Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-02
TIE OF REBEL LEAD. R SHIP
Details of the Surrender of Znm-
bonnEn to Commander
VERY.

MANILA, Dec. 1.-The steamer Salvador
frcm Zamboanga, Island of Mindanao, which
has arrived here, brings details of the
occupation of the town by Commander Very
OF tho United States gunboat Castue The
revolutionista in Mindanao wero led by
Alvarez and Calixto, who left Luzon some
time ago and for the last seven months had
been stirring up tho people, winning a con-
siderable following. The commercial depres-
sion and the lack of food, resulting from the
islands blockade, set the people against the
revolutionists and eliminated in the as
saosination on November Is of Calixto, a
frebrand. and the real leader Of the revou-
tion, by Midel, mayor Of tho town OF
Totuau.
Midel, under pretext, secured Calixtos s
presence in Tetuan, and where the mayor s
guards were stationed. The latter fired a
volley, killing Calixto instantly.
Midel at once repaired to the Castine and
arranged with Commander Very for the
occupation of Zamboanga. Commander Very
asked that Datto Mandi, with 500 OF his
followers, stationed on a neighboriug island,
come to Zamboanga.
The following morning Midel raised the
American flag over Zamboanga, the in
surgents offering nc resistance and eYacuat-
ing the town. The Castine was saluted with
twenty-one guns and Commander Very
landed 100 bluejackets and took possession
Of the town and Notifications. Datto Mandi' s
men arrived In the afternoon. They were
armed with wooden shields and swords and
were ueed on picket duty.
Commander Very dispatched the gunboat
Manila on November Is to Jolo to convey
troops to reinforce him. company of the
W. r6 puin
Nichols, arrived on November II and two
more companies followed them shortly
Mandi's followers then returned home
Alvarez sought to arrange for a surrender
Of the arms and artillery pieces On the
afternoon of November 20 Midel called
meeting of the local chiefs, who formally
deposed Alvarez as leader of the revolution
iats in the island and elected Midel president
of the new insular government established
under American sovereignty and CONTROL
The chiefs formally requested Commander
Very to grant exemption from taxes until
the establishment OF commercial relations,
permission to carry arms in the mountains,
religious freedom and the power to conduct
local governments as they had previously
done, which requests, pending the arrival of
Drigadier General Bates, the military gov
ernor OF the district the commander granted.
Commander Very then effected an apparent
reconciliation between Alvarez and Mldel
and their followers, Alvarez signing a formal
resignation of the position of revolutionary
leader on November 20 at a point on the
coast near the rebel town OF Mercedes
Alvarez delivered thirteen Nordenfeldts and
Maxims, with ammunition, which were stored
ON board the Castine. Eight Nordenfeldts
and Maxine were delivered to the army in
Zamboanga, as were also over 200 rifles and
ammunition. The artillery came into pos
session of the revolutionists from six Span
sh gunboats bought by the army from
Spain, which the revolutionists looted before
the Americans could get possession.
Alvarez has only a dozen followers left,
the remainder of the revolutionsts having
scattered and returned to their occupations.
No fighting Is expected.
Commander Very, having started to occupy
zamboanga, is considered TO have handled
the situation in its many phases with energy
and diplomatic skill.