The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-10-16
connection with the grant Of AMI Amer

lean registry to the Abbey:
Sylvester sold only one parcel OF
arms and ammunition to the Filipinos,
and that parcel was sold at a time when
the same was equivalent to assisting
the United States forces the whole
transaction being made with the full
knowledge and consent of the United
States officials.
"On or about June 6, 1898, Sylvester
entered into d, contract with the Fill
ipinos to sell and deliver 1900 Mauser
rifles and two Maxim machine guns,
the price to include cost of steamer
delivery, etc. The British steamer
Passig was purchased, the merchandise
secured and details arranged for the
expedition, but as the goods were being
placed aboard the steamer the British
revoked the export permit.
Sylvester believed it was his duty
either to deliver the goods or to sell to
the best advantage and make settle
ment with the Filipinos for the cash
they had advanced. H tried in Varl-
Gus ways to get the expedition off dur
ing June and July, when, believing it
would be impossible to accomplish this,
he sold to the Chinese officials at Can
ton the arms and ammunition. The
terms of this sale were one-third cash,
one-third in thirty days and one third
in sixty days.
Chinese Cancelled Bargain.
Upon making the delivery the Chi
nese objected TO 492 Mauser rifles and
the ammunition. and as there was no
for the Maxim guns they
declined to accept these. This left Syl-
vester with the goods on his hands,
and also the snip. He determined to
Try and deliver the small quantity TO
elose up the transaction.
The Passig was changed from a
British register to an American regis
.er under the name of Abbey in the
United States consulate at Canton,
hen under charge of DR.. Bedloe. 1t
vas a purely routine proceeding and
my other consular officer in DR.. Bed
ce's place must have acted as he did.
THE Abbey sailed from Canton about
Aug. &c. Sylvester left Hongkong on
sept 3 and arrived at Manila Sept. 6.
All stopped at Manila for over a month,
iving at the hotels and associating
With army and navy officers. The
Manila newspapers had full accounts
# the landing of the Abbey's cargo at
so that the fact of the arms
md ammunition being furnished to the
Cilipinos was in possession of the army
word was said.
Agreement With Aguinaldo.
sylvester, after arranging for the
inal settlement and transfer of the
teamer. left Manila near the end of
september with all the ships papers.
lie had stipulated with Aguinaldo that
he ship was not to be used until he
ad time to take the papers to Canton
nd cancel them. thereby relieving the
United States government from any
should the Filipinos use
er in carrying arms or troops in their
against the Spaniards in the
outhern group of islands during the
rmistice and peace conference in
'sris. The ship was not to be trans
erred to the Filipinos until after the
egistry papers had been cancelled.
"UIon arrival at Hongkong, Sylvester
armed that the Abbey had been seized. /
telegram had been sent to Admiral
,ewey at Hongkong, stating that the
.eamer Abbey had left Macao about
ept % with a second expedition. There
as not the slightest foundation for !
his report, 1t was actuated purely by |
lalice on the part of a certain enemy
, Sylvester. The Mccullough was sent !
, search for the Abbey and found her |
anchor in Batangas bay, whence she |
as taken to Manila on the express
round that she had no papers aboard |
There is absolutely nothing wrong in /
lis matter of the Abbey so far as (
onsul 9edloe is concerned. His con-
ection with the case was purely incl
Entail
In proof of his statement, Mr. Hay