Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-03-19
HAND TO HAND FIGHT.
Murderous Attack on Americans
by FiIipinos at Blu
gason.
SOLDIERS WRITE TO THE ARGUS
Killing of Capt. Burns Avenged
by the Boys of His Com.
mand.

TO the Rock ISLAND ARGUS: As we
have noticed a number of letters pub
lished from Luzon, p. / F, we would
like to tell you of few of our own
experiences in this tropical country.
AS it would be necessary to publish
book to tell all of our experiences
we will merely describe few of tho
most important instances. such as
the battles of Pasig, San Bias, An
tigue, and the bold attack on Buga-
son. When the 19eh infantry landed
on this island Sept. II. 1899, Iloilo
was the only city held by the Ameri-
cans, as there had been no active
campaigning. AS we relieved the 1st
Tennessee volunteers nothing of i'm
portance happened more than the ex-
change of SHOTS between the outpost
and insurgents until Nov. 9. when we
started on our memorable hike of So
days.
Our first experience on the firing
line was at San Bias hill Nov. u,
which was complete victory for our
troops.
Scarcity of Fruit.
Fruit is plentiful here-nit. Banan-
as are cent each, but oranges and
lemons are unknown. Pineapples are
as big as ones fist. The rapid transit
system here is very swift. consisting
of the water buffalo and the sacred
bull. They have been known to make
one mile in six hours. But the worst
aerial artists that the soldiers have to
contend with are the mosquitoes,
which resemble the elephant aud sing
like buzz saw. Talk about grass.
hoppers! Kansas is not l 10 10 to
this country.
The natives are small in stature
and with their brown complexion and
high cheek bones resemble our In
dams. They are very friendly to
your face, but would knife you when
your back is turned if they could get
the chance. Our garrison is located
in valley one mile from the coast.
The "niggers" get up on the neigh
boring mountains and fire few vol
legs to let us know that they have
heard Mckinley is elected.
Talk about your elaborate ward
robes-Adam and Eve had clothes TO
the people outside CT the large
towns. The children do not re-
ceive their first installment of
clothes until they reach the age of IL.
when they are given what is known
as breech cloth.
The most prosperous industry of
this town is the laundry conducted by
Thomas G. Church, from which all
runors of hikes and big attacks are
started, as Mr. Church is quite lin
guist and overhearing the daily con-
ver5ations by natives translates them
into English for the instruction and
amusement of the entire garrison,
which consists of Company Z. 10Th.
and Company F, 44th volunteer in
fantry.
BIoodthirsty Attack.
AS we previously mentioned the
bold attack on this place was blood
thirsty affair. The two posts most
heavily attacked were No. 1 outpost
on the beach, which consisted of Is
men, and No outpost, located at
the north end of town on the main
throughfare. which was attacked first
at $40 a. m. 1t was so dark that you
| could not see your hand in front of
you. The first notification of their APP
proach was received when halted by
a sentinel on post in which
he got the answer Of amigos
| (frie nds). There being rumors of
an attack, Capt. Burns, of the 44th
volunteers. who was in charge of the
post, thought it his duty to investi-
gate before advancing and met his
death in bravely defending his COM
rades and friendly natives. This be-
ing the signal for the general attack,
the enemy opened up from the neigh
| boring hills and also at the beach out
post.
This was one of the most carefully
and desperately planned movements
| of the rebellion, the macheteros, bet
| ter known as bolo and spearmen, hav-
| ing been secreted throughout town.
Lieut.. Koontz and Sergt. Kitchen. of the
44th, were directed in case of trouble
| to take a squad of men and enforce
| No. outpost. and lost their lives in
valiantly trying to succor the men on
post who were completely surrounded
by 500 bowling savage demons. and
but for the assistance of Capt. French,
of the 10Th infantry, and % men OF
his company, all men under Lieut.
Koontz would have been murdered.
This was one of the most murderous
hand to hand conflicts ever fought
in these islands, and daylight,
which came none too soon, was
our only salvation, as then we
were able to flank their main
body, by which we obtained
a cross-ire. Then escape for them
was impossible, and word was passed
from man to man at this victorious
moment to spare none, but avenge
the cruel death of our comrade.
Streets Lined with Dead
At 7:15 a. m. we received a COM
mand to cease firing, and afterwards
in viewing the work of our faithful
Krag rifles the streets presented q
CHASTITY array of dead and wound
ed. In the meantime the 500