davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Van Buren press., 1899-02-11
Manila Full of does.

Manila, Feb. S.-There are many in
dication that Manila is full of despera-
does who had intended to cooperate
with Aguinaldo. The police are con-
tinually capturing men and women
with weapons concealed in their cloth
ing.
Last Saturday about midnight two
Englishmen accidentally encountered
a gang of armed natives in dark side
street The natives, fearing discovery.
imprisoned them until morning and
threatened to kill them unless they
maintained silence.
Many native clerks, employed by
mercantile houses, are missing. As it
is impossible that they should have
passed the lines, the inference is that
they are in hiding in the city.
Several attempts were made to assas-
sinate Americans on the street, but that
danger is now at minimum. The ma
tives are terribly cowed. and the pre-
cautions taken, especially against in
cendiarism, are admirable.
The rebels, who have been swept in
every direction, like pheasants in
battle, die by the hundreds in the
trenches-for the most part passively,
except the Ygorotes who charge des-
perately and uselessly.
The Van Buren press., 1899-02-11
TERRIBLE FILIPINO LOSSES.
Dead and Wounded Everywhere-TerribI
Execution by "A River Gunboat

Manila, Feb. 7.-Street car traffic
bic loss of the rebels may be gath
cred from the fact that 16 of them
were buried in one rice field on Mon
day near Paras, and that 81 were in
tered between Paco and Santa Ana.
a converted river gunboat did terri
BILE execution among the rebels. sweep
ing both banks of the river with her
Calling guns and her heavier battery.
Hundreds of Filipinos Undoubtedly
crawled into the cane brakes and died
there.
The Americans are working nobly
in their efforts to find the wounded,
and are bringing hundreds of suffer
ing rebels to the hospitals for treat
ment The natives are unable to un-
derstand the humane motives which
prompt the victors to succor the
wounded of the enemy.
Members of the hospital corps have
made the startling discovery that there
are many women, in male dress, and
with hair cropped, among the dead.
The chief of the Ygorotes, the Fill
pino natives, who fought so gallantly
in the face of our artillery fire, with
their bows and arrows, is in a hos
pital with a shattered thigh. He ad-
mits that he never saw modern artil-
lery, and was ignorant of its effects
until he and his followers met the
disastrous fire of Sunday morning.
The chief is bitterly incensedagainst
the Tagalos for placing the ygorotes
in front of the American battery, un-
der the pretenses that they were sent
to occupy a post of honor, and he in
timated that the Ygorotes will avenge
this treachery when the survivors re-
turn north.
II is regarded as a significant fact
that many of the Filipino officials of
this city disappeared from Manila AZ
soon a. hostilities commenced. Some
The Van Buren press., 1899-02-11
WE'RE Fighting SAVAGES.
A Wounded American Captured,
Murdered and Horribly Mt
tilated by Filipinos.
INCIDENT OF TAKING OF WATER WORKS.
The American Lines Pushing Out and the
FIlipinos sullenly Falling Back-Bni-
Ietin from Gen. Otis Giving an Estimate
of Our Own and the Eaemy's Losses In
the Fighting.

