Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-10-28
A HEAD.

This is not really my own story--it
is my grandfather. Still, since it is all
in the family, I may as we'll tell it.,
and, besides, it has special interest
now, when so many people in this land
are looking and longing across the Pa
cifo to where our flag floats over Manila
bay
In the year 1s42 my grandfather, a
young man Of 30, 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 %uneventful, and
1876 days after passing Sandy Hook the
Polly Ann dropped anchor in Pasig
river, Manila.
During the ships stay there grand
father, who was Of an investigating dis.
position, looked the city over pretty
we'll, and, believing there were chances
for a wide awake Yankee to make a for
tune in the islands, he quit the ship
and took service with a trading firm OH
the harbor front. In ten years he was
manager of a business of his own and
a man Of influence among the foreign
traders. The Spaniards, too. looked up
to him and respected him.
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,
q bright young man, half Spanish, halt
Malay, who had formerly been an as
sistant in the packing house. Aguado
possessed polished, courtly manners and
a good education. He had received bis
schooling at a monastery, and GRANDPA
Their trusted him implicitly, for in the
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 10 or 10 miles
away from the city, when they were
charged by a maddened buffalo that
dashed out Of a water hole upon them.
They both ran for cover, but GRANDPA:
Their 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, who was a little behind
him, made a leap to one side to pass
him, but he was not thinking of saving
himself. Quickly drawing his creese,
which was another mark of the Malay in
him, he rushed 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 his tracks, and grandfather orawled
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 his
regard for his employer and benefaotor,
and grandfather was too much of a man
to be anything but generous to n who
had saved his life.
But it was about the end Of their oasa-
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, I must
leave you. l am wanted at home, and
it will be useless to try to detain me-"
Grandfather was surprised beyond be-
lief almost, but he did not try to dis
suade him. He paid bis arrears Of sal.
airy, added a handsome bonus and said
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 communioa-
tiou with Manila was practically cut
of.
However, as time went on the rebel.
lion was crashed, and the insurgents
were scattered or captured. The leader
Of the revolution, one Luiz Berceo, wa
a man Of considerable generalship and
resources, for without munitions or
money he had held his ground against
the Spaniards for a long time and had
successfully among the native
troops sent to oppose him. But he could
not hold out forever, and he, too, was q
fugitive.
Then it was that the government re.
to an expedient often cried in
countries for catching those
who will not surrender-a price was get
Luiz Berceo's head. Placards were
posted in Manila and throughout the
islands wherever Spanish authority was
recognized, proclaiming a reward Of
40, 900 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 q COM
plaoent mood, for certain documents be.
fore him related to the disposition Of
the surrendered insurgent bands who
had been harassing his chosen provinces
for the last two years Suddenly, with.