Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-03-11
FEELING IN
PORTO RICO
Is Growing in Favor of Abs0-
lutte independence.
1NSURREC1ION WILL COME
Sooner or Later as the Natives Are
Not in Favor of American
Control of the Island.

New York, March 11.-Colonel William
H. Hubbell, commander Of the Forty
seventh regiment, which has just re-
turned from Porto Rico, when inter-
viewed by 4 Journal and Advertiser re-
porter, said:
The Porto Ricans want independ-
ence.'
Colonel Hubbell declared his belief,
based upon his experience as d soldier
Of this government, that an Instruction
Of the natives Of Porto Rico is bound ID
come sooner or later. He said that every
evidence Of the forthcoming uprising
was given in Porto Rico, especially in
the latter part Of the stay Of the regiment
there. A Porto Rican Aguinaldo could
cause the United States much annoyance.
The people had become demoralized by
the example Of Cuba, having observed
that successful issue Of a great revolu-
ton.
1T is just five months now" said Col
onel Hubbell, since we left Newport
News for Porto Rico On the Manitoba.
We were sent to Porto Rico to help re-
store order and set the machinery Of the
somewhat modified civil government in
operation. Contrary to our expectations,
We nave had TO attend largely to military
business during the latter part Of our
stay. The headquarters Of the Forty
seventh regiment were at Caguay, a
small town in the northern part Of the
island, containing about 1000 people.
We found it very dirty. We first set to
work cleaning the place. We made
Caguay clean. / think We restored order
completely. At least this was SO during
our stay. BY the conduct Of officers and
men, and by the character Of our orders
we tried 10 impress the natives with the
worth Of American institutions. But We
found out that there is q latent determi-
nation among a large class Of Porto
Ricans to gain Independence. There is
no longer any use in trying to conceal the
fact. Our troubles and annOyarces in
creased toward the last. The dernOnstra-
ton made at our departure convinced US
that the majority Of the natives were
glad to get rid Of US.
"Cur first difficulties IN the island were
caused by our suppression of a secret So
c.ety known as the Black Hand 1t was
organized on the same lines as the
kuklux in this country. A plot was
formed, Of which we obtained ample
proof, to enter our barracks by stealth
and put the entire portion of the regi-
ment which was at Caguay to the
maChete. Fortunately, we were placed
on our guard and the conspiracy was
frustrated. I soon Dun out who was
at the head of this organization, and l in
formed him that I shoul hold him per
sOnally responsible for any act of hos
tility toward us, whatever it was or by
whom committed. This had a beneficial
effect, although it did not prevent the
foul murder Of one of our men, who was
decoycd to a clubhouse, where his head
wa c alr1nCt cayrara6 from hiC ho5y
we found many Of the native Porto
Ricans given to treachery. Many who
received us with flowers and loud hur-
rahs We're afterward discovered in some
of the plots against US. Our sentinels
did not need the caution of their officers
to refrain from sleeping. Some of the
natives We're detected sneaking up on the
sentlnels for the purpose of stabbing
them in the back. After that whenever
! saw a suspicious looking man we made
him throw up his hands and submit to
a search. On men We frequently found
knives up their sleeves.
There are a better class of Porto
Ricans who are in favor of a large force
remaining on the island. They were
sorry for our departure. These men are
anxious to resume business and are wait
ing for closer commercial relations with
the United States so they may be able
to dispose of their sugar and tobacco.
The taking of the island by the United
States has disarranged the old commerce
of Porto Rico, and many planters are al
most completely without money, al
though they have the harvest of large
crops. The government is adopting the
policy of withdrawing the soldiers from
the island gradually, but 1 look sooner or
later for trouble"
Finest crown bridge work. DR.. Wix. ="