The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-12-12
AFRAID OF UNCLE SAM
ENGLAND ORDERED DOWN HER
FLAG.
she said the Suiu Islands, Too. We're
Ours Captain of British Merchant
Steamer Gave the Flag to Natives to
Raise for Protection. "

On the departure of the Spaniards
the inhabitants of some of the Sulu
Islands, notably Palawan. Balbabac
and Kulion, applied for British protec-
ton, and Capt. Pfort of the British
steamer Labuan, visiting Palawan in
response TO the urgent request of the
natives, handed to the latter a British
nag, 10 be used in case of emergency.
On the matter being reported to Sir
Charles Mitchell, governor Of the
Straits, and subsequently to the for
elgn office, the latter telegraphed to
Singapore orders thar the British flag
should at once be hauled down. and ac-
cordlng to advices Just received in Lon
don, II. M. S. Archer was dispatched
to Port Royalist, Palawan. to haul
down the flag. From the report of
Capt. Pfort it appears that it was only
on seeing the really critical state of
affairs that he gave the flag to the ma
yves. The Iabuan called at Port Roy
allst, Palawan, on February /, and
found the people in great consterna-
tlon. The Spaniards had left three
months previously, saying that the
Americans would take over the gov
eminent in three days On leaving, the
Spaniards turned adrift, without food,
clothes or money all the native SOL
diers. The convicts, too, were set at
liberty, and all arms and ammunition
having been removed the people were
entirely at the mercy of the disbanded
soldiers and freed convicts. who loot
ed and pillaged the whole country. On
MS arrival Capt. Pfort was asked by
the mead man there if the governor of
Sandakan would afford them protec-
ton, and he. in reply, suggested that
a letter In that sense should be dis
patched to the governor of Sandakan.
capt. Pfort also handed to them a Brit
ism merchant ensign with instructions
TO inform anyone seeking to modest
them that the people were under Brit
lsh protection. He also gave to them
this letter: BE it known unto all men
that |, Captain Pfort. master of the
BRUSH steamer Labuan, having arrived
at this port and found the people de-
sirous of British protection, have this
day given to the president of this port
British flag. which | have instructed
MIN to use and call upon all men to re-
spect the same until such time as Her
Britannia Majesty, Queen Victoria,
notifies her pleasure regarding the pro-
lection of this port and the Island of
Palawan in general" After leaving
Port Royalist the Labuan called at
Curaray and Jilandak ports, on the
northwest coast of Palawan, and found
similar condition of things. the people
being in terror in the mountains. Pro-
ceeding to Kulion. an island seventy
miles north of Palawan, Capt. Pfort
found a local republic set up under
Aguinaldo. From this place he took on
board mis- steamer a number of refu-
gees The dispatch from Lord Sails
bury to Sir Charles Mitchell in refer
ence to Capt. Pfort's action simply or
dered the flag to be hauled down. and
added that the British government dis
approved of Capt. Pfort's action. Her
majesty government stated that Pala-
wan and the adjacent islands. being
portions of the Philippines. became by
virtue of conquest. American territory.