Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-11
CoGHLAN ACCUSED OF BAD FAITH.
Spaniards Say He Turned Them Over
to the IusurReuta

dispatch from Manila says: Col Julio
del Rio. who is among the released Span
iards that have just arrived here, gives an
interesting version of the famous Irene in
ci6ent in Subg bay in July of last year.
He was formerly in command of the Span
ish troops in the Olongapo district. His
narrative is corroborated by Senior Rafael
Rosello. a wealthy Spanish merchant. who
also fell into the hands of the insurgents
Both declare that the Spaniards surren-
dered to Captain Coghlan of the United
States cruiser Raleigh on an express agree
ment that they were not to be given up to
the Fflipinos, and they assert that the
Spanish government has promised to press
their claims against the United States for
their long Imprisonment.
According to their story, a thousand in
surgents We're besieging Olongapo, where
there were two companies of marines and
a battalion of artillery, together with many
civilians. The German cruiser Irene entered
the harbor to take the women and children
on board At this juncture the inSurgent
steamer Filipinas. flying the nsurgent flag.
started to leave he Irene threw a shot
across her bow, claiming the right to stop
her, as Germany had not recognized the
Insurgents flag.
The Filipinas then raised a white flag
and departed When she returned she was
flying the tnsurgent flag and was accom-
panied by the United States warships Con-
cord and Raleigh The Irene then lcav-
Without the least warning" say Col
del Rio and Senior Ruse!Io. the American
warshlps began to lombard US firing about
twenty-five shots. Seeing that resistance
was useless. as our guns had never been
mounted. we raised the white flag Captain
CoShlan came ashore with severa! officers
and 1t was expressly stipulated that the
surrender was to the Americans alone. Can
tain COghlan was asked to promise that the
Spaniards should not be delivered to the
insurgents. and when he had given his
pledge the entire garrison surrendered
The Americans sailed away on the even
ing of the It'll. leaving the garrison prac-
tlcally unarmed. They returned on the sth
Meanwhile the insurgents had repeatedly
hred upon the town. Captain Coghlan now
ordered the Spaniards to embark on the
Flllpinas. When they protested he said that
though In the hands of the insurgents
they would be treated as American pris-
Oners.
Nine civilians, all merchants were
placed on board the F'ilipinas and DESPITE
'helr protests were kept imprisoned on the
lease N
Senior ROsello, who is chiefly resnopsibla
Tor the foregoing statement admits that
except Tor one attempt to rob the mer-
cILeilts' Tor which Agunaldo punished the
all We're well treated
Col Del Rio. in separate statement,
says: captain Coghlan gave his word that
our capitulation would be accented as in
was made-that is to the Americans H
promised that we should not be given into
the hands OF the insurgents and [ believe
he was sincere.
Later the Concord went to Cayite for
instructions. returning with an order from
admiral Dewey that We were TO be handed
over to the insurgents
Col del Rio and Senior Rosello declare
mat the Irene left her anchorage at q
cock In the morning. and that the Amer
lcah warshlps arrived at 1870, passing the
German cruiser she was leaving the bav
EXPRESSED
hef That the Irene slipped her cable on the
/ appearance OF the Concord and the Raleigh
1orce or one hundred insurgents at
lacked near Baliuag a wagon train es
corted by thirty men of the 10Th Infantry
A sharp engagement followed. The FiIiDinos
lost eighteen In killed and nine in can
tured. During the recent attack by the in
| surgents upon Vigan the Filipinos obtained
possession or the plaza and of church in
the center of the town, from which the
americans dislodSed them. 1t seems that
the escaped Spaniards obtained guns and
| fought with the Americans against the in
surgents. ia