Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-13
FIRST PHILIPPINE BATTLE
san Juan Del Monte Bridge Conflict at
Vinton etrsst Park.
OhAaA eUAROs ANO INFUSION MELLs
Exhibition H. Witnessed BY More
Than Two Thousand People
and is vivid ana In
terestinE.

ut was a glorious victory"
San Juan Del Monte bridge was taken
by the American troops during the early
morning after a long and severe struggle
with the Filiainos, who had stationed them
selves upon the structure, and opened FIRE
upon the United States soldiers asleep in
their tents. The fret battle Of the Philip
pines, with the First Nebraska volunteer
infantry In the vanguard. supported by
the Utah battery, was thrilling enough
for ten such conflicts and will make that
terrible night Of February 4 and the morn
ing Of the 5th. 1898, memorable in the an
nails of the insular war.
The FIRST exhibition Of this historic bat
tie, given last night at vinton street base
bali park by the Omaha Guards and the
Thurston Rifles, was a thrilling and ailur-
Ing spectacle indeed. Over 1000 people
Witnessed the performance and their re-
pested DEMONSTRATION we're evidence
enough Of their satisfaction.
Prior to the battle a program Of mill
tary performances was given. The Omaha
Guards began with a guard mount and
the Thurston Rifles followed with a close
order drill. Then came Omaha Guards
drill team, extended drill order, bayOnet
and bar bell drill by the Rifles and tho
splendid exhibition by the Omaha Guards
gRtling gun section, which was one Of the
most interesting and attractive features
Of the night. The men composing this sec
tion have travelled from ocean to ocean
and given these exhibitions. Their renown
has become national and their skill is al
most wonderful. The entire preliminary
program was rendered without an apparent
fault and each performance elected the
most enthusiastic applause. The men
showed the result Of careful drill and the
ability to execute the theories Of military
technique.
Captains Osborn ana Richards.
The Omaha Guards we're under COM
mand Of Captain o. G. Osborne and the
Thurston Rifles under Captain Charles M.
Richards. Each company comprised about
sixty men. Mayor Eli Hodgins, recently pro-
NOTED from the ~captaincy Of the Guards,
took ar active part in the program. In
the battle the Guards represented the
American troops and the Thurstons were
divided into two platoons. one represent
ing the Filipinos, the other the 0utposts
Of the Americans. Each company had a
gatling gun. that Of the Thurstons being
the property of the state. and the Guards
having their old brass gun. Another gat-
ling gun had been brought up from Fort
Crook.
The scene Of the battle was the camp
Of the First Nebraska Volunteer infantry
and the San Juan Del Monte bridge and
river and the time. the night Of February
4, 1885, ana the morning OF the Otn.
The outpost Of the First Nebraska was
guarding the ground, with Private Grayson
on picket duty. The stealthy natives,
seeing the Americans were asleep. advanced
on the outpost and opened fire., But be-
fore the first. shot became effective a lam
tern signal from the outpost carried the
news Of the attack to the camp. This
was quickly followed by the call to arms
and in a twinkling the first battle Of the
Philippines. was madly raging.
sThesAmericans, advanced on the .sklrmish
line, keeping close to the ground. while
creeping gradually nearer the enemy and a
point Of vantage from which to make the
charge. A spirited firing was kept up
without cessation. both sides exchanging
n fusillade Of shots. AS the brilliant red
searchiight from the grandstand fell in a
beautiful sheet upon the bridge and river
the natives could be seen upon the bridge
in their snow white uniforms, using their
arms to the best Of advantage.
silence Their Gun.
When the Filipino gun at the bridge had.
begun to beleh forth its deadly contents
the Utah battery mad a phenomenal
charge and fire and silencsd the gun. This
was the stroke which proved fatal to the
enemy, for 1t was followed closely by the
advance OF the supporting wings and the
gatling guns OF the Nebraskans. The
charge was a fierce one. Every man fought
like a Trojan, pouring a deadly FIRE frorl
his gun into the fast-waning foe. while the
continual chaterlng Of the ~gatIings and
the roar of the cannon from the distant
background produced one solid mass Of IRE
and a deafening and deadly roar against
which the ,iFiiipinos' Desperate efforts
proved vain.
Seeing the host OF natives vanquished
the Americans rushed wildly upon the
bridge and took II.
Then out OF the dense smoke and IRE
Of battle arose Old Glory. and as its stars
and stripes were unfurled to the chilly night
breezes by one Of Nebraska's W sons,
just as was actually done in the real bat
tie nearly four years ago. the strains Of the
Star spangled Banner foated above the
din and turbulence Of military strife.
These performances Will be repeated
every night until Saturday. The proceeds
are to be equally divided between the two