The National tribune., 1900-03-08
PRISONERS OF THE INSURGENTS.
Experiences Narrated by Escaped American Soldiers to
Correspondent in the Philippines

all removed to that place. Here three Of the
party escaped on the night of March 13, by
jumping from the balcony outside the door
and tits claimed that all would have gotten
away had it not been for the treachery of
Brown. The charge is made by Sonnich-
sen and others that Brown had previously
betrayed them in February, when an at
tempt was made to escape, byinforming the
commanding officer. Brown on the other
hand claims that he gave information in
the first instance to save their lives, and has
this 10 say about the later attempt:
For some time l noticed that another
attempt was about to be made to escape and
feeling unhappy on account of my action
III the last affair, decided to let the matter
go on ard | would bear the consequences.
All needed preparations had been made,
and about 7 o'clock one evening after the
three had been amusing the guards half an
hour or so, observed Bruce go over the
balcony, O'Brien and Honeyman following
him to the ground below. Five minutes
after the last man had gone. arose from the
floor where l was lying and acquainted my
other two companions with what had oc-
CURED. SonnIchsen suggested that we
escape also, but advised that the other two
lie down while l told the guards Of the
escape, as mora than five minutes had
elapsed and the night was very dark and
rainy"
The three who escaped were recaptured
at Bucaue next day, and those remaining
behind were subjected after this to more
severe treatment, all being reunited in the
prison at Malolos on March 27. According
to Brown. G. w. Langford. agent for Pabst
Brewing establishment, joined them in
April. but Sonnichsen says Langford did
not appear among the prisoners till July 1S,
having been captured while going up the
Bulucan River 10 look for 4 boat load of
beer; and there is some difference as TO the
dates OF capture Of the other prisoners. 1t
may be sufficient to note that their ranks
were augmented later by the arrival Of
Frank Stone, Leland S. Smith and John
Salisbury, of the U. S. Signal Corps. the
first having been captured while strolling
beyond the lines, and the other two while on
Photographic trip down the San Isidro
River in boat; Archie H. Gordon and Geo.
L. Sackett, of the Sd U. S. Inf. both cap
tured beyond our outposts; Martin Brennan
and James Curran, Of the 10Th U. S. Inf,
captured IN company with Albert Bishop
and Corp1 Baker, OF the Sd u. S. Art, the
latter being subsequently killed; and Serg't
Frank Mcdonald, Of the 2lst U. S. Inf,
who was captured on the way from Manila
to Cavite.
On the capture Of Malolos by the Ameri-
can forces the prisoners were hurried under
guard through the towns of Baliuag, San
Rafael, San Ildefonse, Bulucan and San
Miguel TO San Isidro, only receiving three
meals during the four days march. They
were then taken to Victoria, suburb OF
Tarlac, where they arranged TO escape and
capture the town, but their plans were de-
feated, as oneof the party states it, by "the
coward, deserter and renegade Howard,
who had a Captains commission in the
insurgent artillery, and who in some way
discovered the plot"
An American soldier named Lawrence
who had a Lieutenant's commission in the
enemy's army, Is also mentioned in the
same connection. Members of the party
assert that while they were at San Isidro in
April Brown was given his liberty for