The Portland daily press., 1899-03-08

| Great Leaders, One Has Taken His
Band to San Domingo and the Other
Has Refor med.
The death knsll Of briganddsge in
Porto Rico was sounded. when the Amsri.
can troops landed at Guanica last sum.
mer. Up to that time brigands had been
active. Now few, II any, remain. Since
carly astlJanuary there has been no indi
cation whatever Of their existence, and
the band that made manifestation then
quit business. Its experience on that oc-
oasion was such - to discourage it. The
brigands had no sooner begun operations
than word was sent 10 the military post
at Areoibo about them. A squad of
sharpshooters from the Forty seventh New
York Volunteers was Immediately de
tailed to look after them. The soldiers
500 came up with them and opened fire
The brigands were far In advance at the
time aud were mounted. on the swift foot.
ed little mountain ponies which Porto
Rico produces. They therefore escaped,
but the incident opened their eyes to the
fact that American troops have q differ
emit and far NOR unpleasant way of deal
ing with such things than the old Span
ish civil guard.
Prior to this, from the beginning of the
American occupation, there had been few
and poorly organised raids. Indeed, 1t
long ago became evident that the great
leaders or. captains of the bandits. of Porto
Rico had forsAken the calling. The over
throw of Spanish sovereignty was sufi-
cient to rid the island Of them. At the
coming Of the American troops they dug
up their gold and silver and other valua-
bles and fed from the island. There are
holes to be seen In the ground and mounds
where holes have been dug and then re.
Hlled near some OF the caves In the Ponce
district the former hotbsd of Porto Rican
brigandsge, and the country people say
that at these spots was hidden the plum
der Of thsss outlaws prior to the Amsri-
can invasion.
They were brigands in every sense Of
the word, not merely pstty mslefactors.
but robbvrs. kidnappers. outthroats and
footpads. They wAylsid travellers. levied
hlackmail on planters, pillagsd homes,
killed for pay and even made descents
upon villages for booty. Some Of them
made specially of removing hated per-
sous, receiving for their services sums
ranging from 500 to 1900 according to
the financial ability Of the person hiring
them aud the prominence Of the intend
cd victim o. his lighting ability The
people Of Porto RicO tell today with .
certain prids that thess outthEoAts never
betrayed patron. The two most famous
leaders in the business up to the time of
the American capture OF the island were
Pan Blanoo. or "White Bread and
Aguila Bsnnca, or "White Eagle.' When
the city Of Ponce fell into the hands OF
the American troops Pan Blnco fed in
Continently. His record was so bad that
hs could expect no mercy. Aguila Rlanca
stood his ground and decided to see what
the Amerioanos were like. The result Of
the scrutiny was favorable, so he came
into the CITY, said he wanted to lead a
better life and would reform, II the
Americans would permit him, and asked
for ana received sort Of safe conduct
when Pan Blanco lied he took his en-
sire hand with him. 1t Is variously es-
minated that thus the island WAS rid of
from fifteen to twenty-five rascals. Pan
Blanoo took them to the island Of San