Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-07-16
HOW SPAIN SLAUCHTERS.
Her Brutal Treatment of the Philippin,
Rebels In Manila Prison.

IeF brutaI IfeutnenJ OF Vue inllppIn6
Rebels In Manila Prison.
The announcement that more than a
hundred rebels and suspected
rebels had been deliberately sutfocated
in the famous Ozark Hole of Manila"
in one night was given only passing
notice by these officers of a supposed
ly chivalrous people. This most ter
rible affair-the darkest chapter in the
whole rebellion, with its many inquisi-
tional features-was mere incident
to their minds. They knew these I'M.
fortunate men had been thrown into a
pestilential dungeon-the old inquisi.
tional prison in the base of the main
Notifications, on the Pasig River, q
dark and unsanitary hole below the
ground level, unused for more than a
hundred years, with stagnant water,
poisoned, sitting atmosphere, inhab-
tied by rats and other vermin-and
there allowed to die. These Spanish Off.
GERS had heard that the miserable crea-
lures called piteously for air during
that long and awful night, and that in
stead of humane response to their
dying appeals their condition was
made still more terrible when, acting
upon the order of heartless lieuten-
ant the sentinel in charge covered up
the only airhole in the dungeon.
The incongruity of the Spanish
character was clearly illustrated
through the medium of the many pub.
lie executions at Manila. These exc
cutions were generally made the oc-
easion for quite jubilee-a turnout
of the elite, gala day, time for re-
joicing. The fact that there was to be
an execution was prominently, JOY.
ously announced, officially and other
wise, in the local newspapers. There
was at least one military band in evil
dence, and the morning when unfor.
tunates who had protested against
Spanish misrule were to be shot found
the Spanish colors flying from a great
many buildings, and the warships in
the harbor dressed" The Philip
pine capital had holiday aspect
There was one occasion when thir-
teen leading members of the secret
revolutionary society, the Catapunan,
We're executed. There was not sin
gle instance at this execution where
the unfortunate was killed by the first
volley. In majority of cases three
or four volleys were required, and in
one instance five volleys were fired
before the surgeon declared the man
dead. The announcement that all
were dead was the signal for music by
the band-gay, triumphal music.
Probably the most horrible exhibit
ton was that of seven months ago,
when lad apparently not more than
eighteen years of age was executed.
The body fell to the ground when the
first volley was fired, but he was not
MORALLY wounded. A second volley
was fired at closer range, but the un.
fortunate fellow twisted and writhed
in his agony, and another volley was
ordered. The surgeon made motion
that the bandmaster mistook for sig
nal that the boy was dead. A gay
Spanish air was struck up, and the
regiment of troops doing guard duty
started to march away. The surgeon,
observing that life was not extinct, or
dered member of the firing squad to
put the muzzle of his rifle into the mis-
cradle boys mouth and fire. The head
was practically blown off.-Review OF
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