Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1902-01-23
HANOUVRES OF COMPANY c.
AN INTERESTING LETTER FROM PRI-
VATE OF MARINES
Joseph Murphy, Formerly Stationed At
Annapolis, Now In The Philippines
Avenging The Murderous As
sault On The

ANOASAAS 1nC AouANCAOdo ne
sault On The
Ninth
MIR. William +. Minnick, an attorney
Of this city, is in receipt OF letter from
Private of Marines Joseph J. Murphy. of
Company ID. FIRST Regiment, OF which
the following is an extract
POSSIBLY you have heard oi the ma
nouvres OF Company c, Ninth Infantry,
Baliugiga, and the results. We have
been clearing up the whole section Of the
country allotted to US. There are four
companies here-two in Barsay and two
in Balingiga, under the command of Lieu
tenant-Colonel Waller.
The detachment in Balingiga is un-
der the command OF Captain Porter, who
was stationed at Annapolis as a lieuten-
ant We have been having pretty tough
time of it. We are on hiking expeditions
all over the country, which is full OF
| swamps and mountains. We are teach
ing the natives a lesson and il is case
of determination all over the Islands.
The only persons who are exempt are
those who are living in garrlsons and
towns, aud they cannot leave the towns
| for any purpose whatever without pass.
"Barsey is about thirty miles from our
| station at headquarters, but It is very
| seldom we have the pleasure of staying
more than a couple OF days in barracks,
before we are off again on another expe-
| dIuon, which keeps US on the 90 for five
or six days at a time. We have had
| several encounters with the natives who
are out in the swamps and mountains,
and have killed about three hundred OF
| them. We also captured their strong
| hold in the mountains, where they manu-
| facture their powder and bolos. 1t was
one Of the most formidable Notifications
have yet seen.
"lt is situated in natural eruption OF
| lava about 100 feet above sea level, and
an inspiring sight. There were eighteen
canons planted at the entrance OF the
river, which leads into the large caves
on all sides, and which are formed into
rife pits. Large boulders Of rock were
| so placed that when we entered the pass
they could toss them down on US, but we
took them by surprise by finding a trail
which led into their camp on the left
bank. II was well protected by large
bamboo arrows poisoned at the tip and
sting, led out on the trail in such a
4 manner tildt ~ OHC htS ioON III OiiS
| OF them it was sure death.
"But we overcame all the obstacles
| they put in our way by some good for
| tune, and attacked the camp about mid
| day on November 10. with $50 men and
one Colts gun. We got into position
| before they knew where we were, as
| they expected us 10 come from the river.
They were surprised when we opened
| fire upon them. They did not know
| from what side they were attacked. and
| only fired two volleys at US, before they
| broke and fed. We killed and wounded
| I6o and captured 28 canon, their powder
| mill and all their tools for making hemp
ropes and bolos, and papers relating to
| their organization and burned down
! their barracks and everything connected
| with them.
"This expedition lasted five days, and
when we returned to headquarters we
| were three days without anything to eat
| except cocoanuts, and most Of the men
had no shoes and came back with bleed
! ing feet. General Smith, commanding
The army here, gave us a great send-off
on account OF capturing this stronghold,
which had been thorn in the army's
path, and compared US to Washington's
| troops when they crossed the Delaware.
! The name OF the place where this fortifi-
cation was placed is called Suatuan, and
the river leading TO it is about twenty
three miles long and in some places thirty
yards wide. Along its banks were sta
! TONED cannon and rfiemen to fire at us
as we proc eeded.
1--WE lost two men in one of the skirm-
| ishes, one of whom was stationed at An
napolis and came out with the Fifth.
We buried him at Bassay. The other
man was drowned. We have burned
| about eight towns, and in all about iour
| hundred houses, and destroyed all the
| hemp, rice and fish crops, which is the
principle support OF the people here
\ They are learning a terrible lesson tor
| their murderous attack on the Ninth
| The army is carrying on the same mode
| of warfare in the northern part of the
Island We are preparing TO join forces
with those in Balingija, and 60 over all
| that territory to find the rifles and clothes
| taken from the Ninth, and carry death
and destruction everywhere, the orders
are to spare no one.
"The General who commanded the in
/ surrection is named Lubican, and is a
mongrel, Chinese and Filipino. He is new
er with his men. There was also white
renegade from the volunteers with him
| some negroes from the Ninth Cavalry,
| but all have fled 10 parts unknown. Be-
tween China and these Islands we are
| having TROUBLES OF our own.