, 1899-02-23
ATTEMPT TO BURN MANILA.

L IL DUNN AlxAlNl LA
Manila, Feb. 23.-Rebel sympathiz-
ers in Manila, in pursuance of orders
issued by the insurgent leaders, as set
forth in their plan for a rising against
American rule, attempted last might to
burn and loot the city.
In order to make sure OF success, in
.cendiaries planned to start confiagra-
lions in three different quarters Of the
city believing the flames would soon
get beyond control, and that they
would then have a chance to kill the
foreigners here, and pilfage their prop
erty.
Santa Cruz, San Nicholas and Tondo
were the quarters selected for the
starting of the fires.
At 8 o'clock an incendiary fire occur
red in a block OF brick buildings &C.
cupied by Chinese in the Gale La
Coste, in the Santa Cruz district. A
stiff breeze was blowing and the in
| iammability of the structures caused
the blaze to spread with alarming ra-
pidity. The city fire department was
hopelessly incompetent and he Eng
lish volunteer brigade from Santa
Mesa was summoned, and with a o
em engine pumping adequate streams
from the canal, succeeded, after four
hours work, in getting the blaze under
control.
Meantime the entire block and the
greater part Of W. others across the
street were completely Quilted. Hun
dreds of inhabitants were rendered
homeless.
The Chinese and ntives lined the ad-
tacent streets, while hundreds more,
fearing a general co~nfiagration, re-
moved their furniture and other port
able goods in every direction within
a radius Of a quarter of a mile, when
the alarm was first given.
General Hugus personally superin-
tended the police arrangements The
whole city was thoroughly patrolled
and guards were doubled. Every avail
able man was dispatched to the region
of the fire.
Impediments were placed in the way
OF the hremen and the hose was cut
FIVE different times. This resulted in
all the natives being driven off the
streets, those in the immediate vicinity
being corralled in vacant lots and
guarded until the excitement was over.
In many instances the natives were in
solent and paid no regard to the orders
given them and the soldiers were COM
PEELED t o use harsh measures. The
butts OF their rifles and their bayonets
were freely used.
The danger from live electric wires
necessitated the closing Of the circuit
in the burning region. AMI the only
light in certain parts Of the city was
that furnished by the blaze.
Shortly after midnight another big
fire was started in the Tondo district,
where the natives are thickest, and
when the firemen and soldiers attempt
ed to work, a regular fusilade of rifle
and revolver shots were fired from the
windows and roofs of the buildings.
The fremen, escorted by soldiers,
proceeded to clean out the houses.
while the fire was unheeded. The
Thirteenth Minnesota was reinforced
by detachments from the Third In
fantry, Second Oregon, the Third ar
tillery and the Tenth Pennsylvania.
Bullets flew in every direction. in al
most every street In the Tondo and
Ronondo districts, causing the most
intense excitement.
Captain Robinson Of Company G.
Thirteenth Minnesota, and three men
were wounded.
Nanny timid persone, imagining chat
the rebels had effected an entrance
through the American lines and were
advancing into the city. hurried fran
tically from the hotels n houses,
only to be stopped at the hrst CORNER
by Z guard. The sounding Of . ne*ive
buese call, Immediately p~receedtng ths
6re. leut coior to the story. Thousands
Of Chinese crossed the bridges and
plasas under IRE. hurrying with their
|bundSss 10 tie Chtnass cooSulate. All
night lcng the 1re spread throaoh the
ToudO dstrt1t, Uwssptng away ROW
Il hoesa saA tsvastiAe seFss Of esf-
ritnry
J +. asa.s. =. i,.sAaasl..