Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-02-23
REBELS FIRE MANILA.
treat Damage Done by Incendiaries
in the Philippines Capital.
OUR ALLIES ON NBGRos ISLAND.

The Inhabitants of the Island Are
Ready, Anxious and willing to Acc
cept Any Proposition Made on Be-
holt of Our Government.
Manila, Feb. While the guns on
the city walls and those on board the
ships Of Rear Admiral Dewey's feet in
the bay fired salute in honor of Wash
ingtons birthday four commissioners
from the Island of Negros had an inter
view with Major General Otis and in
formed him that the American flag had
already been raised over that island and
that its inhabitants were ready, anxious
and willing to accept any proposition the
Americans might offer.
The insurgents have been driven from
the island entirely Although the Iloilo
rebels have given the people of Negroes
much trouble, especially in the matter
of financial assistance demanded by the
rebel leaders, the inhabitants of Negros
have persistently held aloof, and now.
through the commissioners, announce
that they want the advice and help of
General Otis. The latter assured them
that the Americans would provide an
acceptable government, and in the mean
time he instructed them not to pay the
rebels anything. The Negroes commits
sioners were delighted with their re-
ception.
Immense damage has been done by
fires which are believed to have been
started by insurgents last night. The
fire department has experienced great
difficulty in fighting the flames owing
to defective apparatus. 1t is reported
that the natives have damaged the APP
paratus. There was some fighting in the
streets during the night, hut the Ameri-
cans quickly quelled the uprising.
number of the insurgents were killed and
several American soldiers wounded.
A large market place was among the
first to burn. between TOO and 100 resi-
dences and business houses having also
been destroyed. Fires were started at
spyers points simultaneously and spread
ing with great rapidity resisted all efforts
to control them Hundreds of homeless
natives are huddled in the streets. max
ing the patrol duty Of the Americans
very ditFicult
At s O'Clock an incendiary fire occurred
in block of brick bindings occupied
by Chinese on the Gale I.acoste, in the
Santa Cruz district \ stiff breeze was
blowing and the iuhammability of the
structures caused the blaze to spread
with alarming rapidity. The city fire
department was hopelessly incompetent
and the English volunteer brigade from
Santa Mesa was summoned, and with
modern engine pumping streams from
l.. i I.
under control.
Impediments were placed in the way
of the firemen, and the hose was cut
FIVE different times. This resulted in all
the natives being driven off she streets.
those in the immediate vicinity of the
blaze being COrralled in vacant lots and
guarded until the excitement was over
In many instances the natives were in
solent and the soldiers We're compelled
to use harsh measures. The butts of
their rifles and their bayonets were freely
applied.
Shortly after midnight another big
fire started. and when the hremen and
soldiers attempted to work a regular fu-
sillade of rifle shots and revolver shots
were fired from the windows and roofs
of the buildings.
The fremen. escorted by soldiers. pro-
eeeded to clean out the houses while the
FIRE was unheeded The Thirteenth Min
nesota were reinforced by attachments
from the Third infantry. the Second
Oregon. the Third artillery and the
Tenth Pennsylvania. Bullets few in
every direction in almost every street in
the Tondo district, causing the most in
tense excitement Captain Robinson, of
Company G. Thirteenth Minnesota. and
three men were wounded
With daylight punitive measures were
decided upon. and the Americans though
tired after their sleepless nights work,
soon cleared the district of every native
after slight resistance.