Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1901-10-03
4S SOLDIERS KILLED
Fearful Slaughter of Our Men in the
Philippines.
OF II MEN, "a ESCAPED DEATH.
Were Surprised While at Breakfast
Saturday Morning, on the Island of
.Samar-News Created a Sensation
in This Country.

Manila, By Cable.-A disastrous
fight between United States troops ana
insurgents occurred Saturday in the
island Of Samar, near Balangiga. n
large body of insurgents attacked
Company C, Ninth Infantry, only "A
members of the company escaping.
All others are reported to have been
killed The company were at break
fast when attacked and made detcc-
mined resistance, but the Overwhelm-
ing number Of the insurgents compch-
ed them to retreat OF the survivors
who have arrived at Bassey, II are
wounded.
According to the latest returns the
strength of the company was u. The
survivors include Captain Thomas ".
Connolly. First Lieutenant Edward
Bumpus, and DR.. r. S. Griswold, sur
geon.
Captain Edward V. Bookmiller, CT
the Ninth Infantry, reports that Gen
eral Hughes is assembling a force TO
dlIdCh luS lllouI L 4AC IAAo"l = oS'A -
captured all the stores and ammuni-
ton of the company and all the rifles
except 26.
Washington. Special.-News of the
disastrous fight between troops of the
Ninth Infantry and the insurgents cn
the island of Samar was sent prompt
ly by General Hughes, commanding
in that island to General Chaffee at
Manila, and by him transmitted to the
War Department. 1t reached the De
partmeHt during the early hours Sat
urday and Adjutant General Gorbin
realizing it's Importance, at once made
it public after sending copy to the
White House. General Chaffee's dis
patch, which agrees with the AsSOcia-
ted Press Dispatch is as follows:
Manila, Sept 29.
"Adiutant General, Washington:
Hughes reports the following from
Bassey, Southern Samar: TwentyfoHr
men of Company G, Ninth Regiment,
United States Infantry, eleven wound
ed, have just arrived from Balangiga.
The remainder of the company killed.
pany supplies and all rifles except -.
The company was attacked during
breakfast on the morning of Septem-
Der %. The company was Y strong.
Officers, Thomas w. Connolly, cap
tain; Edward A Bumpus, first lieu
tenant, and DR.. R. S. GriswCld, major
surgeon, escaped"
The news created a sensation in Off,
cial circles. 1t was the first severe
reverse that has occurred for a long
time Still the officials were not I'M
prepared for news Of just this charaC-
ter from Samar, in which the revolu
ton started by Aguinaldo still con-
tinues. Samar is country about as
large as the State of Ohio and tie
American forces of occupation number
in all between 1000 and $500 men.
These are distributed among various
posts in the island, a large number
being located at the more important
centres. Spain never made any effort
to occupy Samar and it only has been
for probably three months past that
the United States have undertaken
the work. The latest report made by
General Hughes to the War Depart
ment was that the number of insur-
gent rifles in the island aggregated
about 300. The Filipinos carried on a
guerilla warfare and operations
agaist them were difficult. The dis
aster to Company c occurred it is be
lieved, while it was engaged in an ex
pedition to clear the country of rowing
bands of these insurgents The fact
that the Americans were attacked
while at breakfast indicates the pluck
and daring of the insurgents.