New-York tribune., 1885-03-01
FACING DEATH IN MANILA.
DESPERATE FIGHT IN A TEMPLE.
SWIMMING FOR LIFE-SEAgLY DROWNED BY THE
RISING TIDE.

In conversation with q TRIBUNE reporter a
gentleman, well versed IN nautical matters told the fol-
lowing story The first officer OF the great
steamships that sail out of this port is tall, dark
man. with thick black hair which he combed low
on his forehead One night, the ship steaming
along by the palm covered shores OF Brazil lie sat with
group officers, after dinner smoking on deck. Far
of the light Selinas Shoals marked the entrance to
the Para River and the wind blowing from the shore
laden with tropical Odors.
"Mr c." said one OF the younger officers breaking
the silence which had been maintained for some time,
will you crafty my curiosity by answering some
what impertinent question T.
Put your question" was the scntenous reply.
"welI then why do you your hair so low your
forehcadp
1he first officer leaned forward bring his head
within the stream Of light that from q stateroom
window and throwing back the hair from his forehead
revealed deep red All the officers leaned forward
to look They knew that story was connected with
that scar and as c. seemed to be in good huinor
of them ventured to ask:
How did it happen, Mr.. C-r
The first officer leaned back In his chair, silent for
minnie and then saying: "I don't often tell the history
OF that scar, butyes will tell you" began the follow
ing tale:
"when / was eighteen years old was third mate Of
the ship Lion, sailing Of Boston Harbor. The
first trip 1 made aboard OF her third
mate we ran to the Philippine Islands.
We were anchored day in the harbor of Manila.
having discharged ana loaded with sugar for
the return trip ready to sail the next morning wanted
ashore and have good blowout once Eore before
starting the long return voyage 80 after supper had
couple OF the sailors lower away the dingy aud
over to another American ship that was lying In the
harbor where took of the second mate, great chum
of mine while we had been IN Manila, and together
rowed ashore. My friends name was BIZ l.. He
was about twenty-five years old. with frame like
giant and muscles ike Steel tho picture OF health and
happiness open hearted and generous young and amL
tlous. Inever knew man more lovable than Bill
We'll have lark ~ lark tonight, says Bill for
the old man says you're going sail tomorrow. Yes
said T. we go tomorrow Just then happened to put
my hand in my pocket and felt slung-shot which
had taken away from one OF the men that afternoon
when he was disposed to make trouble with it. Here
said taking ont. I'll throw this toy over
board No keep it, exclaimed Bill. we may need 1t
before We come aboard agln.' Well, went about the
city for an hour or two and finally to the door
of a Buddhist temple There are great
many Chinese in Manila, you know, and
they are nearly all Buidhists Something
mt IL into our heads to enter the temple ani d.d
IL was decorated the usual Of those edhces in
Manila aud at end with yove lights burning be-
fore II and votvc offerings around it, was n statue
OF the great Buddhl himself 'Ai" said Bill. the old
gentleman is homo. Let's pay our RESPECTS to him.
| eve dropped some mouey into little box placed be-
fore the idol to receive such offerings, made two
remarks which considered witty. and turned around
To 20 out when occurred that IL would he good
Ioke TO pull and OF the bananas bunch OF
which was hanging among the other offerings by
the side OF the idol. | made grab for
a banana brought the whole bunch
20 the floor. At the same instant several priests
who had been concealed hind the image rushed out
with shout and sprlng toward us We ran toward the
door bnt before could reach the priests upon
rs At the same line spanish herders who hap
ncped to he passing by heard noise Of the fight AMI
in 10 kH "A
with heavy knobs at the ends in their hands and one OF
them aimed a blow at which Laid open my flrencad
ti.i where von now see that scar / fen TO the n1or
stunned for a minute. but quickly recovering my seh'es
thought the sluneshot I'm my pocket and gra>png t
I'm nv right hand sprang up and dealt the man who
had hit me a terrific blow on the head which stretched
riht ana LEFT with my slungshot. NV companion had
fought his way the door with fists. but some or The
Spanarls had drawn knives aud saw that he was badly
cut about the and shoulders Escaping IRON the
temple we ran the river front closely pursued BY
yelling mob Of Spaniaris AMI Chnesr. A. we na9 III
tended stay ashore all NIGHT the boat was not waiting
,or m ~ L,f to ninnce into the water We were both ex-
pert swimmers and knew that In all probability the
Spnria,ls and Chinese were not.
There wns great pier iuttinR out into tho har
hor near where IN ID" plunge, ana had noticed
stones the northern face of the structure had oech
dislolgod. leaving space into which thonHht = man man
| might crawl This came 10 my mind IA plunged lntn
the water. stayed below the surface as long az |
| could and then. rising looked around anS'onSly for
! nil lie was nowhere TO he seen. The shouts Of our
unrsIers had ceased an shore saw the ghts III the
c;ty and ont I'm the harbor the riding lights OF the
living at anchor CLEANED like swaying stars. But
tho bl.ck surface of the water unbroken by
any human called out once or twice. hut getting
no answer and beginning to feel faint swan toward
tho pier Poor B neyer saw % him Isan gan cts msfS Ne
had received he undoubtedly sank as soon ~ he PLUNGED
into the water ana never rose & 10 hs soTe o beS hag
noticed that the sone was dis"iged had 10 dono,e
thsre % with NV head projecting aud my legs hanging
down so that my feet touched the water How long
s,t there do uO( know. e.! dazed and stupenef
y the severe blow nnd received and weak from loss OF
blood The occurrences "f the last haf honr were con
fatt m tnf M
! aud by noticed that the tido was rising ala no.
know whether the place In which had sscretsd myse ~
suspense the water higher and higher was terri
bic n In sn Io snS rcvyed me So that was able to real
ze fully the danger or situation SLOWLY the e rose
nsy w my % chin and then every wave broke against
face so that half OF the time was covered by water
.S SS weak ad 70 tSeTs sa Ps face to face with
suddenly heard the sound ct oars as e S
Chinaman who supplied our ship with vegetables; In
darkness M srena ne aas hsed S% lie
had been shot and then slowly and cautiously rowed To-
rescued me. and for S. put board my ship told
the captain what had happened and AFTER dressing my
Wounds he hid away In the 1ag scker Tor Dy TINS
time it was nearly morning. and We knew that by day
the Spanish % hey wosa ssT ns iSp
rs and second port captains They sad that the nEat
s~S S.aSsnes S s fepiBb1dSS
severely. perhaps fatally injured TWO spaa,% % nrIv
other American ship in harbor and had now come to
search the Sea Lion. The second port captain wnose
| name was wilkinson was American and the captan
knew he could trust him; so he took him aside ana to
him tho whole story. including the place OF my eohcea
| n.nt Tho spansh officials thoroughly searched the
sbIn Wilkinson himself went to the flag locker and MT
| sngrnn the lid looked square In the Face. Get NE
nt @ -, tSts N YOU canI said to him IN agonized
whisper lie put down the lid and went away ,,,.. .
J,efore long knew by the motion OF the ship that we
were under way, and pretty the captain came to
the locker and told me that it was safe to come out
When I reached tho deck the spires OF Manila were
| fading In the distance Ten years elapsed before l
| visited Manila again: was then hrst na,e ,
had become first port captain. came ON board TO dine
with being an old friend OF the captain AL 'RIoa 'Eioav
he sad did you ever have brother IN MANILA
| said L WAS he a aaorP Yes We'll ne must haNo
hasn The man Then he told the story Of my own adven