The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-11-10

AlAPPihS NSurreCtlOn Was perpeIuaIeQ
at Balangiga, Samar.
For some time, Company c, of the
Ninth Infantry, under command of Capt
Connell had occupied the post. Maj
Griswold. of the medical department, and
Lieut.. Bumpus were the other officers
stationed there. The officers and men
were apparently on the best OF terms
with the natives, and no thought Of dan
ser or treachery WAS entertained. Since
the massacre Capt. Cornell has been bit
terly criticized for not having read be-
tween the lines sufficiently to have antici-
pated treachery, For several days scores
OF natives had arrived from the interior,
while the women and childre-. had been
quietly leaving town, so that on the
morning Of the attack there were none
left but fighting men.
The slaughter had been planned and
instigated for some weeks prior. and
undoubtedly had it's origin in the fer
tile and debased brain Of a half-breed
padre from Guiuan, who afterward es-
capped and has never been captured. The
presidente Of the town. the other prime
mover in the affair. was killed during the
attack. No evidence of any particular
animOsity or prejudice held by this padre
against the American troops has since
been discovered. it was malicious. mex
plicible and inexCusable hatred. The ma
tives had been coming in for weeks and
giving themselves up, invariably surren-
dering bOlO or some other weapon to
Capt Cornell, with assurances OF es-
TEEN and pledges Of future alliance. It
was this apparent friendly spirit that in
duced the commanding officer to harbOr
feeling Of security and confidence.
Fails TO Heed Warning.
On the 9th. Lieut.. Bumpus, who had
started from Basey to Tacloban, was
told by friendly padre to return imme-
diately to Balangiga and tell Capt. Con-
nell, For Gods sake watch constantly
and guard against treachery." Although
incredulous. the lieutenant was so i'm
pressed by the earnestness of the padres
warning that ne abandoned his proposed
journey TO TaclOban, returning to Balan-
giga with the message 20 Capt. ConneIl.
The two officers had a long. controversy,
which ended in the commanding officers
. ridiculing the idea of danger and result
ed in no precautions other than the usual
ones being taken. Had Lieut. Bumpus
proceeded as was his original intention
he would have escaped the fate meted
out 10 him and the other officers
The mess room where the men were
breakfaSting was situated near the center
OF long plaza and about two hundred
and fifty yards distant from quarters.
-Four or FIVE men were in their shacks
at the moment of the attack, and It was
partly owing 10 their firing on the natives
and holding them in check that the sol
rlfa Aar-
fight their way through the swarms Of
bolO men 10 their weapons. Over the mess
room was a storeroOm containing a num-
Der OF rifles and cartridges 1t was here
that the natives made their first rush in
an effort to secure the arms and ammuni-
ton, and here also We're killed several
men who also made a dash with the
same intention.
sentry Killed by Treachery.
At one end OF the plaza is a typical
Spanish church. the officers quarters be-
ing located in a convent adjoining the
main building. During the night about
twenty-five natives had nolselessly made
their way into the room next to that oe-
cupied by the officers. A sentry was al
ways posted in front of the church, and
on this particular morning he was ap-
preached in a friendly manner by a ma
tive and engaged in conversation. While
his attention was arrested another native
slipped up behind. and several his head
from his body with one stroke Of boIo
The first native Immediately made Tor
the church. and pulled the bell rope. TINS
being the signal agreed upon for the at
tack. The twenty-five natives I'm the con-
vent Immediately entered the sleeping
room OF the officers, and boloed them in
their beds. Capt COnneH managed 70
get up. and leaped from the window. but
was killed before he had gone ten feet
from the church. Maj. GriswoId got as
far as the center of the room and was
cut 20 pieces. Lieut.. Bumpus never got
out Of bed His head was taken off with
a single blow Of bolo. In the mean
time the main body of natives had at
tackled the men at the breakfast table
Entirely unprepared and unarmed, many
of them fell easy victims, and We're
butchered and mutilated beyond recogni-
ton Sergt Markley, who is about six
feet, three inches. tall. yelled, Come or,
boysi" Ind with chairs, butcher knives
and carpenter tools they fought their
way though the crowds& OF natives. and
twenty-five of them succeeded In gaininz,
their quarters and rifles. When they ar
rived many guns had been rendered use
less by the natives. who had fired one
shot and then, not understanding the
meV4hagism OF the magazine had attempt
ed to destroy the rife by thowing away
the bolts, magazines, &c. With but ten
or twelve rifles. this handful OF men
finally succeeded in administering such
punishment 10 the natives that they with
drew To the mountains. The survivors
deliberately stood on the bank Of the
river and killed some forty or fifty in
surgents in their efforts TO cross the
stream. AT least $50 natives were killed
during the attack and retreat
MarkIey's Heroic Goodness.
Sergt Marley cOolly- went to head
quarters, secured the company records.
and then went around to each and every
member of the Inflated company to see
II life was extinct. Wherever a breath
of life was left in the body he ordered the
man carried down TO the rivers edge and
loaded into barOte. The survivors then
boarded the barote, and were about to
embark when il was ascertained that the
colors were still flying. Sergeant Marklev
asked for two volunteers 70 go back and
secure them which was no desirable
task. as the colOrs were then at least a
quarter OF a mile distant and there was
no means of telling how many hostile
natives lurked in the brush and the nipa
nuts. Two volunteers responded. how
ever. and with Sergt. Markley return
ed and hauled down the Stars and Stripes.