The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1899-04-22

York volunteers was imediately detailed
to look after them. The soldiers soon
came up with them and opened fire The
brigands were far in advance at the time
and were mounted on the swift-footed lit
tie mountain ponies which Porto Rico
produces. They therefore escaped, but
the incident opened their eyes to the fact
that American troops have a different
and far more unpleasant way of dealing
with such things than the old Spanish
civil guard.
Prior to this, from the beginning of the
American occupation, there had been few
and poorly organized raids. Indeed, it
long ago became evident that the great
leaders or captains of the bandits of
Porto Rico had forsaken their calling.
The overthrow of Spanish sovereignty
was sufficient to rid the island of them,
says the New York Sun. At the coming
of the American troops they dug up their
gold and silver and other valuables and
fed from the island. There are holes to
be. seen in the ground and mounds where
holes have been dug and G1en refilled near
some of the caves in the Ponce district,
the former hotbed of Porto Rican brigan-
dage, and the country people say that at
these spots was hidden the plumber of
these outlaws prior to the American in
vasion. ~.
They were brigands in every sense of
the word, not merely petty malefactors,
but robbers, kidnapers, cutthroats and
footpads. They waylaid Travellers, levied
blackman ON planters, pillaged homes,
killed for pay and even made descents
upon villages for booty. Some of them
made a specially of removing hated per-
sons receiving for their services sums
ranging from 500 to $500, according to
the financial ability of the person hiring
them and the prominence of the intended
victim or his fighting ability. The people
of Porto Rico tell to-day with a seertain
pride that these cutthroats never be-
trayed patron. The two most famous
leaders in the business up to the time
of the American capture of the island
were Pan Blanco, or "White Bread" and
Ag'uila Blanca, or "White Eagle" When
the city of Ponce fell into the hands of
the American troops Pan Blanco fed in
continently. His record was so bad that
he could expect no mercy. Aguila Blanca
stood his ground and decided to see what
the Americanos were like. The result of
the scrutiny was favorable, so he came
into the city, said he wanted to lead
better life and would reform, if the Amer
leans would permit him, and asked for
and received sort Of safe conduct.
When Pan Blanco fed he took his en-
tire band with him. It is variously esti-
mated that thus the island was rid of
from fifteen to twenty-five rascals. Pan
Domingo. This explanation of his name
was given by a resident:
1.-The good gentleman lived an appar-
emily open life in Ponce-the city, not the
district-which he protested was decent,
respectable and virtuous. Moreover, the
authorities never molested him, yet no.
body in Ponce with eyes to see and ears
to hear could help but know that a more
dangerous character did not exist But
as nothing is more harmless than white
bread, Pan Blanco became his name by
sarcasm and common consent"
They say that he took a large sum with
him to San Domingo. He is a Spaniard
who went to Porto Rico in his teens as
| clerk He took to gambling, and pres
emily opened a hotel, which develop:
into a. resort for the worst criminals He
knew them better than they knew them
selves and could pick out the best man in
Ponce for any given work better than
| anybody else. At first he made his rec
concentrations without thought Of pecuni-
airy benefit to himself Then he contract
ed to haS, jobs done. He collected the
800 or $500 and sent Pancho or Pope or
Juanito, or any of the other hangers on
about his place, out to abduct the child,
| fire the house, kill the man, or do what
ever else the commission called for. Often
| these fellows had to do the work for moth
ing, and when Pan Blanco paid them it
wis Ad1CAy AtCIS III<du S4U. Being a span
| lard, Pan Blanco< had an advantage over
the native bandits The authorities
winkcd at his business. They merely re-
quired him to offend public decencies as
little as possible; in other words to con-
duct his agency for assassination, muir
| der, kfdna ping, arson and the like quietly.
Many an official, moreover, was wont to
can on Pan Blanco in moments Of fnan,
c1al stress and effect loans which he was
very careless about 1epaying, and which
| Fan Blanco never bothered himself abou,
| collecting. Thus Pan Blanco conducted
his profitable business for three decades
/ without official annoyance. He also had
highly profitable connections with The
| outlaws Of the mountains. He was q
fence for them, and to their retreats he
often found It necessary, in order to ALLAN
| public indignation, to send some of his
more notorious henchmen. He must be
about hfty-fve now. When the Amer
| leans landed he went from Ponce to Sar
Domingo, but it is believed that from
there he made his way back to his native
| old age.
| Oguila Blanca is far more picturesque
and romantic figure among the bandits Of
| Porto Rico than Pan Blanco. He received
his name because he was hard to eaten
Many time we have approached to
within dozen yards of him." said q
former CIVIL guard, and get, throughout
! his long career as brtgand he has never
once been arrested, but have reason ia
believe that he has been wounded. many
times, Once we surprised him on the
road leading to Juana Diaz. We were
SIX strong, and Immediately we opened
fire on him. I have never missed q pigeon
at that distance. must certainly have
hit him. There were other men in the
party who swore they could not have
missed him. However. Aguila Blanca
did not fall into our hands. He dashed
away with the wings Of an eagle and
flew we never knew whittier We looked
for blood. and saw some damp spots on
the ground where Aguila Blanca had
stood when we leveled our guns at him
and fired. We came to the conclusion
that It was impossible to capture him
alive or dead 80
Aguila Blanca's life Is exemplary to-day,
fully justifying the safe conduct which
Gen. Henry gave him Who. AsrDs,n
= flg3 8 Il