The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-03-13
500 MOR0S KILLED
IN FIERCE BATTLE
Americans Had Is Killed and Many
Wounded in Fight Near Jolo
CHARGED UP MOUNTAIN OF LAVA

CHARGED UP MOUNTAIN OF LAVA
troops stormed Cone 200 Feet High
and After Heavy Loss Killed All the
Defenders-Foroed to Lift Artillery
with Block and Tackle to Get Into
Action.
Manila. March lo-An important ac'
ton between American forces and hos
tile Moros has taken place near Jolo.
Fifteen enlisted men were killed. four
commissioned officers and 32 enlisted
men were wounded and naval con
tipgont operating with the military
sustained losses Three members OF
the constabulary operating with the
troops were Killed and nearly a score
wounded. The Moros lost 600 men
killed.
Major General Leonard Wood. com
nander OF the division Of the Philip
pines reported as follows from Jolo'
capital OF the Sulu Islands:
"A severe action between troops
laval detachment and consiabulary
ami hostile Moros has taken place at
Mount Dajo near Jolo. The engage
mont opened during the afternoon OF
March and ended in tho morning OF
March s. The action involved the cap
tnre OF Mount paio a lava cone POO
feet hieh. with crater a. its summit
and extremely steep. The last 400
feet we're al an angle of go degrees.
and there were so perpendicular ridges
covered with q growth OF timber and
strongly fortified and defended by an
invisible force of Moros.
"The army casualties were - en-
listed men killed a commissioned .oiil'
Cel ana four enlisted men wounded.
The naval casualties numbered -.
Eusian "A. D. Cooke Jr~ OF the United
States steamer Pampanga. command
ing the Pampanga fort was severely
wounded. and CoVswain Gilmore was
severely wounded in the elbow.
"Thc constabulary casualties were
Capta.n John r. White. wounded In
the thigh. severely. three enlisted men
killed and I3 wounded Captain Tyree
Rivers sustained a slight hesl wound
in the thigh. Lieutenant Gordon was
-Iehtl, wounded i'm the right hand;
Lieutenant Wyuo T. Conway. OF the
Sixth Infantry. was slightly wounded
In the left eye. All the wounded are
doing well
Captain Joseph W Duncan. OF the
Sixth Infantry directed the opera
rons All The defenders Of the Moro
stronghold were killed Six hundred
bodies were found on the field
The action resulted in The eXiinc'
tion of a band Of outlaws who. recog-
nlzing no chief had been raiding
friendly Moros. and owing to their
defiance Of the American authorities
had stirred mp a dangerous condition
of affairs
THE artillery was lifted by block
and tackle A distance of 300 feet. into
a POSITION on the lip Of the crater.
"Brigadler General Bliss and myself
were present throughout the action.
THE attacking columns were COM
manded by Major Omar Bundy. Cap
tain X. T. 1.awton Captain Rivers
CAPTAIN l.. N. oehler. Captain Nc
Glachlin and Lieutenant John son.
"The officers and men engaged high
" commend the Moro constabulary'
who did excellent work. their casual
ties numbering II ont Of force Of Al
engaged.
1T is impossible to conceive Of a
stronger natural position than that at
tackled" "
Another account OF the fight near
Jolo states that 500 outlaw Moros were
killed in the crater Of the precipitous
volcano five miles from Jolo. The
Americans lost IS killed and 81 men
wounded. including Captain Rivers, OF
the Fourth Cavalry; Lieutenant Ag'
news. of the Sixth Infantry; Lieuten-
ant Gordon Johnson. Of the Signal
Corps: Ensign Cooke. commanding
the Pampanga. and Captain White, OF
tho constabulary. The attack was IN
der the immediate command of Colo
mel Duncan. Of the Sixth Infantry. The
6shting lasted two days amcng the
tlava ridges. which had been strongly
fortified by the Moros. Artillery had
to he hoisted by means Of ropes mp the
last 500 feet at an angle Of 90 de-
oraoc