The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-11-14
THE MASSACRE IN sAMAR.
Some Interesting Details Of the Surprise and
Slaughter of the Ninth Infantry.
(By the Associated Press.

L
Victoria, B. c., Nov 13.-Lieut. F. P.
Allison, United States Navy, who arrived
here today on the steamer Empress Of
China from Manila. tells many interest
ing facts about the massacre of the
Ninth infantry in Samar. Lieutenant
Allison says the natives had grown to
like the colored troops who had been
stationed there, and when the Ninth ar
rived it was thought by the American
would be shown 70 them. and the guard
was not as strictly kept as ii otherwise
would have been. The night before the
massacre the village presidente came to
Captain Connell and before the Padre.
declared that it would take 100 more
bombras (native laborers) to do certain
pioneer work. He did not have the men
and begged the indulgence of the army
captain. Captain Connell said: "Do
the best you can. Get any native who
will work, but clear away the under
brush"
Just after daybreak the natives with
bolos to cut underbrush began coming
into camp. Then the massacre began.
The last underbrush man killed the SEN
try the church bell rang, the soldiers
went to breakfast below the floor that
held their arms. The insurgents divided.
Half went I'D stairs and shot down and
the other half went in the mess room
and murdered the unarmed soldiers by
force Of numbers.
Not one of the survivors turned his
back upon the scene of carnage until all
was lost, their officers fallen, their COM
rades slaughtered. and a terrible VEN
geance executed upon the enemy Then
they saved themselves and their wounded
mates.
Captain Connel apparently was
awakened in his quarters by the attack
ers pouring in. He was alarmed so he
jumped from the window down in among
his guards, but they had been slaughter
ed. He was struck down by many bolos
almost as soon as he struck the ground.
Not satisfied with killing him, the assas
sins hacked his body and severed the
head, upon which they piled paper and
sticks of wood setting them on fire to
render the face unrecognizable. The
body however was identified by Lieu
tenant Brouillard's detachment, which
came down from Basey.
The bodies of Lieutenant BumDus and
the Doctor were found unon a bridge
leading up to the quarters, over little
stream. The Lieutenant had bolo cut
horizontally across the forehead, almost
severing the top of the head and a deep
cash down each side of the face, so that
when his body was picked up the face
was practically severed from the rest
| of the head. The Doctors body was not
so badly mutilated.
Separated from their weapons, most
of the rank and file fought like heroes
with table knives. stones, clubs and
such rude weapons as chance threw in
their way. 1t was a bitter fate which
befell those who closed with the Ameri-
cans before they had received their
death wounds. Some of the native dead
were buried by some of their own band.
| but Col. De Russey ordered $50 more to
be thrown into a trench.
rifle in the hands of the first SER
geant of the company rendered terri
Bile account. The sergeant, who is now
in the Tocoablan ospital, killed the faith
less presidente who led the attack. With
SiA AuCu uc louSuL way TO the Aedu-
quarters building to see if they could
| rescue or pick up stricken comrade.
Despite the mad rushed of the savages
that surrounded them, they were able to
secure the post colors. Then they cut
their way back to the beach. where
another little knot of comrades were de-
Tending the Barotos and their wounded
companions.
Lieutenant Allison says there are 1000
troops in Samar. He says there nave
been a number of ilibustering expedl-
lions fittedsou in Singapore and hong
| Kong, mostly by Germans, which in some
cases have succeeded in landing their
contraband arms and ammunition. nut
many captures have been made by the
gunboats.