Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-02-24
Acres Of City Burned--The Fighting is
Resumed, Thursday Morning.
Monadnock Shells the Enemy MANY
Rebels are Captured.

Manila. Feb. 23.--G.5O A. M)-Last
night was one of terror TO thousands
os the inhabitants of Manila, the rebels
making good their repeated threats to
the extent of burning acres Of build
ings and wounding an officer and three
men by firing through windows during
the excitement.
Az s O'Clock an incendiary fire oe-
Cured in block of brick buildings oo-
cLpied by Chinese on Caile Lasoste, in
the Santa Cruz district. A stiff Drecze
was blowing and the inflamnability OF
the structure caused the. blaze to
spread with alarming rapidity.
The city fire department is hopeless
Is Incompetent and the English volun-
teei brigade from Santa Mesa WAS
summoned, and with modern engine,
pumping adequate streams from the
canal. succeeded after four hours work,
in getting the blaze under control.
Meantime the entire block and the
greater part of two others across the
street were completely gutted. Hun
d,eds of inhabitapts were rendered
homeless.
The Chinese and natives lined the
fearing a general conflagration, re-
moved their furniture and other port
able goods in every direction, within a
radius of a quarter of a mile, when the
alarm was first given.
General Hughes personally superin-
tended the police arrangements. The
Whcle city was thoroughly patroll~d
and guards doubled. Every available
man was dispatched to the region of
the fire.
Impediments were placed in the way
of the firemen; and the hose was cut
five different times. This resulted IL
all the natives being driven eff the
streets. those in the immediate vicinity
Of the blaze being corralled Iii vacant
lots and guarded until the excitement
was over.
In many instances the natives We're
insolent and paid no regard to the or
ders given them and the soldiers were
compelled to use harsh measures. The
butts of their rifles and their bayonets
We're freely applied.
The danger from live electric light
wires necessitated the closing of the
circuit in the burning region. and the
only light in certain parts of the city
was that furnished by the blaze.
Shortly after midnight. another big
fire was started in the Tondo district,
where the natives were thickest: and
when the firemen and soldiers attempt
ed to work, a regular fuslade of rifle
and revolver shots We're fired from the
windows and roofs of the buildings
The firemen, escorted by soldiers. pro-
ceeded to clean out the houses. while
the fire was unheeded.
The 18th Minnesota were reinforced
by detachments from the 24th Infan-
try. the End Oregon. the 3rd Artillery
and the 10th Pennsylvania.
Bullets flew in every direction. in al
most every street in the Tondo and
Binondo district. causing the most in
tense excitement. Captain Robinson
of Co. G. 18th Minnesota, and three
men were wounded
Many timid people, imagining that the
rebels had effected an entrance
through the American lines. were ad-
vancing into the city. hurried franti-
cally from their hotels and houses
only to be stopped by guard. The
sounding of native bugle call i'm
mediately preceding the firing lent
color to the story.
Thousands of Chinese crossed the
bridges and piazas under fire. hurry
ing with their bundles to the Chinese
consulate. All night long the fire
spread through the Tondo district,
sweeping away rows of houses and de-
vastating acres of territory.
The damage was inestima BILE. With |
daylight punitive measures were decd- |
ed upon. and the Americans, though |
tired after their sleepless nights work. |
soon cleared the district of every ua-
tive after slight resistance.