Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1901-12-11

then to return to the United States.
But we are here yet. During the sum-
mel we have had some lively exper-
fences with the natives. and there have
been many deaths and a number Of
narrow escapes. One day a member
of our company took a couple of pris-
oners over to a small island lear by
to get, a supply. of good drinking water,
which is very scarce. A body of mig
gers who were lying in wait rushed
him and took him prisoner. We have
heard nothing from him since.
On September 1 a corporal and u
privates went out among the hills
about six miles from Basey to see If
the telephone was in working order.
They found the line all right and had
started back when about 200 bolomen
jumped out from the long grass where
they had been hidden and began to cut
and slash right and left. Corporal
Wise. who was my most intimate
friend, was killed instantly. Private
McManus wa wounded and lived only
forty minutes. and Private Stetler lived
three days. Both of these men en-
listed with me. Private Swanson
was wounded, but will recover. The
rest of the party got back to camp after
killing about fifty of the enemy. The
next day the rest of the company went
out and could find only scattering Fill
pinos.
On September % occurred the great
est massacre since the time of Custer.
Company G of this regiment was sta
toned at Balangiga, about fifteen miles
from here, and at $50 on Sunday
morning. while the men were at
breakfast, there was an alarm. The
signal yell was given by a native who
had been supposed to be friendly, and
who vas chief of police of Balangiga.
Immediately the church bells were
rung and niggers came running from
all sides on the men of Company C.
The men we're unarmed. and their
guns were upstairs in the barracks.
When the alarm was given they ran
to their quarters for their arms, but
found the stairways guarded by armed
men who cut them down as fast as they
could reach the staircase. After a
hot fight some of our men got by and
secured their arms, the natives there
upon taking to their heels, taking
about fifty rifles with them. The few
who were left gathered the wounded
together and started down the river
for Basey in a boat, two of the wounded
dying on the way.
There were about 400 or 500 Fill
pinos in the party. 1t was not I'm
usual to see this many of them about
the city, as there were three hundred
of them working about the quarters
cutting grass. Others were hidden
in the brush, which was very thick.
All the natives had professed to be
friendly.
The handful Of men who escaped
were just in time, as they had hardly
got under way before the niggers made
a second rush, and had the boys beer
a few minutes later not one of then
would have been left
The attack was made on the guards
first and then the officers were Gu
down. The major was killed in bed
Lieutenant Bumpas was killed in bet
and his head was cut off. The cap
tain jumped out of the window which
was about 20 feet from the ground
as there were several bolomen there t.
receive him. He was badly wounded
and was burned to death within al
hour. Four of the privates wer,
burned to death. Our company wa!
!, sent to the town the next day, and W,
saw the most terrible sight that l hav
ever witnessed. Out of the II mem
) bers of the company As yer killed
eight have not yet been accounted fol
, and II were wounded, so that out O
the entire party there were but sevel
able bodied me nleft. Two of tn
? wounded died Oh the way to Base5
and two have since died. The mig
| gers captured sixty rifles and abou
and about $500 rounds of .ammunj
ton.