Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1903-03-26
NINE AMERICANS
IN BARRICADE
Maintained Defense at SuriSaO for
Eighteen Hours.
RELIEVING FORCE CAME At LAST.
Ten Prisoners Sentenced for LadrOnlsm
Had Escaped and Returned TO the
Town With Sixty or Eighty OF
Their Followers.

Manila. March 24.-The town of
Surigao, in the northeastern part OF the
leland Of MindGnoa, which Was captured
Sunday by ladrones, was relieved today.
The American officials and foreigners were
found to be safe.
Eighty lsdronee, led by ten escaped
convicts, participated in the attack on
Sarigao. They had twenty rifles and
forty boloe and succeeded in surprising
and rushing the constabulary barracks and
stampeding the constsbulAry. Inspector
Clarke was killed at the first rush. The
ladrones captured eighty rifles.
The American officials, the women and
foreigners sought refuge in the government
building, where Treasurer Kelly, former
Indian scout, assumed command. The
defenders Of the building we're armed with
shot-guns and refused the summons Of the
ladrunes to surrender. They held out
until the town was relieved today by a
force of constabulary sent from Tacloban.
The ladrones fed at the approach OF the
conetabulary. o.
Three companies of United States in
fantry will reach Surigao' tomorrow and
will then probably start in pursuit OF the
ladrones.
The government forces operating in
Albay province, island Of Luzon, have
established concentration zone, in the
center of that province, q miles long and
10 miles wide, and have series of detach'
ments of troops following the various
ladrone bands.
GOVERNOR TAFr's REPORT.
Washington, March 24.-Secretary
Root today received a Icablegram from
Governor Taft, giving the following &C.
count of the attack Of Surigao:
affair at Surigao turns out to be es-
cape of ten prisoners sentenced to long
terms for adronism, who, with sixty or
eighty of their fellows, returned to SuriRaO,
succeeded in surprising and rushing the
constabulary inspector, LAWS M. Clark,
and thus taking command Of the town.
mine Americans, including two women,
retreated to the provincial building where,
under the direction of Luther s. Kelly,
provincial treasurer, formerly captain Of
volunteers, and stillIearlier Indian scout,
known as Yellowstone Kelly, armed only
with few shot.guus and short Of am
muntion, maintained their defense
against the ladrones, refusing to yield to
an ultimatum demanding guns, by the re-
ply of Kelly that they would not give up
a single gun and would kill on sight any
ladrone within range.
Assistant Chief Taylor arrived at Surf
gao with constabulary force, about eighteen
hours after the attack On bis approach,
ladrones disappeared and columns are now
follc wing them.
"Surieao extreme northeast Mlndanoa
is 30 far removed that have concluded TO
cali upon G gorge W. Davis, to put mill
tary in command with hope that by a
large force ladrones and their guns may
be captured and they may be prosecuted
for murder and ladrunism. So far as ad'
vised Captain Clark, only American killed
The cable near provincial building IN
which Americans took refuge, and they
were thus able to communicate with mill
tary commander at IIgan and with con
stabulary headquarters at Cebu, where
they were passing their examinations FOL
promotion.
"Surigao has been regarded as quie'
province since capture and sentence O
iadrones, but their escape led to the dith
Guilty. II deemed necessary by military
commander, Commission will suspend writ
of habeas corpus for Surigao, but it is tC
be hoped that this measure can be avoid
ed"
The War Department also received th'
following cablearam from General Davis
dated Manila today:
"Have sent $50 infantry troops from
Iloilo and Ihgan to Surigao, Mndanao a
} the request of Civil Governor to restore
order there"