The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-10-04
4 DISASTROUS DEFEAT
OF AMERICAN TROOPS BY A FORCE OF
FIIlPIN0S.
COMPANY ALMOST ANNIHILATED
Four Hundred Bolomen surprised q
Ninth Regiment Company on Island
OF samar-Of b seventy-two Men
Wounded-Society for slaughter OF
Warfare In B~atangas.
Warfare In

Manila, September ga disastrous
fight between United States troops ana
insurgents occurred yesterday in the
island of Samar, near B~alangiga- a
large body OF insurgents attacked
Company c, North infantry, only TWEEN
four members of the company escaping.
All others are reported 10 have been
killed. The company were at break
fast wnen attacked and made a deter
mined resistance; but the overwhelm-
ing numbers of the insurgents compell-
ed them to retreat. OF the survivors
who have arrived at Bassey. eleven
are wounded.
According TO the latest returns The
strength of the company was y. The
survivors include Captain Thomas w.
Connell. First Lieutenant Edward
Bumpus, and DR.. r. S. Griswold. sur
geon.
Washington, September 29.-News CT
the disastrous fight between troops Of
the Ninth infantry and the insurgents
on the island of Samar yesterday was
sent promptly by General Hughes, COM
manding in that island, to General
SIIdlISS al NhoAilld, oiio ny Alili SAoiS
mitted to the war department. 1t
reached the department during the
early hours today and Adjutant Gen
eral Corbin, realizing its Importance, at
once made it public after sending a
copy to the White house. General
Chaffee's dispatch, which agrees with
the Associated Press dispatch, is as
follows:
Manila, September -.
"Adjutant General, Washington:
Hughes reports the following from
Bassey, Southern Samar: Twenty
four men of Company c, Ninth ragi-
ment, United States infantry, eleven
wounded, have just arrived from Bal
angiga. The remainder Ct the company
killed. The insurgents secured all the
company supplies and all rifles except
II. The company was attacked during
breakfast On the morning of September
2Sth. The company was seventy-two
strong. Officers, Thomas w. Conneil,
captain; Edward A. Bumpus, first lieu
tenant, and DR.. r. S. GrisWo'd, major
surgeon, escaped"
Manila, September 30.-General
Hughes, from the island of Samar, Ie-
ports the arrival of Sergeant Markley
and n private at annan from the
fight at Balangiga, where over forty
men of Company G. Ninth infantry,
was killed by insurgents, who attack
ed the troops while at breakfast Satur-
day last. The men who have reached
Tannan say that the officers of the COM
pany, who were at first reported 10
have escaped, were killed with the ma
jority of the company. The troops
were attacked, while unprepared, by
400 bolomen, of whOm the Americans
killed about 140. Many of the soldiers
were killed in their quarters before they
a time to grasp their rifles.
"~~~-o1 ,-I@ - 49, - %IN r4nraD
Of the disaster and will personally COM
mand the troops.
A new branch of the Katpunan has
been discovered at Tarlac, capital of
the province Of that name. The object
of the society is the slaughter Of the
whites. Marcelina Mariville, president
of Banoang, is the chief of the new
branch, which includes numbers of the
native conStabulary, who were recent
ly armed. One policeman admits that
he was taxed a dollar and was ordered
to make boles. A regular collection
has been made by the organization
from the natives, either by persuasion
or threats, n an uprising had been
planned for an early date.
The conditions in Tayants CTayabas?)
n Batangas are not re%assuring. The
worst form Of guerrilla warfare pre-
walls there. The insurgent forces are
distributed, under cover, along every
road and trail, and wait in ambush for
Travellers. The insurgent leader Cabal-
los, who formerly belonged to General
Cables command, but who refused to
surrender with Cables, is retreating to
the mountains. The main forces of tie
insurgents are scattered in bands over
the province, where they dig up rifles
when there is an opportunity to use
them.
Washington. September 30.-In addi-
ton to the enlisted men, three commits
stoned officers of Company c., Ninth
infantry, are supposed now to have
been killed in the action in Samar,
Philippine islands, last Saturday. The
officers are: Captain Thomas W. Con-
nell, First Lieutenant Edward A.
Bumpus and Major Surgeon r. S. Girls
void.