Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-09-09
AcuInAtoo,s DARING.
nov ire coIlsefsd ths Reward Set Upon
HE Head.

How ifc CoIiecfsd the Reward Bet Upon
HE Head.
Psncho Agninaido, the native die
tator Of the Philippines, 10 very
| picturesque parsonage. Heis the son
OF o prominent native chief Anxious
that his boy should be educated, the
chief confided the lad 10 the Spanish
priests, who thought that Aguinaldo's
influence, when he grew mp, would
help TO maintain Spanish authority
among the Malay population. The
father Ia rich, for q native, and Pancho
Aguinaldo, after being taught Ia 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 DO o priest, but SOL
dier. 10 he was drafted into one OF
the many regiments, In which o few
OF the subalterns are Manila men, but
oil the captains and field officers are
Spaniards.
Nearly two years ago Aguinaldo
md compatriot named Alexandra,
also lieutenant OF native troops, or
ganized 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 sayannas great, trackless
prairies, swampy, with occasional
high bits Of land called MATES"
Here Aguinaldo made his head quarters.
AT one time he must have had 1000 or
5000 men, under arms Of some sort,
hidden In these Businesses, raiding the
rich settlements whenever they felt
like n. The political governor-general
Of the Philippines, Senior Don Basilio
Augustin y Davila, offered q reward Of
$40, 900 for the head OF Aguinaldo.
Within week he received note from
the insurgent chief, saying: ~ need
the sum you offer very much and will
deliver the head myself"
Ten dayslater the southeast typhoon
was raging. The hurricane--for IL
was one--was tearing things to bits
and II was raining, as II can rain only
In the Orient, sheet OF black water Z
AoodinUthe earth. The two sentineh
at the governor.general's gate made
the usual reverent sign as priest
passed II, who asked il his excellency
was within and unengaged. They
answered yes to both questions. Don
Basilio did not turn his head as some
one entered 1t was his secretary, he
supposed, come to help prepare an
eloquent statement upon the condi-
ton Of the colonies. 1t was not the
secretary but q priest, who said,
peace be with you, my son."
The cleric locked the door, and,
dropping his cloak, said:
''Do you know me?''
Don Basilio did not know him. It
was Aguinaldo, with q 20-inch bolo, a
native knife, sharp as razor, carried
by every Malay in time of trouble.
They can lop off an arm with one
blow, as though it was o carrot.
II have brought the head OF Aguii
naldo," the chief said, touching the
edge Of his jewel.hilted bolo to ascer.
tain its condition, ''and I claim the
rewardi Hasten, else shall have to
expedite the matter myself"
Don Basilio was trapped. He had
to open his desk and count out the
sum in Spanish gold. Aguinaldo
punctiliously wrote o receipt, coolly
counted the money and walked back.
ward toward the door. He suddenly
opened it and dashed ont, just ahead
Of pistol bullet that cut his locks on
the temples. Captain. General Pola-
vieja offered him and Alexandra q free
pardon and $40, 900 each to quit the
colony. They accepted and got the
money, only to learn that they were
both to esassassinated the next night
at fiesta. The two men who had 1
undertaken the job were found dead,
stabbed to the heart, in their beds.
On the lariss handle was bitof paper
with line, saying "Bewars Of the
Malay's vengeance.
Polavieja resigned and returned to
Spain. being succeeded by General
formerly captain-general OF
Barcelona. Againaldo is about twenty
eight years old.