The Belangiga Bells-- Part 2: Reprisal, "Howling Wilderness"

The first bell was cast around 1853, the second around 1889 and the third, and smallest, was acquired in 1895.

On 28 September 1901 a group of Filipino villagers from Belangiga ambushed Company C of the 9th U.S. Infantry while they were at breakfast, killing 48 and wounding 22 of the 78 men.  Supposedly, one of the bells had been used as the signal bell to launch the attack.

In reprisal, General Jacob H. Smith ordered Samar to be turned into "a howling wilderness."  Any Filipino above the age of ten was to be shot and this resulted in the most widespread slaying of Filipinos during the entire war.  There was also massive destruction on the island.

The Americans seized all three of the bells as war trophies.

General Smith and Marine Corps Major Littleton Waller  were both court-martialled for the severity of the reprisals.  Both were acquitted.

I'll be writing some more about the general who was quite an interesting character.

--DaCoot