to the beach, where, creeping to an opening in the jungle, we pumped volley after volley with our “Krags” into the surrounding wilderness. As the moon broke through the clouds, the silhouette of a group of natives could be seen prowling on the opposite shore some distance up the straits. Having accomplished our mission, we returned to the ship with a live specimen of the spoils, who for safe keeping was confined to a cell in the “brig.” Next morning the savage was loath to talk until, after a breakfast of cold salmon, he told us that the banco contained eight natives, of whom he was the sole survivor, that their cargo consisted of rice consigned to Lukban’s forces in Samar. A detail escorted the prisoner ashore, where he was turned over to the army. The following day the small gun-boat Garduqui, of the “mosquito fleet,” was ordered into the channel, sounding her way clear through the straits. The natives were hemmed in on all sides and reports of smuggling ceased.
Near Balayán, as a member of a landing party that stormed and burned a number of villages, I secured a unique relic, in the
shape of a Spanish trumpet that had served some hidalgo in the days of the empire.
Every day brought news to the cruiser of the excellent work of the soldiers and marines. In carrying out the orders of Generals Smith and Hughes, the boys were sweeping everything before them, driving the murderous natives to either death or surrender. Victor, who had led the assault in the slaughter of the Ninth Infantry, had fallen victims to the marines, and the splendid culmination to a successful campaign was the surrender of twelve hundred bolo-men with their various implements of warfare.
After swearing allegiance to the United States, these savage jungle warriors were allowed their freedom.
The island having been pacified, a number of the troops were recalled, though the blockade was continued by the Vicksburg, Nashville, and the small gun-boats of the mosquito fleet.
The flag-ship New York, having completed her mission in the Samar campaign, steamed back to Luzon, where a fortnight
was spent in Manila Bay ere she steamed out, under an azure sky, to the shores of fair Japan.
Back to the land of the “Rising Sun”
Where the blood-red poppies grow,