The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1899-09-07
A REBELS HEAD.

This is not really my own story-it
is my grandfather Still, since it is all
in the family, may as well tell it.,
and, besides, it has special interest
now, when so many people in this land
are looking and longing across the Pa
citic to where our flag floats over Manila
bay
In the year 1912 my grandfather, a
young man of 90 shipped as common
sailor on the three masted ship Polly
Ann of New Bedford, bound from New
York to the Philippines with cargo of
flour. The voyage was uneventful, and
1876 days after passing Sandy Hook the
Polly Ann dropped anchor in Pasig
river, Manila.
During the ships stay there grand
father, who was of an investigating dis
position, looked the city over pretty
we'll, and, believing there were chances
for a wide awake Yankee to make for
tune in the islands, he quit the ship
and took service with a trading firm OH
the harbor front, In ten years he was
manager of business of his own and
man of influence among the foreign
traders. The Spaniards, too, looked up
to him and respected him.
AS his business grew he was unable
to manage all the details of the increas-
ing trade, and so called to his holp a
young Filipino named Juan Aguado,
br;o ho1 oh ho1
Malay, who had formerly been an as
sistant in the packing house. Aguado
possessed polished, courtly manners and
good education. He had received his
schooling at monastery, and GRANDPA
Their trusted him implicitly, for in the
course of time he made him chief clerk
and adviser
Aguado was absolutely fearless-that
was where his Malay blood showed out,
grandfather would remark, when he
himself had occasion to refer TO the
story. They were out hunting one day
in jungle tract some 10 or 10 miles
away from the city, when they were
charged by maddened buffalo that
dashed out of a water hole upon them.
They both ran for cover, but GRANDPA
Their by some misstep tripped on vine
and fell, and before he could regain his
feet the animal was upon him. 1t was
no time to use a gun-they were armed
with nothing but light fowling pieces
for pigeon shooting. When grandfather
fell Aguado who was a little behind
HIM, made leap to one side to pass
him, but he was not thinking of saving
himself. Quickly drawing bis creese,
which was another mark of the Malay in
him, be rushed back upon the buffalo
and stabbed it through the neck again
and again with all the dexterity of q
veteran matador. The buffalo fell dead
in his tracks, and grandfather orawled
away with broken arm.
From that time on the two men were
like brothers. Juan seemed glad that
he had had an opportunity to show his
regard for his employer and benefactor,
and grandfather was too much of man
to be anything but generous to one who
had saved his life.
But it was about the end of their COM
radeship. One day a native from up
country called at the warehouse for
Aguado. They retired to distant part
of the building and talked long and
quietly together. Then the stranger
went away and the clerk returned to his
desk.
That night, when it came time for
closing, Aguado said: "Senor, ] must
leave you. | am wanted at home, and
it will be useless to try to detain me- F"
Grandfather was surprised beyond be-
lief almost but he did not try to dis
suade him. He paid his arrears If sal
airy, added a handsome bonus aid said
goodby to the only man in the east of
whom he was truly fond.
Two years passed and not a word
came from Aguado, but that was not
very strange, for the province where he
lived had been in open revolt for some
time, and as the fighting on both sides
was constant and relentless communioa-
ton with Manila was practically cut
off.
However, as time went on the rebel
lion was crushed, and the insurgents
were scattered or captured. The leader
of the revolution, one Luiz Berceo, was
a man of considerable Reneralship and
resources, for without munitions or
money he bad held his ground against
the Spaniards for long time and had
intrigued successfully among the native
troops sent to oppose him. But he could
not hold out forever, and he too, was a
fugitive.
Then it was that the government re-
sorted to an expedient often tried III
Spanish countries for catching those
who will not surrender--a price was set
on Luiz Berceo's head. Plaoards were
posted in Manila and throughout the
islands wherever Spanish authority was
recognized, proclaiming a reward of
40, 900 Mexican dollars to the one who
would bring the head of the insurgent
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