The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-02

northern point on the western coast,
and continue our journey south by land.
rms arrangement was accepted as the
most satisfactory one left open TO us.
The provinces of Isabella and Caga-
yam are the leading tobacco provinces
in the island. An idea of their wealth
can be obtained from the fact that be-
fore the Filipino instruction $4,000, 900
IN tobacco alone came yearly from the
one province of Isabella The tobacco
OF this province is preferred for eX-
portauon to that of Cagayan. Both
provinces raise also sugar, rice, cocoa
and coffee. Cattle also are shipped
from Apart.
The steamer Saturnas, which had
left the harbor the day before our ar
rival, brought news from Hong Kong
papers that the senators from the Unit
ed States at the congress of Paris ia
Vored the independence of the islands,
with an American protectorate. Col.
T1rona considered the information of
sufficient reliability to justify him in
regarding the Filipinos independence
as assured, and warfare in the island
at an end.
For this reason he proceeded to re-
lnquish the military command he held
over the provinces, and to place this
power in the hands of a civil officer
elected by the people, This officer also
disciplined military forces and their
colonel for the service they had rem
dered the province, and assured them
that the work they had begun would
be perpetuated by the people of the
province, where every man. woman
and child stood ready to take up arms
to defend their newly won liberty and
70 resist with the last drop of their
blood the attempt of any nation what
ever to bring them back to their form
er state dependence.
His speech was very imprisoned.
He then knelt, placed his hand on an
open Bible and took the oath of office
we were Hospitality entertained at
the aparria; two balls were given in
our honor, Phe town has population
OF 20,000 inhabitants. 1t has many
handsome houses and several well-de-
nned streets. The military force here
consists OF 800 soldiers, in addition to
which the harbor has the protection
OF the gunboat Philippine, which car
RES TWO guns of calibre of about
three inches.
! There are no Spaniards here, with
the exception of two or three mer-
chants; one of these, representing the
company of the steamer Saturnas, we
/ nave met He is pursuing his business
entirely unmolested.
| We left APART Nov 9, on the steam
er oslo. Before leaving Col Tirona
provided US with a letter directed to
Gol. limo at Vigan, in the province Of
locus Sur; or, in the event of his alb
sence from that town, to the command
ante This letter was sealed. The Oslo
| renamed outside the breakers. while
we We're put ashore in ships boat.
we passed several native canoes
going out to the ship, the leading one
having on board sergeant with a
SQUAD OF soldiers. We landed on the
peach and Immediately sent the boat
pack to the ship. A few minutes later
TWO ofhcers from the town of Cabuiao
fode up Our arrival had been report
ed to them, and they had come imme-
dlately to refuse us permission to dis
embark. The Oslo was already under
way, however, and they were not able
TO carry out their intention.
! We explained our position and
showed the letter to Col. Tino. or in
case of his absence to the commandant
at Vlgan They permitted us to pre-
ceed to Magsingal, where they could
communicate with their superior. They
very politely insisted on our taking
their carriage, while they followed in
our cart.
I'VE were delayed at Magsingal until
the early evening, waiting for an an
sWer from the commandante. He
brought the answer himself in hand
some carriage drawn by four horses.
he mad with him copy of the order
he had just received from the Filipino
secretary of war. This order granted
liberty to persons or any nation except
Spain, to travel at will through the is
lands, under certain restrictions. viz,
that they could not carry arms nor ap-
preach within 200 metres of fortifica-
ton, nor make any plans or take photo
graphs of them.
In compliance with this order, we
were allowed to proceed, but were re-
quested to give up all our arms, in
Guiding our reVolvers. We went on to
Vigan that night, accompanied by the
commandante and five other officers,
who had assembled at Magsingal.
We remained at Vigan all next day
NOV Il. 1t had rained during the
night, rendering impossible part of
the road to the next town. We walked
through the town, and visited the
houses of several tradespeople. At one
of these houses we heard the first and
only definite complaint which came to
our ears during the entire Journey, on
the part of the natives, against the
present government.
These people complained of the
taxes imposed upon them, and even
went so far as to state that they pre-
/, ferred the Spanish government. This
statement was made in the presence of
) party of six natives, and was ac-
: guessed in by all. They We're all, how
ever, of the same family"