LUKBAN surely damage the steamer .
Sweeney ’ s men gathered all available axes , lowering the small boats , and landed a corporal and four men on each side of the river to stand guard while he took the remainder of the men to the blockade , which they destroyed after much effort . A tree 100 feet high , bordering on the river bank , was cut at the base , so that a strong pull on the ropes that were tied near the top and stretched across the river to the other bank would have formed a second blockade almost as complete as the first . The soldiers cut and destroyed the ropes , freeing themselves of the blockade .
His men found four nipa huts at the river bank which were reportedly used a temporary barracks by Lukban ’ s men . Inside were over 100 pounds of fresh beef , which he ordered to be thrown in the river , and 150 pounds of rice , which they confiscated . Then they burned the houses , and proceeded down the river in the direction of Catubig . A quarter of a mile away , they could hear the firing in the beleaguered town . So he ordered the boat captain to proceed full steam ahead , until they run into a hail of bullets from the mausers of the rebels coming from all directions . They returned fire . The small boats were lowered after calling to the men to locate their positions , as the barracks and many of houses were in flames .
Despite the constant fire , Sweeney did not hesitate to land with his men , leaving three of them in the steamer . But before everyone got into the boats , two of his men were hit , and they had to be put back into the steamer . The rest fortunately made the landing and were able to save the men trapped in their trenches at the back of the convent . “ We could have taken a position in the grass , where we could not be seen , but by doing so we could not command a view of the enemy ’ s movements , “ Sweeney reported . 10
He had to send two men to bury two of the dead in the trenches , while some acted as guards as the firing from the rebels ’ side continued . As soon as Sweeney was able to bring the survivors , including the wounded , on the boats , they boarded the steamer . There were dead insurgents on the streets and two floated down the river . He estimated 200 dead on the rebels ’ side .
From the steamer , Sweeney could see that the town was fortified at every turn , particularly along the river front , where the rebels had accordingly used bags of rice , dirt and hemp for breastworks . At the place where they were earlier blockaded , the rebels had placed another blockade made of long bamboo strips and canes , attached to the highest tree , expecting that the smokestack of the steamer would pull it down on them , but the rope was poorly tied and so was easily removed . Sweeney and the American survivors made it to safety . 11
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