanetta grounded about quarter of
about 10 o'clock a. m. Sunday, Sept. II.
All hands were sitting around the deck,
playing cards or reading, waiting for the
tide, when, at $3.50 o'clock, two volleys
were fired from the shore, almost raking
the deck.
FILIPINO FIRE RETURNED.
Most of the ammunition was below, but
W. IL
the guns and smothered the enemys fire
in about fifteen, minutes. Stockton, the
man at the Nordenfeldt, had been shot
twice when he was relieved by Mr..
Wood, who had been firing the one-pound-
err Within five minutes Wood was shot
through the stomach, Gray had been hit,
Stone had his ear knocked off and re-
ceived another wound in his head Gray
continued to work small rapid-ire gun
after receiving his wound.
The Filipinos were invisible, so the
sailors fired where they thought they
were. When Wood was hit the Colt gun
was red-hot. the two firing pins on the
Nordenfeldt would not fire, and three or
four of the Lee guns had broken ex-
tractors
Mr.. Wood revived and ordered out the
boat. Greene advised that they stay by
the ship until dark, but Wood insisted
on trying to reach the other bank.
BULLETS LIKE HAIL.
The insurgents had reopened fire from
concealed places, and the bullets were
flying like hail when the boat got away,
carrying the sailors who could not swim,
while those who could hung on the gun
nell The Filipinos doubled their fire and
rushed into the river after the boat. The
oars were hit until finally but one was
left, and the men started to swim ashore,
leaving Wood dead in the bottom of the
boat.
r,lStone and Drummond were shot close
to the boat, and Gray was killed in the
boat. Greene was helping the boat to
shore, and Powers was trying to save
himself.
AS soon as they reached shore twenty
five bolo men rushed at them, but their
captain prevented them from killing the
sailors. They killed the Chinese servant,
Wy Lee, and Mitchell was shot while In
the water.
The Americans were confined In a stone
convent for several days and then sent
to Petra. In two days that place was
attacked by American soldiers and then
the prisoners were carried from one place
to another into the mountains until five
Of them made their escape and reached
the American lines.