Mania Web. 7, 10: 80 a. m.-Late yes
terday Gen. Hale's brigade advanced
and took the water works at Singalon.
-Four companies of the Nebraska reg
iment and a part of the Utah battery,
with two field guns and two Hotch-
kiss guns met the enemy on the hill,
a half mile out, and sharp engage
ment tok place in which the Nebras-
kans lost one dead and three wounded.
WE'RE FIGHTING SAVAGES.
DIR. Young, formerly quartermaster
sergeant in the Third artillery, was
wounded, captured and brutally muir
dered, and his body, when recovered,
was found to have been horribly mu-
tilated. The Filipinos were driven
back, retiring in bad order, and car
rying with them the valves and heads
of the steam chest and cylinder of the
pumping machinery.
Gen. 0vershine's brigade advanced
and took Paranaque, capturing two
field guns. They met with no oppo-
sition.
Gen. McArthur's division advanced
beyond Gagalangin without loss the
enemy retreating upon Caloocan.
AMERICANS PUSHING OUT.
The Americans now have possession
of the steam car line to Malabon, and
600 marines, with four MaXims, have
been landed from the fleet on the
beach, on the north of the city.
The Third artillery on the main
road and the Utah battery, in a cem-
etery, covered the advance of the Kan
sas troops
Among the important points cap
tured was a strong embrasured earth
work within sight of Caloocan.
There was considerable firing from
the upper windows of the houses in
the native quarter of the city last
night, but no casualties have been re-
ported as the result.
SIGNAL CORPS WORK.
The signal corps were compelled to
run their lines along the firing line
during the fighting, and consequently
there were frequent Interruptions OF
communication, owing to the cutting
of the wires, and the signal men were
ordered to kill without any hesitancy
anyone who attempted to interfere
with the lines.
The Van Buren press., 1899-02-11

"oh, It's lovelyl" replied the widow.
IL like snow"
$50 do I. You got much to do In
town."
mo; III be through with all OF my
errands in an hour. | can let some
thing go II you don't want to stay In
town that long"
70. that'll be none too long for me.
Where shall I meet you?"
"I'll be at Smith & Hanscom's dry
goods store any time you say"
we'll call II IL o'clock, then"
It was three minutes after II when
Jared drove up to the appointed place
of meeting. The widow had stepped
into the sleigh and he was tucking the
robes in around her when she said:
There. Jared, I'm just like other
women; I've forgotten something"
"What is it?"
81 forgot TO go around to the post Of
fee. | know that there's nothing there
for me. because one of the Stone boys
brought my mail out last night, and
there's no mail trains In until noon; but
poor old Jane Carr came over just be-
fore | left and wanted me to be sure
and see If there was letter for her.
Her daughter is very sick out west, and
she hasn't had letter for week, and
she's half wild. 1 couldn't bear to tell
her I'd forgotten TO go TO the Office"
"Ill drive around that way" said
Jared. at won't be three blocks out of
the way"
Two or three boys stood idling in
front of the post office, and Jared said
to one of them he chanced to know:
"Say, Jimmie, run into the office and
see If there's any letter for Mrs. Jane
Carr. You needn't ask for me, for I've
been around and got my mail"
"You might look In box 1884," said
Mrs. Darby. "Mebbe there's drop let
ter for me-"
The boy came out a moment later
with very large square white envelope
in one hand and a small blue envelope
in the other. He grinned as be handed
them to Mrs. Darby. She glanced at
the blue envelope and said, joyfully:
"Oh, here's a letter for Jane, and it's
from her daughter. know by the post
mark. How glad Jane will bel And
here-well, | declared"
She burst into a merry laugh as she
looked at the big white, embossed en-
velope. The boy had told the truth
when he had gone back to his comrades
and said with litter:
she's got valentinel"
who In the land ever sent me that
thing?" said Mrs. Darby, holding the
envelope out at arms length. Il didn't
even know it was Valentines day. If it
isn't the greatest idea that | should get
a valentine"
81 don't know why you shouldn't
said Jared.
The Van Buren press., 1899-02-11
BULLETIN FROM GEN. OTIS.
Estimate of the Enemy's Strength and OF
the Casualties on Both Sides.

