LUKBAN
Betron Barracks watching Abanador : “ As the sentinel passed him , the Chief of Police suddenly snatched the rifle out of his hands , knocked him senseless with the butt and yelled , firing at the same time into our group and wounding one of the men .”
George Allen wrote in a letter years later to Adolf Gamlin : “ I can see the chief of police now as he made the attack upon you and grabbed your gun from your shoulder . Things happened so quickly after , that it is surprising to me that any of us were ever left to tell the tale .”
William Gibbs : “ No more than that yell . Some say that the bells were tolled , but I did not hear them ; I did not hear anything but that yell .”
John D . Closson : “ I was seated at the south end of the mess table . . . I looked out and saw the natives coming towards us , and I jumped and ran to back stairs to barracks , reaching them at the same time with the natives . I ran upstairs and into the annex , pushing my way through natives who did not attempt to bolo me . They were crowding in to get the guns . I got in and seized a gun , but somebody grabbed me from behind and then were crowding so that I couldn ’ t do anything , and they pulled me down onto the floor …”
Gamlin ’ s first awareness of the attack was when he saw Samarenos running towards him , yelling . He heard an American voice shout “ Fire !” but before he could react , the police Chief Abanador was on him and snatched his Krag from him , smashing the gun butt down on his head , wounding and momentarily stunning him . 16
As Abanador attacked Gamlin , the plaza erupted into action . Inside the church , the bell tolled as the men of Lawaan rushed the convent , and the natives rushed simultaneously on the different barracks , the officers ’ quarters and those at the breakfast table and kitchen . The sentinel on Post No . 1 was killed , so was the sergeant of the guard . The prisoners and others nearby rushed into the main barracks at the tribunal . From the east of the kitchen , the natives who hid in the forest overpowered the men having breakfast . 17
The officers , who were still in their room in the convent , did not have much chance . Inside the officers ’ quarters , Bumpus was reading his mail . He looked up but never saw the bolo that smashed down on him from the side , onto the bridge of his nose , severing the lower half of his face and continuing through , to his neck , a mortal blow that ended his life within seconds .
Surgeon Griswold was lying in bed , reading mail . He lept to his feet , reaching for his sidearm , but to no avail as a swarm of determined Lawaanons enveloped him and killed him before he could take a shot .
Captain Connell on the other hand was able to arm himself before the attackers reached him . Thus , he gained precious seconds as the attackers paused , held off by his Krag . Vastly outnumbered , Connell
100