Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1899-05-17
LITTLE MAID OF MANILA.
The Sad Discovery Made by Two Amer
lean Army Officers.

lean Army Officers.
When Manila had lowered the Span
ish colors to the conquering stars and
stripes and the gates OF. the city were
thrown open to our tired soldiers every
one breathed sigh of relief that the
inevitable end was accomplished. The
tension being relieved, thoughts now
turned from the present to the future
we all were happy. But what n
gloomy outlook for the poor Spaniard!
After all is said and done, the Span
iards are human. Americans, in the
words of Horace. "hold nothing that
is human foreign to their nature" So
it is we now listen, often with moist
ened eyes, to such tales as this one,
which gives the experience, of two
army officers who were searching for
government, house to seize for their
dwelling place.
Their summons at the gate was an
swered by pretty senorita, who, in
reply TO their questioning, admitted
that the house was public building
which had been assigned to her
fathers use. Her father was not at
home nor her mother-no one. She
was alone.
The officers became interested in
this sad-eyed little maiden, clad in the
sombre garb of mourning, and by gen.
tie questioning and the kindly interest
with viich the4. had listened they
learaed-her History.
Her father was colonel of artillery,
commanding those huge twelye-inch
guns which are such conspicuous ob-
iects of interest to pleasure-seekers on
the Lunetta. When Dewey had de-
stroyed the feet and hold the fate of
Manila in his haud the Spanish gov
erndr recognized that. Oily rtsistaice
fr5m The shore HatterisJ ,&as gimply
an invitation to speedy. destruction.
H. issned orders; therefore, that not
3 Gin slioliid be tired ....v..,:, /:
% The artillery coloncl received these
orders, but he remembered a clause in
the Spanish army regulations prescrib-
ing death and dishonor to any officer
who. iu the face of the enemy, failed to
do all that lay in his power to defend
and destroy.
The useless bombardment of about
100 shots from this battery, aimed at
our fleet, has been already exploited
in the pages of history. Dewey is-
nored it entirely, but the governor
was incensed ond called the poor col
onel to his private closet end sternly
demanded all explahatiou: Tile col
8nei Drayely answered that he had re-
eeived his excellency's 8rde;s; but a
higher authority bnde him act in the
bresehce Of the enemy.
:, Tie gene:a! sarcas sticaliy, com mended
his devotion to honor and dqty; ut
suggested, with wicked smile, that !,
Ii the colonel of the Sixteenth artillery
were found dead in his bed tonight it
might prevent friction and avoid tie
necessity of an execution at, daylight!
A few moments later pistol >shoS
was heard in the street in front GT the
colonel's house, and the poor child
rushed out to find her father dead
lying prone on the spot where the Of
ficer stood. He had acted upon his
commanding oficer's suggeStion
This was not all: The brother,
bright boy Of IS years; LOST Ills mind
through grief at tile death OF his
father, whom be almost ,%orshipped,
and even how lie is a raving madman
III the dismal Spanish lunatic asylum
In Manila. Tie loss Of husband and
son was too great blow for the frail
wife and mother, who in few weeks
followed her husband to the tomb in
Paco.
This little maid was left alone in
city held by the enemy! Alone,
without money, in foreign land! A
timid young girl. $1,000 miles from
her native country in which she was a
stranger!
1t is needless to add that the child
was not disturbed that night.-Chicag
Record.