The National tribune., 1900-07-26
throuph. The startled and astonished

through. The startled and astonished
enemy no doubt thought they were being
attacked from the rear by reinforcements,
or at least were unable to comprehend what
the disturbance was about until it was too
late to do anything. If the enemy were as
tonished and mystifed, We were still more
so. After the fire Of the Filipinos slack
ened we had heard long bugle call, the
meaning of which we did not know. Fearing
it might be preparatory to an attack from
new Quarter or a rush of their line, which
we knew far outnumbered our own, the Off
GERS ordered the men to lay a pile of am
munition on the ground in front of them,
SO as to be able to load and shoot rapidly,
but not to fire a single shot until ordered
to do so.
Just then we heard the commotion in the
Filipino line on the railroad, and cries
of Outpost! Outpost" To add to our con-
fusion and doubt, the Filipinos at distance
from the track, who did not know what was
happening, took up the cry of Outpost!
Outpost" It was customary for them to
use English words and commands in their
night attacks in order to deceive us, and
we knew that part of these cries, il not all,
came from them. We feared it might
be simply a ruse to keep us from firing
while they crawled up to make a rush, yet
we refrained from firing and called out:
"Who are you?" What is your COM
pany?" Are you Americans" What
is your name?" and similar questions,
without getting any reply except the one
continuous shouting of Outpost Outpost"
Atlast crisis was reached, and we prepared
tosfire, when one of the incoming men
struck his toe against Switch-rail, and
began to swear in the most sulphurous and
vigorous English ever heard. Ashout of
merriment and jubilation went up from
our entire line, and cries of That's our
boys" Just hear him." "Ain't you asham
ed?" I'll tell the Chaplain on you," and
other equally light remarks ran from
flank to flank. Not man of the party Of
nine who ran the Filipino lines was hurt,
but In the confusion and delay caused by
the incident the enemy completed their re-
treat, and when light suddenly broke
upon us few minutes later not Filipino
was in sight. Unfortunately the outpost
on the south did not fare so well.
A line repairer detailed from another
regiment to the Signal Corps was sleeping
in freight car on the track when the
camp was fired upon, and the bullets per-
forated his habitation in several places.
Having no discipline, and with no officer
to report to, he became panlc-Strlcken and
started down the track to the south, coat
less and hatless, but with his gun in his
hand running for dear life. A little distance
across the bridge he met one Ct the camp
outpoStS Fastening in, and breathlesSiy
told them to run for their lives, as the entire
camp had been eXterminated. Three OF
hut flna
others concealed themselves where they
were safe from flying bullets, and awaited
developments, finally reaching camp In
safety. A little farther down the fugitive
met the two track patrols, who turned
back with them. In little while they
stumbled upon the Filipino line that had
cut the wire on that side of the camp, and
were fired upon at such close range that their
clothing was powderburned. -Four OF them
fell, and the other two escaped by running.
The four on the ground were then attacked
with boloS and left for dead. just before
daylight small body of men approached
the south end of the bridge, and was chal-
lenged by the commander of platoon
defending it from the other side. This
was just after the outpost had come through
the lines on the north, and the officer was
afraid to fire, fer ar it might be some of
our own men coming in. AT last, getting
no answer 10 his challenge, he gave the
command to fire; but the FilipincS were
protected by the side Of the bridge, and no
one was hit, and they ran before another
yolley could be fired. AS soon as it was
light enough TO see party crossed the
bridge, and theRthey saw a bloody blue shirt
hanging on the end OF the structure where
the Filipinos had left it, and they knew
at once that some CT our men had been cut
off and killed. a rescue party was imme
diately sent out, and about 1000 yards
down the track they came upon the four bod
les and brought them tenderiy back TO camp.
Two Of the men we're dead, and one more
died in an hour, but the fourth, though
terribly cut up, recovered and came home
with his regiment. In view Of these ex-
periences in Filipino warfare, is it any
wonder that lonely sentinels on post bonn
bard bamboo rats and watejars and take
pot shots at Venus and the North star?