Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-10-03
NET WITH DISASTER.
Company c, Of the Ninth Regiment.
Attacked by Insurgents.
FEW OF TIE AMERICANS ESCAPED.
The Insurgents Attacked the Americans
While They Were at BreAkfast--Severe
Engagement with Rebels At Cands.
laria Also Reported.

Washington, Sept. ao.-News Of a
disastrous fight between troops OF
the Ninth infantry and the insur-
gents in the island of Samar Satur-
day was sent promptly by Gen.
Hughes, commanding in that island,
to Gen. Chaffee at Manila, and by him
transmitted to the war department.
The dispatch is as follows: Gen.
Hughes reports the following from
Bassey, southern Samar: Twenty
four men of the Ninth regiment,
United States infantry, wounded,
have just arrived from Balangiga, the
remainder of the company have been
killed. The insurgents secured all
the company supplies and all the
rifles except IL. The company was
attacked during breakfast on the
morning of September 20. The COM
pany was " strong. Officers Thomas
W. Cornell (captain), Edward A.
Bumpus first lieutenant) and DR.. R.
). Griswold (major surgeon) escaped"
The news created sensation in
official circles. II was the first Sc
we're reverse that has occurred for
long time. Still the officials were not
unprepared for news of just this
character from Samar, in which the
revolution started by Aguinaldo still
continues. Samar is a country about
a. large as the state of Ohio and the
American forces Of occupation num-
Der in all between 1000 and $500 men.
These are distributed among various
posts in the island, large number
being located at the more important
centers. Spain never made any eff.
forts to occupy Samar and II only has
been for probably three months past
that the United States has under
taken that work. The latest report
made by Gen. Hughes to the war de-
partment was that the number of in.
surgent rifles in the island aggre.
gated about 300. The Filipinos car
ried on guerrilla warfare and oper-
atoms against them were difficult.
The disaster to company c, of the
Ninth infantry, occurred, it Is be-
lieved, while it was engaged in an ex-
petition to clear the country of row.
ing bands of these insurgents. The
fact that the Americans were at
tackled while at breakfast indicates
the daring and pluck Of the insur-
gents.
Capt. Lawrence j. Hearn, of the
Twenty-irst infantry, also reports a
severe engagement with insurgents
near Candelaria, the Americans los
ing one killed and two wounded. The
insurgents loss has not been ascer-
tanned. The Americans captured 30
600 pounds of rice and several hun
bred rounds of ammunition.
Manila, Oct. 1.--Gen. Hughes, from
the island Of Samar, reports the ar
rival Of Sergt. Markley and one pri-
yate at Tannan from the fight at
Balangiga, where over 40 of the ~
men of company c, Ninth infantry.
were killed by insurgents, who at
tackled the troops while at breakfast
Saturday last. The men who have
reached Tannan say that the officers
of the company, who were at first
reported to have escaped, were killed
with the majority of the company,
The troops were attacked while un-
prepared by 400 bolomen, of whom
the Americans killed about 14O Many
of the soldiers were killed in their
quarters before they had time to
grasp their rifles. Gen. Hughes is 60
ing to the scene of the disaster and
will personally command the troops.
A new branch of the Katipunan has
been discovered at Tarlac, capital of |
the province Of that name. The OBJ
ject of the society is the slaughter
of the whites. Marcelino Mariville,
president Of Banoang, is the chief Of
the new branch, which includes num-
bers of the native constabulary, who
were recently armed. One policeman
admits that he was taxed 81 and was
ordered to make bolos. A regular col
lection has been made by the organ
zaticn from the natives, either by
persuasion or threats, and an upris-
ng had been planned for an early
late.
The conditions in Tayabas and Ba-
angas are not reassuring. The worst
'orm of guerrilla warfare prevails
here. The insurgent forces are dis
ributed, under cover, along every
'oad and trail. and wait for travellers
n am nsh. The iaslrgent leader,
'aballrs (who formerly tolonged to
len. Cables command, bur who re-
used to surrender with Cailes). is re-
reating to the mountains. The main
orces of the insurgents are scattered
n bands over the province, where
hey dg up rifles and, when there is
n opportunity. use them.