Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-12-20

Manila, P. l., December II, via San
Francisco, December 19.-The claims
so StrenuOuSly made by the native
FilipinOS that they are highly civil
lied race, is not borne out by facts, ac-
cording to Spanish refugees from the
north who have just reached here.
They say that after the surrender OF
the town of APART, the insurgents
formed a parade, the central feature of
which was a Spanish lieutenant who
was carried along the streets suspended
from bamboo pole, to which his hands
and feet were tied, just as hogs are
carried here by coolies. On arrival at
the Plaza, the procession halted, the
pole was placed upon two fOrked sticks
and squad of rebels proceeded to
terrOriZe their helpless victim by shoot
ing as close to his head as was posi-
be without wounding him. When the
unfortunate man was unconscious with
terror, the procession moved on again.
Another story is told of a Spanish Off
Ger being confined in cell with his
hands tied behind his back and COM
PEELED to eat the portions of food al
lotted him from the floor of his cell
like a dog. Not satisfied with this, his
captors are said to have hooked a rope
to his Swallen wrists and through a
pulley overhead hauled him off his
feet until he tainted. Still another
refugee states that because he threw
some papers which he did not wish the
rebels to have into a cess pool, the
natives dropped into the hole and COM
PEELED him to recover the papers, after
which he was paraded through the
streets for hours.
The Spanish priests who were cap
tured faired somewhat better, accord
ing to all reports, for the rebels or
gained them into an extempore brass
band to head their procession, and by
dint of kicks and blows, compelled
their captives to produce plants of
discord, which highly amused the
natives.
The natives Indignantly deny these
allegations, and their newspapers re-
taliate by printing horrible stories of
atrocities practiced by the Spaniards
before the surrender of Manila, one OF
them even publishing the affidavits of
their victims.
Aguinaldo's official organ, the Re
publican Filipino, announces that its
Paris correspondent, presumably Agon-
clio, says that the Philippine group has
been coded to the United States, which
will grant independence to the Filipi-
nos after a time, which is to be fixed
by protocol and will not be less than
six years, if the Filipinos show that
they have satisfactory faculty of gov
erning themselves.
Aguinaldo has seen fit to remove
the embargo upon Americans, and has
issued an order granting the right to
travel through the territory at present
held by the revolutionary government
to all foreigners, except Spaniards, so
long as they are unarmed. None, how
ever, may approach within 200 yards
of any forts of intrenchments or carry
a kodak, under penalty of arrest. Any
Spaniard who sets foot on Philippine
territory if captured will be adjudged
by military law.
The present unpleasant weather is
having it's effect on the health of the
American troops, hundreds of whom
are suffering from cramps and chills
occasiOned by the dampness of their
quarters and exposure. Itihas rained
almost continually for four days, and
there is every indication of a contin-
uance of wet weather, although the
rainy season is supposed to be over. 1t
was currently rumored that at least 20
per cent of the American army of oc
cupation is on the sick list, which
would indicate an epidemic, but an in
quiry at the brigade hospital proved
this to be an exaggeration, for the to-
tai number of patients there was $50,
of which only IS were smallpox and
about 200 fever patients.
An order has been isued compelling
medical practitioners to report all cases
of smallpox under their notice to the
authorities, in order that they may be
promptly removed to the pest house,
owing to the number of deaths which
have occurred in private houses
throughout the city.