Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-01-15


told in yesterdays Globe, with much
interest:
The Globe has received from Corp
Ernest Lindsey, 43d Infantry, u. S. ",
at headquarters of LIST district, depart
ment of the Visayas, Tacloban, in the
Philippines, a narrative of Sergt
George p. Doe of Co. l of that regi-
ment, of events from the time his de-
partment was first attacked at Boxon-
gen, through his captivity by the in
surgent Gen. Lukben, till his release
about nine months later. 1t is in part
as follows:
About on the morning Of March 10,
1900, the detachment Of eight men of
Co. l, AID Infantry L. S. ", left at
BoXengen as garrison. was attacked
by about 80 bolomen and nine riflemen.
Senior Magno Abonis and his two sons,
armed with rifles, Is Filipinos and more
than 100 Cinnamon armed with spears
and bolos and having three brass can
non, assisted in defending the town.
The attack was kept up until it was
light, and then. under a heavy fire
from the American soldiers, the insur-
gents withdrew. ..
THE number of insurgents killed is
not known, but much blood found in
different places indicate that many
We're hit.
NO more attacks We're made that
day, but the next morning about the
attack was renewed by about 500 in
surgents with 80 rifles and three pieces
of artillery. They kept up volley fir
inc mill in tho afternoon Dnr lose
was one Chinaman killed and four
wounded. 1t is certain that many in
surgents were killed as we were firing
in broad daylight and at from so TO 100
yards. and were all good shots.
About p. NJ, we took to boats and
left the town. going in a southerly di-
rection. My crew consisted of Private
Ferdinand II. Meyer, Corp. Fred Allen.
"a Cinnamon and myself besides three
wounded and one sick Chinaman. All
of us were crowded into a dugout 40
feet in length. having two boats.
Among this crew were three rifles, one
cannon and a number of spears and
knives. AS l could speak no Spanish
or Visayan. and the Chinese and Fill
pinos could speak no English it was
very difficult to make my directions
understood. i5.r9~
"A short time after we started we
stopped on a small island to get some
cocoanuts to eat, as we had had moth
ing for over So hours. Soon after dark
storm arose and the boat which
commanded got separated from the
others, which we never saw again.
About A. NJ. after travelling So or
40 miles, our boat struck a coral reef
and capsized in the surf. AS we had
removed our belts and all unnecessary
clothing during the night this left us
without even shoes to wear. and with
only one bayonet and belt in the party,
Private Meyer not having removed his
sidearm.
THE boat having capsiZed half a
mile from shore the sick and wounded
Cinnamon were drowned, but all the
rest reached shore. After resting a lit
tie we started for the town of Lanan.
as one of the Cinnamon said it was
friendly town.
LAS we came out on the beach across
a river from the town it was light
enough so that we could be seen. and
some natives Immediately ran into the
town and reported that party of UNI
at the head of the party, Corp. Allen
with me and Private Meyer behind as
his feet We're so sore he could not walk
well. and had a Chinaman on each Slde
to help him along. For this reason he
was probably 500 yards in the rear.
I'VE We're met by from $50 to 2oo
bolomen. who Immediately proceeded
to tie the arms of myself. Corp Allen
and eight Cinnamon who were. with US
with ropes. tying our arms so far back
that they soon become black and much
swollen from the blood not circulating.
.'One Chinaman demonstrated. He
was told to keep quiet, and on making
further protestations. the natives be-
came ezra ged and struck his arms
with a bolo. cutting them almost
through the bones and then tying
them back In this condition he
marched Is days, until his arms nearly
fell off.
LAS soon as the rest of the China
men saw us being tied they began to
run. They We're Immediately pursued
by the bolomen. who began killing as
fast as they could overtake them.
Private Meyer could not run on ac-
count of his sore feet, and SO drew his
bayonet and tried to defend himself.
He was struck four times with bolo,
once across the top Of his head, twice
! on the side of his head and the last
! time across his neck. which practically
severed his head from his body. About
| % Chinese were killed here.
Corporal Allen and / reached across
behind our backs and shook hands and
said goodbye. But fortunately they
shared us and took us into the tow
across another river and put us in
cave Here we were searched ano
everything taken from US. even to the
brass buttons on our clothes and tbs
effects were divided among the natives
as souvenirs.
Being the first American soldier:
CAPTURED on this island, it was con
sidered a fit time for general rejoicing
and the bolomen proceeded to ge
| drunk on tuba. Then they built large
fire about six feet wide and ten fee
| long. and worked with the object o.
getting a large bed of Goals. evidently
| for our benefit. Every few minutes
the natives, after working on the fire
would come to us. flourish their knives
over our heads and say things. as they
pointed to the fire, which were very
suggestive.