Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-12-26
A DANGEROUS ENTERPRISE
How Young Honolulu Man Did Valuable
Work Among the Filipinos.
Discovered the Secret Importation of
Arms by Insurgents and Caused
Important Arrests.
From the Hawaiian Star (Honolulu Dec g..

From the Hawaiian Star (Honolulu Dec g..
Col l.. NJ. johnson, of Agunaido's staff.
an old Honolulu man, is under arrest at
Manila and will be tried by United States
court-martial in about two months for high
treason.
Col johnson is charged with smuggling
10000 stands of small arms and four Krupp
guns into the Island of Luzon for the use
of the insurgents.
A more remarkable part of the story is
that c. E. Smith, the Honolulu painter.
caught johnson and secured the evidence
that caused his arrest.
1t was this way: Smith left here in the
Colon last summer. Being under height he
could not enlist at Manila and was sent to
Hong Kong partly on business and partly
10 be returned nome. There he got wind of
something out of the ordinary.
Catching the steamer Oxus he left for
the northern part of the Island of Luzon.
There he found what he was after-the fill
buster steamer with the arms. He met Col.
Johnson, got into his confidence and secur-
ed a fund of information that would do
credit to a Pinkerton,
Then came most extraordinary expert
ence. Cn2rned he set out afoot TO cross
the hostile territory of Luzon to Manila
He secured food from the country F'ilipinos
and lodged around the insurgent posts.
REACHING Manila, he laid the matter before
Gen Otis.
The information was conclusive. The Nc
Culough was dispatched to Batangeae BAY
where the flibusIer steamer Abbie was ly-
ing. The capture was complete.
l.. M johnson was arrested as the prin-
clpal in the operations and native Fill
plno as Interpreter and first assistant to
him. Both men were taken to Manila and
locked up.
johnson is chief of Aguinaldo's staff The
arrest caused considerable feeling al insur-
gent Headquarters. 1t feared that an
attempt would be made by Aguinaldo to re-
sumo his office, and for some days there was
sharp lookout for an attack.
Ihere We're open threats among the Fill
pinos against the life of Smith. He was
given guard to Manila by order of Gen.
Gus part of the time he spent on the
T. 5: 3 baltimore for safety from assas-
sinat1on He was shipped back to Honolulu
by the Scandal precaution Here it is
certain that he is safe.
Smith arrived this morning. He is neatly
dressed and looks well. Many questions
Johnson, which will soon he international
talk, he declined to answer; but the full
story is told in letters and papers received
from Manila today
After the arrest of Colonel Johnson
Smith was engaged by General Otis in the
secret service, at a big salary. Admiral
Dewey also took him into his confidence
and gave him certain assignments upon
which he is still engaged.
johnson will be tried in about a month
before military court at Manila. The
papers hdd llrSt 10 go TO washington ana
will have to arrive back from there be
fore the case can go on. Smith is the prin
cipa1 witness. His testimony will probably
go in the shape of a certified deposition.
OF Smiths remarkable eScapade, the
Freedom, a military paper published at Ma
Mia. says:
He Krag-Jorgensen rifles unloaded
there by the thousands and turned over to
the insurgents and two Uhere were really
four fine machine guns of the very latest
pattern and make. He was on hand when
the insurgents were instructed in their use,
and CLEANED the fact that three million
dollars was behind the scheme to furnish
the insurgents with guns and ammuni-
ton. Young Smith lost no time in getting
away from that place, and with consider
able risk he hurried across the island and
reported what he had seen and learned at
army headquarters"