The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1899-02-24
FIRED BY
REBELS
Thousands Of Houses Burned
in Manila.

The Damage InestimabIe-Insu
gents Driven from the Burning
District This Morning american
Soldiers Wounded While Protect
ing Firemen-Otis Makes Cur
few Ordinance.
Manila, Feb. 24.-Wednesday night was
one of terror to thousands of the inhab-
itants of Manila, the rebels making good
their oft repeated threats to the extent
Of burning acres of buildings and wound
ing an officer and three men by firing
through windows during the excite
ment.
Impediments were placed in the way
of the firemen and the hose was cut
Ave different times. This resulted in all
the natives being driven off the streets,
those in the immediate vicinity of the
blaze being corralled in vacant lots and
guarded until the excitement was over.
In many instances the natives were
insolent and paid no regard to the or
ders given them, and the soldiers were
compelled to use harsh measures. The
butts of their rifles and their bayonets
We're freely applied.
Captain Robinson of Company c.,
Thirteenth Minnesota, and three men
were wounded.
The damage was inestimable. With
daylight punitive measures were de-
cided upon, and the Americans, though
tired after their sleepless nights work,
soon cleared the district of every native
after slight resistance.
Precautions Against Incendiaries.
Major-General Otis has established a
strict curfew law.
Until further notice all the inhabit-
ants of the city are required to retire
to their homes at o'clock and not re-
appear before daybreak.
Rebels and incendiaries were warned
that they would be severely dealt with
wherever discovered. The curfew reg
ulation was put into force with rigor.
At Z o'clock last night the police were
abroad in all the streets, driving people
into their houses. Most of the inhabit-
ants had already retired.
Great trouble has been threatened in
the city. General Otis has taken ex-
traordinary precautions, however, to
frustrate the plots of the rebels, and
every available fighting man in the
American ranks has been pressed into
the service of keeping order here.
All day yesterday troops were work
ing in the burning Tondo district, from
which a cloud of smoke still hangs
over the entire city. In many cases
they have been fired upon by rebels
sheltered in houses near the city linn
its. Scores of rebels were arrested. In
one case band of so, standing guard
over two cars laden with rifles, bay
onets, cartridges and belts, were over
powered and taken prisoners.
City HOneycOmbed With Conspiracy.
The further this work proceeded the
clearer it became that Manila had been
simply honeycombed with conspiracy
against the American occupation. To
stamp out such a firebrand plot is no
easy matter, for the conspirators are
present within our lines in unknown
numbers, and it is exceedingly difficult
to distinguish a well disposed noncom-
batant from full fledged rebel.
How much harm can be accomplished
by such an enemy when he uses the
torch without scruple Is shown by the
destruction wrought last night, when
whole acres of the most thickly popu-
lated part of the city were laid low.
Aguinaldos skullking warriors and
sympathizers are especially anxious to
burn the Escolta, which is the leading
business street and promenade. To pre-
vent this General Hughes is concentrat-
ing his best efforts.
It was found necessary during the day
to set fire to other areas in the Tondo
district. in order to drive out the am