The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-09-17
AGUINALDO'S DARING,
How He Collected the Reward Set Upon
His Head.

His Head.
Pancho Aguinaldo, the native die
tator of the Philippines, is very
picturesque parsonage. Heis the son
of a prominent native chief. Anxious
that his boy should be educated, the
chief confded the lad to the Spanish
priests, who thought that Aguinaldo's
influence, when he grew up. would
help to maintain Spanish authority
among the Malay population. The
father is rich, for native, and Pancho
Aguinaldo, after being taught in the
local schools, was sent to Madrid to
study theology and qualify for the
priesthood. After year or two of
study the young man boldly declared
he would not be priest, bnt SOL
der. So he was drafted into one of
the many regiments, in which few
of the subalterns are Manila men, but
all the captains and field officers are
Spaniards.
Nearly two years ago Aguinaldo
and compatriot named Alexandra,
also q lieutenant of native troops, Or
ganized a revolt in the native corps.
Aguinaldo's regiment one morning,
while on parade, shot all the Spanish
officers, except few lieutenants, and
took to the savannas great, trackless
prairies, swampy, with occasional
high bits of land called "mattes. u
Here Aguinaldo made his headquarters.
At one time he must have had 1000 OF
5000 men, under arms of some sort,
hidden in these Businesses, raiding the
rich settlements whenever they felt
like it. The political governor-general
of the Philippines, Senior Don Basilic
Augustin y Davila, offered q reward Of
$40, 900 for the head of Agninaldo.
Within a week he received q note from
the insurgent chief, saying: II need
the sum you offer very much and will
deliver the head myself"
Ten days later the southeast typhoor
was raging. The hurricane-for il
was one-was tearing things to bits
and it was raining, as it can rain only
in the Orient, a sheet of black water
flooding the earth. The two sentinel'
at the governor-general's gate made
the usual reverent sign as a prizes
passed it, who asked if his excellency
was within and unengaged. The.
answered yes to both questions. Dor
Basilio did not turn his head as some
one entered. 1t was his secretary, hi
supposed, come to help prepare al
eloquent statement upon the condi
ton of the colonies. 1t was not tn
secretary but a priest, who said
'Peace be with you, my SON.
The cleric locked the door, and
dropping his cloak, said:
EDO you know me?"
Don Basilio did not know him. I
was Aguinaldo, with 2O-inch bolo,
native knife, sharp as razor, carried
by every Malay in time of trouble
They can lop off an arm with on
blow, as though it was a carrot.
81 have brought the head of Agui
naldo," the chief said, touching tn
edge of his iewel-hilted bolo to ascer
tain it's condition, "and claim tn
reward! Hasten, else l shall have t
expedite the matter myself"
Don Basilio was trapped. He ha
to open his desk and count out til
sum in Spanish gold. Aguinald
punctiliously wrote receipt, COOL
counted the money and walked back
ward toward the door. He suddenl
opened it and dashed ont, just ahea
of pistol bullet that cut his locks o
the temples. Captain General Pol'
vieja offered him and Alexandra fire
pardon and $4,000 each to quit th
colony. They accepted and got til
money, only to learn that they wer
both to be assassinated the next nigt
at fiesta. The two men who ha
undertaken the job were found dea(
stabbed to the heart, in their beds
On the lariss handle was a bit of papt
with line, saying "Beware of I'll
Malay's vengeance.
Polavieja resigned and returned
Spain, being succeeded by Gener
August, formerly captain general
Barcelona. Againaldo is about twent.