Washington, Feb. The war de-
partment has received the following
dispatch from Gen. Otis
manila, Feb. 7.-Adjutant General
Washington: The insurgent army
concentrated around Manila from
Luzon provinces, numbering over 20,-
900, possessing several quick-firing
and Krupp field guns. A good portion
of enemy are armed with Mausers of
the latest pattern. Two Krupp guns
and great many rifles were captured.
The insurgents fired a great quantity
of ammunition. There are quite a
number of Spanish soldiers in the in
surgents' services, who served the
artillery. The insurgents construct
ed strong intrenchments near
ments near our lines, mostly in BAN
boo thickets. These our men charged,
killing or capturing many of the enc
my. Our casualties probably aggre-
gate $50. Full reports to-day. The
casualties of the insurgents are very
heavy. Have buried some 500 of their
dead and hold 500 prisoners. Their
losses in killed, wounded and prison
ers is probably 1000 We took the
water works pumping station yester-
day, six miles out. There was consid-
erable skirmishing with the enemy,
who made no stand. The pumps are
damaged, but will be working in a
week. We have a number of condensers
set up in the city, which furnish good
water. The troops are in excellent
spirits Quiet prevails.
[Signed. OTIS.
The Van Buren press., 1899-02-11
HEAD-END COLLISION
Two Men Killed, Two Fatally and sevs,..
Severely Iniured-Asleep at
Their Posts,

Little Rock, Ark, Feb. s.-A do.
trous collision between passann
train and an extra freight oecnrr.3
early yesterday morning on the o.s
tlal division of the st. Louis T..
Mountain & Southern railroad n..
Pollock, La. AS result two men wo..
instantly killed, two were fatally !.
iured, another seriously wounded .,a
several badly shaken up.
A number of passengers were seyar.
ly shaken up by the shock, but nm.
were seriously hurt.
The collision occurred about bslt
way between Patterson switch ana
Pollock. Both trains were running ..
a high rate of speed when the crash
came, and it is miraculous that anv
person aboard either escaped ininrr
Engineer Gregory and Fireman McCov
Jumped to save their lives after 70.
versing the engine and doing all tbev
could to save their train. They waited
too long, however, and were caught IN
the debris. Engineer Watkins and
Fireman Hoyste remained at thei,
posts and were crushed to death in the
wreck. 1t is believed that both Wat.
kins and Hoyste were asleep when the
collision occurred.
The extra freight. south-bound. in
charge of Conductor Farrar and Eng.
neer Watkins, had orders to meet pas
senger train Ne. 222 at Patterson's
spur. The crew was evidently asleep
as no stop was made at the meeting
point, and the train was running at a
rapid rate when a few miles beyond
the switch it crashed into the passen.
ger train. Both engines were badly
wrecked.
The baggage car was completely tel.
escoped by the express car. Baggage.
man Baker was caught in the wreck.
age and terribly wounded
The dead and wounded were taken
to Alexandria, where they are being
properly cared for. A relief train
reached the scene at ten o'clock, and
physicians looked after the injuries Of
the passengers. 1t was late yes.
terday afternoon that the track was
cleared The freight cars were badly
wrecked, being piled high up, and i
will take several days to clear away thu
debris.
The Van Buren press., 1899-02-11
GEN. OTIS LEGAL STATUS.
State and War Department Officials
Bold a Consultation on
the Subject.
AFAcT MoMENTARILY LOST SIGHT OF.
The Treaty Must be Ratified by both far
tics tn IL BEFORE We are In Full Control
OF the Philippines Nothing, However
to Prevent Him from Maintaining Order
In the Islands by Force IL Necessary.

