The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1901-10-26

started to retreat. Then we suddenly
perceived that Our retreat had been cut
off by another party while the enemy
fifty or sixty in number, began closing
in on us from all sides, firing as they
came.
We returned in kind the compliments
they extended to us until they came
quite close. when Private B fell to the
ground with a shot in his breast, ap-
parently mortally wounded In the mean
time the enemy had suffered from our
fire. Three of their number had been
killed and four wounded This incensed
them and they rushed upon us furously,
evidently with the determination of kill
ing lis at once. Seeing that further
resistance was hopeless, we surrendered
Notwithstanding which one of our cap
tors approached close enough to strike
one of our number a crashing blow on
the head with the butt of gun, and
would probably have finished him if it
had not been for the officer with the
party forcing him to dcsist. We were
then hurried away toward the river in
the direction of the road leading to Con-
ception. but we had to leave our poor
wounded comrade lying on the ground,
not yet dead, with some of the enemy
surrounding him. He was subsequently
found boloed.
Arriving at the river. we were rapidly
forced across, our captors being fired
upon by a detachment of American SOL
diers that appeared in view. But they
were soon lost to view on account of our
party seeking obscurity in the jungle.
Through bypaths and over faint trails
We were pressed onward toward Mount
Arayat, where our guards joined main
body. There we found Sergeant P,
and Private N Of the -th United
States Infantry, who were being held
as prisoners of war. Then came weary
marches. in which we were almost
scorched with the int, nse heat of the day
and became chilled to the marrow from
the cold at night when we halted.
We wondered among ourselves as to
what they would do with us, for they
heaped upon US all kinds Of abuse, and
we were often told that we were to be
killed for our stubborn defense. One Of
their favorite amusements was to step
up and present cooked revolvers, and
snap them in Our faces, we never know
ing at the time but that they were loaded.
To add to the terror which these actions
would inspire a Maccabee scout, who
had been captured along with Sergeant
P, had his throat cut before our
eyes, the Filipino remarking jocosely
that this was only to show US what we
might expect.
These cruelties were participated in by
all our captors, guards, etc, except one
commandante, who had been in COM
mand of the party which had captured
US, and who had prevented our being
killed on the spot at the time. He COM
plimented us on the g; liant stand we
had made against vastly superior num-
bers. General Aguino, whom we saw
often, was generally very harsh, but ne
sometimes gave us cigarettes, and held
conversation with US.
Our marches were terrible. we were
fed solely on rice. Only once was the
diet varied, and then three spoonfuls OF
salmon were issued to the five OF us.
As consequence, We became very weak,
emaciated and sick with the mountain
fever, and sometimes some OF US could
hardly walk or stand.
On the 5th of January, 1900, while we
we're at Camansi, in the widst OF about
thousand insurgents, we heard shots ex-
changed with the outposts. Never was
the whiz of bullets more welcome to
soldiers ear. Shortly afterward they
became so frquent that our hopes OF
relief were raised to the highest pitch,
because we were satisfied that our
friends were near. But, alas! for the
delusion. As the attack increased, we
were taken out and lined up by General
Aeuino himself. Then nine Filiplnos
were brought out and placed in line
facing US at some thirty PAGES, with
loaded rifles. Did you ever look squareiy
into the muzzle Of rifle, knowing that
death was lurking there? All, my friend,
all the evil you have ever done in your
life comes up to you like horrid NOV
ing picture. Home, mother, all that IS
sanity crowds your mental vision, over
shadowed by the grim visage of Death.
Well. as the firing continued to grow
heavier, we were ordered to kneel, and
IN ohevcd hut the sergeant. He refused
to do So and stood up as straight as a
soldier on parade. General Aquiro gave
the order to the firing party, and as the
command Fire" was given simply
had time to think God bless my poor
mother" Swiftly the leaden messengers
of death sped to their mark, and the
five Of us fell wounded or dead. Then
the murderers rushed upon us'wlth their
bolos, and put finishing touch to their
d,stardlv work. l saw them cutting up
the other fellows, and feigned death, al
though l had a great hole in my chest
Therefore, they did not bolo me much'
for the Americans were getting quite
near Then our murderers made pre-
cipitous flight.
Dark shadowy wings seemed to over,
,ower me. and l struggled with myself
az with a foe. Indeed, l felt as II
1Sht;no with Death. for it seemed ages