The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-05-14
LETTERS TO AGUTNALDO IN SOAP.
Attempt to Smuggle n Communication
Through the American Lines.

through the American Lines.
manila. March 24.-In dealing with the
Filipinos as enemies the United States soldiers
have found that they are not doing business
with a race Of billiards. On the contrary. it
takes a wide-awake sentinel to avoid being
fleeced by the astute followers OF Aguinaldo.
With a great city full OF plotting natives and
the lines outside swarminG with insurgents
anxious TO get in. the soldiers have had their
hands full.
Arms have been found in every conceivable
place by the provost police. and have even been
Intercepted while being struggled into the city
in collins. There are certain roads leading out
Of the city into the insurgent lines over which
the authorities deem it safe to allow a little
traffic between city and country. For instance.
shoulder cargoes of cigarettes for the interior
inhabitants are allowed to pass. but a bag Of
salt is considered contraband OF war. In view
OF discoveries that have been made. it is now
the duty as %sentries TO squeeze every bundle that
goes past them whether it looks suspicious or
were, recently discovered by three members OF
the band of the Colorado volunteers hidden
away nicely in cakes Of soap.
For some reason or other a sentry, past whom
an aged old man tried, +" hobble with two
R nsa1ssp fn' l1 of T5o hS H,d in!Isd to to $ see .U why The he
went through the old mans load and unearthed
several i2mG bars Of chcnp-IookiGg yellow I've
allowed tn" carrier to pass on. The fellow
gathered up his burden and took the highway
with surprising ~alacrity. The swlftncss OF his
George Scttle. Harry Culver and Ora Ferrll. all
bandsmen. when they became posse SOrs Of the
soap. The bars had lain under a tree unmolestcd
forsome time. Settle wanted to wash his clothes
and considered that he had made a valuable
find when he came upon the soap. Culver and
Icrrill disputed his assertion that II was good
soap. and. during the argument. one cake was
rolled in the form of a small cyiindierp. "''''
II proved to be one full sheet of foolscap
pnpcr written. closely in Spanish and giving Il
report to Agulnaldo of the actions OF his SOL
diers who, had been in the city when hostilities
began and We're never able to get out again.
The particular event referred to in the letter
was the insurrcction OF the night Of Feb. %
Manila, and fired on tho. provost police from
the windows OF houses. 1t seems that LemOne
Lenas, Colonel of the Blancas Armas regiment
OF the Philippine army and the writer Of tho
letter. gathered twenty men about him that
night to destroy Manila.
We. set fire to the buildings around tho
Quartet de Meisic.' the letter read. and ad-
however. that we realized that instant death
awaited us and We scattered.
In another place tho Colonel said that the
fires were raging so ~fiercely that there was
danger OF their losing their lives by roasting
and they preferred to die fighting. In n DELHI
crate lie ut, the close OF the letter the insur-
gent Colonel reports that his twenty mon had
succeeded in killing eight Americans and had
three OF their own number wounded. The fact
Is that only one or two Americans were injured
ON that memorable night.
The band men OF the Colorado regiment i'm
mcdintely made further investigation of their
laundry finds and un"arthed three other letters.
exact copies OF the first. each in IL separate bar
81 soap. II had evidently been the intention OF
the sender to SmugRle the four copies through
the lines. with the, hope that a, least one Of
them would reach Aguinaldo at Malolos.