Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-03-02
NIGHT OF DREAD IN MANILA
Native Rebels Start Destructive Fires
Throughout The City.
FIREBUGS SHOOT AT THE TROOPS
The Latter Fight BraveIy and
Finally Win.
OUTSIDE REBELS ALSO TAKE A HAND

Manila, Feb. s3.-7.50 a. m.-Last
night was one OF terror TO thousands of
the Inhabitants of Manila, the rebels
making good their oft-repeated threats
to the extent of burning acres Of build
ings, wounding an officer and three
men by firing through windows during
the excitement.
At 8 o'clock an incendiary fire &C.
CURED in a block of brick buildings
occupied by Chinese on the Gale
LeCoste, in the Santa Cruz district. 4
stiff breeze was blowing and the in
fammability of the structures caused
the blaze to spread with alarming
rapidity. The city fire department
was hopelessly incompetent and the
English volunteer brigade from Santa
Mesa was summoned and with modern
engine pumping adequate streams from
the canal succeeded after four hours
work in getting the blaze under con-
troll.
Meantime the entire block and the
greater part of two others across the
street were completely Quilted
Hundreds of inhabitants were rem
dered homeless.
The Chinese and natives lined the
fearing a general confiagration, re-
moved their furniture and other porta-
BILE goods in every direction, within a
radius of quarter of mile, when the
alarm was first given.
FIGHTING THE FLAMES.
Gen. Hughes personally superintendent
the police arrangements. The whole
city was thoroughly patrolled and
guards were doubled. Every available
man was despatched to the region of
the fire.
Impediments were placed in the way
of the firemen and the hose was cut
five different times. This resulted in
all the natives being driven off the
streets, those in the immediate vicinity
Of the blaze being corralled in vacant
lots and guarded until excitement was
over. In many instances the natives
4 wes insolent and paid no regard to
the orders given them and the soldiers
were compelled to use harsh measures.
The butts of their rifles and their
bayonets were freely applied.
The danger from live electric light
wires necessitated the closing of The
circuit in the burning region, and the
only light in certain parts of the city
was that furnished by the blaze.
Shortly after midnight another big
fire was started in the Tondo District
where the natives are thickest anc
when the firemen aud soldiers at
tempted to work, regular fusllade o.
rifle and revolver shots was fired from
the windows and roofs of the buildings
TROOPS FIGHT THE FiREBUGs.
The firemen, escorted by soldiers
proceeded to clean out the houses Will,
the fire was unheeded. The Thirteenth
Minnesota was reinforced by detach
ments from the Third Infantry, tn
Second Oregon, the Third Artillery ant
The Tenth Pennsylvania. Bullets few
in every direction, in almost ever
street in the Tondo and Binondo dis
tr.cts, causing the most intense excite
ment Capt Robinson, Co. G, Thir
teenth Minnesota. and three men wer
wounded.
Many timid persons, imagining tina
the rebels had effected an entranc
through the American lines and wer
advancing into the city, hurried fran
tically for their hotels and houses, onl
to be stopped at the first corner by
guard. The sounding of native bugl
call, Immediately preceding the firing
lent color to the story. Thousands {
Chinese crossed bridges and plaza
under fire, hurrying with their bundle
to the Chinese consulate. All nigh
long the fire spread through the Tond
district, sweeping away rows of house
and deyasting acres of territory.
The damage was inestimable. Wit
daylight punitive measures were d,
cided upon. and the Americans, thong
tired after their sleepless nights worl
soon cleared the district of evel
native, after slight resistance.
WORRYING TACTICS OUTSIDE THE LINE
sos p. m.-With daylight this morl
ing the enemy commenced worryiI
tactics at various parts of the Amer
can line. apparently for the purpose
withdrawing attention from affairs il
side the city.
An attempt was made to ru:
through our extreme left, near Gallo
can, but it was promptly checked by
hot and effective musketry and arti
lery fire.
In the meantime small bodies
rebels, evidently some of those engag
last night in the cowardly work
Tondo, spread out between the city al
the outposts. Every available mi
was sent to drive them away, with t
result that there was desulIory fri
all the morning.
From 8 to TO- 30 a. m., the Unit
States CONTAMINATED monitor Mona
mock Joined in the engagement, hurli
s 10-inch shells over the American liz
into bodies Of the enemy as indicat
by the signal corps
So far our casualties are one m
killed and 10 men wounded.
DRIVEN BACK AFTER SHARP FrGH
At IL o'clock there we're sharp enga,
ments at the Chinese cemetery and
palra Maaafi al -;, ~
ously, but the artillery from both pc
tions drove the enemy back.
From the high towers of the c
fires can be seen burning at do,
different points outside. Some of tn
Gre probably due to the Monadnoc
shells.
omciai News From General OTIS.
Washington, Feb. 23.-Gen. Otis