Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-02-27

ANOTHER BLACK HOLE HORROR
Mr.. Frederick w. Baker, past assist
ant engineer United States double-tur-
reted monitor Monterey, returned 10
Baltimore Saturday from Manila. Mr..
Baker in an interview said We left
San Francisco on the 9th of last June
and reached Manila on the 4th Of Au-
gust. After we arrived at Manila AID.
miral Dewey notified the Spaniard5
that he would give them exactly forty
eight hours in which to surrender.
When this news was spread among the
Spaniards in the city, wild excitement
prevailed. Large numbers of persons
could be seen putting out from shore
iu small boats and going to Cavite.
No bombardment of the city was neces-
sary. The guns, however, were turned
on the fort, at Malate. To subdue this
was ONLY the work of half an hour. One
shot from one of the larger guns passed
clear through this fort and took a
mans head of. Everything was quiet
and orderly ut Manila at the time OF
Mr.. Bakers departure, on December
81 last, but he says it could be plainly
seen there was trouble and that it was
not far off at that. In speaking OF the
Filipinos Mr.. Baker said: They are a
small, thin and why people, are dark
in color, with straight black hair. AL
though they are an idle people, they
are capable of doing good work ii
watched closely. A number of the ma
tives were employed in the navy yard
by the Spaniards. These were retain
ed by the United States authorities, as
a majority of them are good mechanics.
Three hundred native prisoners cap
tured by the Spaniards, Mr.. Baker
said, were placed In one dungeon un-
der Fort San PHILIPPE. which was built
in the sixteenth century. The only
possible meaDs by which the unfortu
mates could get the least breath
of air, was through the keyhole in the
door. When the prisoners were
smothering to death they began to
gather toward the door, in the hope OF
being able to get little air through
this small hole. When this was re-
ported to the Spanish authorities, or
| ders were given to stop up the keyhole
This was accordingl y done, and the in.
mates, three hundred in number, were
all found dead the next morning.
The Spaniards also shot some OF the
native prisoners for the amusement OF
women. Before the shooting took
place notices was given detailing the
time and place at which they were to
occur. Crowds OF Spanish women, &c
companed by escorts, would drive OFT
to witness the affair. Five of the ma
tive Spanish soldiers were detailed TO
shoot each prisoner. The prisoners
were blindfolded, placed in a line, and
at the word fire, which was given by
the Spanish officer 10 command, the re-
ports of five guns would be heard and
the prisoners numbered one less. This
was kept up.until twenty or thirty unfor'
tunate men were killed, and thus ended the
sport of ono afternoon AS each native would
drop under the accurate fire Of the gunners
the women,would stand up in their carriages
and clapping their hands, would cheer wild Y
as though it was some wild animal in the
arena which had been slain. The natives OF
the islands are. TO man, exceedingly fond OF
stealing, and if left to themselves would steal
almost every available object in Manila.
They are kept in check by the United States
army. The natives have no respect for
churches