The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-12
SWORD CANES IN MANILA.
Priests Suspected by Colorado Volunteers
of Smuggling Weapons.

MANILA, Dec. 30.-Two companies OF the First
Colorado Volunteer Infantry are quartered in
the rambling old convent adjoining the Church
Of San Sebastian. On the broad stone coping
In front OF the big iron church several Jolly
faced. well-fed. black-gowned priests may be
seen every evening shortly after the ringing Of
the angelus pacing of their exercise. smoking
and chatting. They occupy rs living quarters
a room in the convent. The rooms and re-
sounding balls all around them are filed with
soldiers and for mural decorations there are
c~anteens and haversncks.
Jolly as they seem. tho priests OF tho San
Sebastian parish have fallen under the sus-
picion of smuggling arms into the city Of
Manila for the Filipinos. Since occupying the
city. the United States soldiers have devoted
their attention to guarding the outskirts and
the wharves to see that no person bearing arms
OF any sort enters the city. Guns have been
cOnflscated. and also long. ugly knives and
cartridge belts. 1t has been kept well in mind
that the favorite weapon OF the Filipino Is the
machete, and particular pains have been taken
to see that machetes do not appear in Manila.
II the suspicion against the San Sebastian
priests is correct. It will be discovered that 1t
has been their object to arm the Filipinos with
long. keen machetes. These weapons are at
present handled and passed about under the
very noses OF the soldiers in the form OF limo
cent-looking walking sticks.
Sword canes are not unknown in America,
but there they have never been considered
very dangerous weapons; With the simple
the body Of the cane and there follows it from
the scabbard the hollow body Of the canel a
long sword. exceedingly sle4dcr, but capable
the soldiers lodged in the San Sebastian Con-
vent began to notice that an unusual number
ments Of he priests and not reappearing. They
were either carried in bundles, under the arms
along III the hands of some visiting priest from a
nctghboring parish: II was also noticed that
on 54o beh wSdp t Re" closed %. i" d5Sr G Of t6c s Mnde r %@@s
left to the priests by the soldiers when they
took UP their quarters In the convent no one
cion. prowled close TO the door Of the room one
gloomy evening and came. suddenly upon a
or had probably knocked and was waiting for
the tIit bolt To t. l be sIipIPed back BY an 2eeupapt
careIessly twirled D cane in his hands and.
humming to himself, he was seen TO twist at
the handle and draw partly from, Its sheath the
siipTpcd ''iftoEti a@eEk war; WIFI a o HS '9 The door II S S"a
opened, he passed inside and it closed and was
This is the excuse for a sentinel post that was
suddenly establishes in front Of the convent
ment.. Every two hours this guard is relieved.
aud his whispered orders to the fresh man are:
See that no sHispiclous:looking waking sticks
San SehaStian's Church is one OF the promi-
nrnt IN OF newer Manila. 1t wab built
Il few years ago and entirely Of iron. The plates
and parts were manufactured In Germany and
brought to the Philippines TO be set up. Bolted
and braced as II ls, the worst earthquake ever
known hero could shake IL down with diff
Guilty, The parish contains some Of the we'll
to-do Spaniards Of Manila.
As to the attitude OF the priests toward the
soldiers, II appears TO be entirely friendly. Al
though the men are never allowed 10 enter the
private room OF the padres. the priests circu-
late among the men and GndeaYor to pick nm
what bits Of English they may One of their
number. who IL especially fond Of moments
sp"nt AT the dining table, has even been known
t",sit IN until the small hours Of the morning
ldklliE. part IN a surreptitipus feast and reypl
OF u select party VI enlisted men.