Washington, Feb. 8.-The authorl-
ties of the state and war department
were in consultation on the legal
status of Gen. Otis, in view OF the
protocol which binds the American
forces to maintain the status quo III
the Philippines till after the ratifiea-
ton of the treaty by Spain and the
United States. The fact that the
treaty must be ratified by both par
ties to the contract was momentarlly
lost sight of by many persons in the
first flush of excitement of its ratlh-
cation by the senate, and it was com
monty remarked by army officers and
others in the department that the
Philippines "Now being American ter
ritory'' Gen. Otis was at liberty to
handle the Filipinos as he would an
Indian outbreak.
BOTH PARTIES MUST RATIFY.
The fact, however, is that the Phil
ippines do not become American terri
tory till after the treaty has been rati-
fed by the Spanish cortes. 1t was
said at the state department that
while the Americans are still bound BY
yhe protocol there is nothing in that
document to prevent the American
commander from maintaining order in
the islands and he, in fact, is COM
PEELED by the terms OF the protocol to
do so. In carrying out this obligation
he is not confined to Manila, but may
extend his lines wherever necessary to
preserve order and prevent the reas-
sembling and further preparation of
any persons who have violated the
peace agreement or who are preparing
to do so again.
AN ARMY OFFICERS VIEW.
This polite statement of the legal
authorities of the department was sup
plemented by the brusque remark of
one of the army officers who was n
party to the conference that "Gen.
Otis jurisdiction extends beyond his
outposts, 1000 yards with the sight
up. wherever he happens to be-
The decision regarding the protoeo.
and the status quo in the Philippines.
it is said, applies also to the case OF
Agoncillo and his agents in this eoun-
try and Canada. They are not citi-
zens of the United States in rebellion,
whatever else they may be. As a mat
ter of fact, they are not giving the ad.
ministration much concern, and are
not receiving any particular attention
beyond being kept under surveillance
by the secret service men so that
hands can be laid on them whenever
they are wanted. This latter eontin.
gency applies, of course, only to the
two very lonely Filipinos remaining in
Washington, one sick and both very
badly scared.
The Van Buren press., 1899-02-11
HER LAST VALENTINE.
1t Helped Disappointed Little
Woman to Die Easier
when 1t Came.

They knew she was dyirg-the faded
little woman in the faded little bed
room. She had clung to life as long
as she could, hoping for an answer to
that wistful prayer in her eyes. But
the struggle was almost over now; the
wistful eyes were growing dim.
"Seel I've got something for ye,
Liddyl" The little circle of spinster
relatives and kindly neighbors parted,
and good Uncle Silas Peterson came
wheeling 10 the bedside, the snow Still
clinging to his rough oyercoat. He car.
ried letter in his hand-a coarse and
dirty envelope addressed in the crude.
sprawiing penmanship of a man whom
neither life nor education has ripened
or refined.
TITS from 0rson-Orson, you know"
Uncle Silas added, bending over the
couch and addressing the dying woman
with the tender directness one uses to
children-and death.
"Orson?" A smile flashed over the
ashen face, and the woman lifted 8
feeble hand for the letter She kissed
1t and tucked 1t under the thin shawl
that some loving hand had wrapped
over her shoulders
"Shan't I open 1t for we, Liddy?"
asked one of the women.
The dying eyes said NO"
''She thinks it's valentine from her
husband" whispered one of the neigh
bors. To-day is Valentine day, you
know. Last year remember her tell
ing me how she wished Orson would
send her valentine-just some little
thing TO show her that he loved her
the way he did when they were first
married"
Most likely It's a note sayin' he'll
stay over night and see the races on the
ice tomorrow" was the guarded reply
The dying woman folded her shawl
tightly round the precious letter. 4
look of perfect peace lighted her face.
"He does love me" she whispered, "just
as he used tol"
Uncle Silas turned away to wipe the
mist from his spectacles. There was a
little futtering sigh from the bed.
"Liddy" had gone home.
When they drew the old shawl from
her shoulders, there, tight pressed
against her heart by both thin blue
yeined hands, was Orson's crumpled
dirty letter. They were scarcely able
to take 1t away from her slender, cling
ing fingers.
Shall we open it?" asked Miss Pen
niman. The women looked furtively
at one another, their curiosity strug.
CLING with their reverence
mo- said Miss Daggett, at last.
TITS hers-sacred. No matter what 1t
says. She died thinkin' it was val
entine. Let's burn it up, so nobody will
ever know"
The ashes of the unread letter flut-
tered white about the stove for a few
minutes, and then whirled up the chin
ney, as gust of February wind roared
over the house. And the little, worn.
out, heart-hungry woman lay smiling
as death had found her-James Buck
ham, in Detroit Free Press.
The Van Buren press., 1899-02-11
of them are supposed to be still hid
ing there.
CONDITIONS IN MANILA.
street Car Traffic Resumed-White fiags
Evervybere-Treache Shooting.

