Burke and party were towed here by the C.M. S.S. Venus from Tobaco where they had been driven by storms while on their way back to Virac.
They ran into the bay at Cobo on the 24th dropped the anchor and were preparing to land when the Ins. Opened up on them from the three sides of the bay. At the first volley Frank Herman who was laying on deck taking aim, was shot through the hand and heart, exclaimed, “Lt. Im shot”, laid his gun beside him drooped his head on his arm and croaked.
The order was at once given to fire at will and our boys let them have it but in a few minutes Pv Brydges was shot in the shoulder, the shot passing through the lung and coming out beneath the arm. He was at once lowered into the hold where Hosp. Steward Knisely did all he could to relieve him.
Shortly after Pv. Goold was wounded in the right arm as he was taking aim, the shot, below the elbow (a Remington) ploughed a furrow in the forarm then went through the upper arm carrying fragments of his blue shirt with it. At the end of 20 min. Burke decided he had enough and Harry Newcomer, at great personal risk cut the cable. The jib and mainsail were hoisted but the peak halliard was shot way. After a little delay the sail was again hoisted and the Am’s were enabled to get away. When almost out of range Pv Howard was shot through the muscle of the right arm by a Mauser bullet.
When a short distance down the coast a heavy gale drove the boat back north of Cobo. In order to keep Herman’s body from being washed overboard it was lashed to the deck aft and covered with a tarpaulin. After the storm the sun came out and beating on the body caused smells that drove the boys as far forward as they could get. During this time Brydges was in great agony and most of the time delirious. When near Pta Siolal on the S.W. coast of Catanduanes the boat was caught in another gale and driven to Tobaco on the Id of Luzon. Brydges died as they arriarved.