Omaha daily bee., 1898-11-20
AMONG LUZON ISLANDERS
Navy Officer, Of Dcwey's Squadron Make
Report of Investigations.
MANY NATIVES FAVOR A PRoTEcToRATt
Generally Regard the United states
as a Friendly Power and
Anxious to show Good
spirit.

partment has made public two interesting
reports, one from Captain Coghlan OF the
Raleigh and the other from Captain Wilder
OF the Boston, both attached to Dewey's
squadron These reports were read at the
cabinet meeting yesterday with interest as
throwing good deal OF light on the condi-
tions in the Philippines. The two officers
were dispatched by Admiral Dewey to make
an Inspection OF the Islands and the result
is set out in their reports.
Captain Coghlan Of the Raleigh says that
he started on September 10 to the north
west coast OF Luzon for the protection Of
American commerce. Some points Of his
report follow: ..
II stopped at the Corregidor islands
at the entrance to Manila bay and delivered
your orders not to fly the insurgent flag.
This was cheerfully agreed to. I then pro-
ceeded to San Fernando de La Union, north
Of Lingyen gulf. found the insurgent flag
flying and chief with five companies OF in
surgents guarding the place. They said they
had about 150 Spanish prisoners.
Natives Friendly.
The chief and others were invited of, but
the chief made an excuse and would not
come. Six other officers. including the cap
tain OF the port came Off, first stipulating
ashore while they were on board. Our boats
transported them. They were received with
due respect, entertained in the cabin,
shown over the vessel and treated with
every courtesy.
"At Aparri we were received very gra-
ciously by the insurgent chief in charge, who
gave us every information and arranged to
visit the ship later on, but he failed to come
of, as did the others. This may be ac
counted for in part by the heavy, northerly
swell which settled on the coast.
'At Suoi, near the head of Lingyen gulf,
we found an insurgent lieutenant and about
thirty men In charge. Many people came
off that evening and in the night. When
visited the shore at a. m. the next day
we were refused a landing, on a plea that
they had no orders to that effect. After
parleying for more than an hour a REIN
forcement Of one officer and forty men hav-
ing come In, we were permitted to land
and go into the Quartet. where all the Of
flcers were very polite, but would not al
low US to go about the place, on the plea
that they had telegraphed to the capital
city and were awaiting an answer, which
answer never came. None Of the officers
would come off to the ship, seeming very
suspicious of us. Numbers OF natives came
off and seemed perfectly at ease, regarding
vs. as friends.
Regarded United States a. n Friend.
"At all places south OF Lingyen gulf We
found both officers and natives most cordial
and friendly anxious as they said, that the
United States should maintain protectorate
over the island Of Luzon and that trade re-
| lations should be re-eetablished There are
NO Spaniards from Cape Engano to Manila.
| At no Sine north Of Manila have they had
any -four for nearly three months. noti-
| fed the authorities that all vessels flying
| the United States flag might come to trade
at any time and that they must be treated
properly and be respected.
"When speaking on this subject to the
| commandant at Olongato he said that all
vessels trading there must get permission
| from his government. He was unable to
say whether this applied to all ports under
| insurgcnt rule or only to the arsenal al
| Olongato." .+ft.t ~.
Captain Coghlan gives a good deal Of in
| formation as to the character OF the towns
visited by him-Subig. Marival and Apart
| Sual, Dagupan and San Fernando-showing
| In substance that while the people are poor
| they are all capable OF considerable de-
! velopment.
Captain Wilder Of the Boston, in his re-
port, states that his cruise was made In
company with the transport Manila to the
| southward.
All HOistcd Flags.
| The native villages all hoisted white flags
| on his approach. While passing Bulak Ind
| Tikao he saw two vessels having the ap-
pearance of two Spanish gunboats end on
and smoke rising from the funnel Of both
of them. In a half an hour they were out
of sight. Passing between sebu and Negros
the natives who came of said the Spanish
troops had been withdrawn to the town Of
! Cebu fifteen days before: that a large band
| Of insurgents was In the vicinity burning
houses and cornhelds and was expected to
enter the town at any time.
At Port Royallst on the 26th the Bos-
ton was boarded by an officer OF the Span
ish navy, with the compliments Of the gov
arnor of the province. An officer was sent
to return the boarding call and was civlily
treated. The military force there was about
200 Indians, forty or fifty Spaniards, one
piece of artillery and one gunboat Of 25(
TONS The inhabitants Of the island num-
ber $4,000. Moors and Malays are In the
southern part, Cuyos In the northern
| There were no insurrectlonists CaptaIr
Wilder thinks that the news OF two Ameri.
can war ships cruising In among the island:
will spread in all directions and good effect,
| will follow