Manila. Feb. S.-Street car trafhc
has been resumed and the cars are
running regularly, though the streets
are almost deserted. There are a Jew
native stores open and white flags, IN
the nature of towels, pillowslips and
aprons tied to bamboos, adorn the
windows of the native residences every
where. But, in spite of these EN-
blems of peace, scores of Filipinos' un-
der the cover of the darkness, fired
from these same windows Monday and
Monday evening on the American pa
troll. At nine o'clock Monday night
there was a general fusillade in the
Quiapo and Binon districts. The IN
habitants of the city generally be-
lieved that a battle was raging at their
doors. lights were extinguished IN
side the dwellings and majority OF
the people were in state of terror
Under the circumstances it is remark
able that no casualties were reported.
Several shots were fired across the
river during the excitement.
Gen. Hughes has the interior situa'
ton absolutely in hand
The Van Buren press., 1899-02-11

Jared was not, like most avowed wom-
en- haters, grabbed, cross-grained,
sneeringly, cynical man, which made
his celibacy all the more objectionable
In the eyes of the matchmakers.
He'd make a real good husband IL
he'd try" they said. "Then he has the
incest farm in the neighborhood, with
one of the best houses on It, and money
out at interest, although he's not bit
mean and stingy. He'll do his full share
always for a neighbor in distress. 1t
isn't because he's too stlngy to support
her that Jared doesn't get him a wife"
1t was a clear, crisp morning in Feb
ruary when Jared rode to the village
with the Widow Darby seated beside
him in his neat little cutter. The sleigh
ing was fine and the air keen and exhil-
arating. 1t gave the widows plump
cheeks a beautiful crimson glow and
made her black eyes sparkle. She was
in high spirits and her laugh rang out
frequently as merry and ripping as
the laugh of a child.
But then the Widow Darby was pro-
verbally CHEEKY. She had suffered
keenly the loss of her husband and
both of her children, but time had
softened her grief, and she was too wise
TO spend her life in gloom and grief
over the loss Of those who were beyond
all care and sorrow.
She had comfortable little home and
q few acres of land adjoining Jared
kent's. She had known Jared all of her
life, but not once had she thought of
hir, as a possible successor to joel
Darby.
Jared will never marry anyone"
Ehe had said. "He isn't Of a marrying
disposition. Some men are that way.
It's all they lack TO make 'em what God
intended they should be. My husband
and l used TO talk over Jared a good
deal, and we did our full share to get
him settled for life with a good wife.
We used TO invite lots of nice girls.
young and elderly both, to our house
and then have Jared come over to tea
aud to play croquet with him. He'd be
nice and pleasant and all that, but he
never came anyways near falling into
eny Of the traps we set for him. We
thought once that he did take kind OF
shine TO nice, sweet, real cookbook
In girl Of about 30 named Janet Deane.
from over Shelby way. who was visiting
US. She'd Of made him an awful good
wife, and sung her praises all the time.
but nothing came Of It,"
Its an elegant morning, isn't it?"
said Jared. as he and the widow few
along over the hills and through long
la@es in which the snow was drifted al.
lnoas TO the top rAill Of the fences
The Van Buren press., 1899-02-11
EFFECT OF THE SENTENCE.
Does NOT Deprive Gen. Eagsn OF His
Salary, But withholds Allow
snces, IA Big Item

Washington, Feb. SIT was stated
by the adjutant general that Gen.
Eagans suspension carries him to
within few days OF his retirement
under the age limit. He will be re-
lnstated in time to retire with the reg
uiar rank and pay provided in such
cases The sentence of suspension, ac-
cordlng to legal officers of the depart
ment' does not deprive Gen. Eagan Of
any part of his pay, but as the sen
tence reads without rank and duty"
he loses his allowances, which include
commutation of quarters, rations and
fuel and his horse allowances. This is
quite a large financial item.
The Van Buren press., 1899-02-11
Aguinaldo Commanded that Friendly Re
lations be Broken.

