The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-12-15
The Head Of a Rebel.
BY R. Clyde Ford.
THIS is not really my own story-it


is all in the family may as well tellit;
and, besides, it has special interest now,
when so many people in this land are
looking and longing across the Pacific
to where our flag floats over Manila bay.
In the year 1912, my grandfather.
young man of 20, shipped as common
sailor on the three-masted ship Polly
Ann, of New Bedford, bound from New
York to the Philippines with a cargo
of -four. The voyage was uneventfuI.
and 1876 days after passing Sandy Hook
the Polly Ann dropped anchor in Paslg
river, Manila.
During the ships stay there. GRANDPA
Their, who was of an investigating dis
position, looked the city over pretty
well, and believing there were chances
for a wideawake Yankee to make for
tune in the islands. he quilted the ship
and took service with trading firm on
the harbor front. In ten years he was
manager of business of his own, and
a man of influence among the foreign
traders. &C.,.
AS his business grew he was unable
to manage all the details of the increas-
ing trade, and so called to his help a
young Filipino named Juan Aguado, a
bright young man, half Spanish. half
Malay, who had formerly been an IS
sistant in the packing house. Aguado
possessed polished, courtly manners,
and a good education; he had received
his schooling at a monastery-and
grandfather trusted him implicitly, for
in the course of time he made him chief
clerk and adviser.
Aguado was absolutely fearless-that
was where his Malay blood showed out,
grandfather would remark; when he
himself had occasion to refer to the
story. They were out hunting one day
in a jungle tract, some ten or fifteen
miles away from the city, when they
were charged by a maddened buffalo
that dashed out of water hole uron
them. They both ran for cover. 5ut
grandfather by some misstep tripped
on a vine and fell, and before he could
regain his feet the animal was upon
him. 1t was no time to use a gun-they
were armed with nothing but light
fowling pieces for pigeon shooting,
When grandfather fell, Aguado, VINO
was little behind him, made a leap to
one side to pass him; but he was rot
thinking of saving himself. Quickly
drawing his kris, which was another
mark of the Malay in him, he rushel
back upon the buffalo and stabbed it
through the neck again and again with
all the deXterity of a veteran matador.
The buffalo fell dead in its tracks and
grandfather crawled away with a
broken arm.
From that time on the two men were
like brothers. Juan seemed glad that
he had had an opportunity to show ais
regard for his employer and benefactor,
and grandfather was too much of a man
to be anything but generous to one who
had saved his life.
But it was about the end of their com
radeship. One day a native from up
country called at the warehouse for
Aguado. They retired to a distant part
of the building and talked long and
quietly together. Then the stranger
went away and the clerk returned to his
desk
That night. when it came time for
closing, Aguado said: "Senor, l must
leave you-I am wanted at home and il
will be useless to try to detain me-"
Grandfather was surprised beyond
belief. almost; but he did not try to dis
suade him. He paid his arrears of sal
airy, added handsome bonus, and said
good-by to the only man in the east of
whom he was truly fond.
Two years passed and not a word
came from Aguado; but that was not
very strange for the province where he
lived had been in open revolt for some
time, and as the fighting on both sides
was constant and relentless. communi-
cation with Manila was practically cut
off
However, as time went on the re-
bellion was crushed, and the insurgents
were scattered or captured. The leader
of the revolution, one LUZ Berceo, was
man of considerable generalship and
resources, for without munitions OF
money he had held his ground against
the Spaniards for long time. and had
intrigued successfully among the ma
tive troops sent to oppose him. But lie
could not hold out forever, and he, too
was fugitive.
Then it was that the government re
sorted to an eXpedient often tried III
Spanish countries for catching those
who will not surrender-a price was set
on Luiz Berceo's head. Placards were
posted in Manila and throughout the
islands wherever Spanish authority was
recognized, proclaiming a reward of
10000 Mexican dollars to the one who
would bring the head of the insurgent
leader to the authorities.
My grandfather had frequently seen
these announcements, and wondered
what sort of a man it was who caused
the captain general so much annoyance
Both the captain general and himself
were soon to know.
One afternoon the captain general sat
alone in his office. He was in a compla-
cent mood for certain documents ne
fore him related to the disposition o.
the surrendered insurgent bands who
had been harassng his chosen prov
ince for the last two years Suddenly,
INV he Joor