Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-11
D0NS WILL SUE UNCLE SAM
Those Kept ms Prisoners on Filipino
Steamer Since July, 1903,
Very Wfoth.

| MANILA, Dec 1880 p. m.-Colonel
Julio del Rios. who is among the re-
| leased Spaniards that have Just arrived
here, gives an interesting version OF the
| famous Irene incident in Subig bay, in July
| OF last year. He was formerly in command
| OF the Spanish troops in the Olongapo dis
| trtct. His narrative 10 corroborated by
Senior Rafael Roselo, wealthy Spanish
merchant who also fell into the hands of the
insurgents.
Both declare that the Spanish surrendered
to Captain Coghlan of the United States
cruiser Releigh, on an express agreement
that they were not to be given up to the
| Filipinos and they assert that the Spanish
government has promised to preso their
claims against the United States for their
long imprisonment.
| According to their story a thousand in
| surgents were besieging Olongapo, where
there were two companies of marines aud a
battalion of artillery. together with many
| civilians. Tho German cruiser Irene en-
| tered the harbor to take the women and
| children on board. At this juncture the in
surgent steamer Filipinas, flying the insur
gent flag, started to leave. The Irene threw
shot across her bow, claiming the right
to stop her, as Germany had not recog
niZed the insurgent flag. The Filipinas then
raised white flag and departed. When she
returned she was flying the ipsurgent flag
and was accompanied by the United States
warehips Concord and Raleigh. The Irene
wap leaving the harbor with more nom
rombatants.
Without the least warning" says Colonel
del Rios, ''the American warshp began TO
lombard us, firing about twenty shots.
Seeing that resistance was useless, as our
had hppn haunted raised
the white flag Captain Coghlan came ashore
with several officers and it expressly
stipulated that the surrender was to the
Americans alone. Captain Coghlan was
asked to promise that the Spaniards should
not be delivered to the insurgents and when
he had given his Aedge the entire gar
rison surrendered.
THE Americans sailed away on the even
ing of the 7th, leaving the garrison pTac-
tically unarmcd. They returned on the Sth.
Meanwhile the insurgents had repeatedly
fired upon the town. Captain Coghlan now
ordered the Spaniards to embark on the
Filipinas. When they protested he said
that although in the hands OF the insur-
gents, they would be treated as American
prisoners.
Nine civilians all merchants, were placed
on board the Filpinas and, despite their
protests, were kept lHpIlsOHtu Oh luS VESSEL
at Olongapo until their recent release
Senor Rosello, who is chiefly responsible
for the foregoing statement, admits that,
except for one attempt to rob the merchants,
for which Aguinaldo punished the officers of
the Flipinas by reducing them, all were we'll
treated.
Colonel del Rios, in a separate statement
says Captain Coghlan gave his word that
our capitulation would be accepted as 1t
was made, that is, to the Americans. He
promised that we should not be given into +
the hands of the insurgents and | believe |
he was sincere.
Later the Concord went to Cav.te for in
structions, returning with an order from
Admiral Dewey that We were to be handed
over to the insurgents"
Colonel del Rios and Senior Rosello de-
clare that the Irene left her anchorage at
6 o'clock in the morning and that the Amer
ican warships arrived at 10:30, passing the !
German cruiser as she was leaving the bay.
They express surprise at the popular be-
lief that the irene slipped her cable on the
appearance OF the Concord and the Raleigh.