Manila, Feb. s.-Aguinaldo's procla.
nation of Saturday says:
"First-That peace and friendly re.
lations with the Americans be broken
and that the latter be treated as enc.
mics within the limits prescribed by
the laws of war.
"Second-That the Americans can.
tured be held as prisoners of war.
"Third-That this proclamation he
communicated to the consuls and thai
congress order and accord a suspen.
sion of the constitutional guarantee
resulting from the declaration of war y
The Van Buren press., 1899-02-11
VIII Remain ms Commission

washington, Feb. s.-The war de
partment has repudiated the name of
What has heretofore been known as
the colonial board" which was re-
Gently appointed to deal with insular
quesuons' and consisted of Messrs
Guild' Watkins and Kennedy. Mr.
oulld has declined his appointment,
and no other appointment will be made
20 MI his place. The other appointees
VIII remain not as a board or commits
son. but as advisors to the war de-
par'ment to pass upon whatever ques-
uons may be referred to them by the
president and the secretary of war.
The Van Buren press., 1899-02-11
THEY STOPPED AT JANE cARRs GATE

"0h, because but 1 guess some
child sent IT,"
maybe not"
mo one else could have had so little
gumptionl" said the widow with an
other laugh. Maybe there's one of
these comic valentines inside of it
some ridiculous thing about a widow
likely"
why don't you open it and see?"
~ will"
She burst into another laugh as she
drew forth a dainty creation of lace
paper, tinsel and bright colored em-
bossed pictures.
How perfectly ridiculous!" she said.
The idea of anyone being ninny
enough to send an old woman like me a
thing like thatl"
You're not an old woman"
I'm 45l"
We'll, I'm older than that, and |
don't call myself an old man. Many a
woman around here would be glad TO
get valentine like that If the sender
really meant it,"
Yes, and If you were the sender"
I'm not vain enough to think that
and not foolish enough to say it if did
think IT,"
No, don't think that you are, Jared.
But | wonder who could have sent me
this. The writing on the envelope is
evidently disguised, and-O, here is
something insidel Let's see what it
says.
% wilt thou be my valentine
Forever and forever aye,
And wilt thou take this heart OF mine,
And give me thine to-dayT"
There was another verse but before
she had read it, the Widow Darby cried
out: Jared Kent, that's your hand
writing and you need not try to deny
itl"
I'm not trying TO deny it. You'll
find my name signed in full to the next
verse on the other page" This was the
next verse:
II yes my answer is to be.
Ny heart with Joy will fll.
II no, l yet shall be your friend
And l shall love you still"
They had reached the outskirts of the
town now. Jared brought the horse TO
standstill, and said:
Us it yes or no, Lucy?"
She looked at him with shining ewes,
and laughing face for moment. Then
she laid one of her mittened hands on
the sleeve of the great fur coat be wore.
and said:
Il think il is yes, Jared"
He turned his horses head toward
the town.
Where are you going?" she asked
Back to the ministers. It's Valen-
The Van Buren press., 1899-02-11
AGUINALDo PRoCLAlMs.
Declares the Americans Opened the Fight
Machinery Parts Recovered.

Manila, Feb. 7.-3:40 p. m.-Aguin-
aldo, the rebel leader, issued two proc
lamations on Saturday and Sunday
The first declares the Americans
opened the fight and calls upon the
Filipino congress to suspend the con-
stitution.
The second says: I'VE have fought
our ancient oppressors without arms
and we now trust to God to defend us
against the foreign foe
The Nebraskans have recovered the
lost parts of the pumping machinery
of the water works, which assures a
speedy resumption of the water sup
ply of the city.