The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1899-01-14
The Head Of a Rebel.


is my grandfather's. Still, since it
Is al 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 Pacific
to where our flag floats over Manila bay.
In the year 1912, my grandfather. a
young man OF 20, shipped as common
sailor on the three-masted ship Polly
Ann, of New Bedford, bound from New
York to the Philippines with a cargo
Of -four. The voyage was uneventful.
and 1856 days after passing Sandy Hook
the Polly Ann dropped anchor in Pasig
river, Manila.
During the ships stay there. GRANDPA
ther, who was of an investigating dis
position, looked the city over pretty
well, and believing there were chances
for wideawake Yankee to make for
tune in the islands, he quilted the ship
and took service with trading firm on
the harbor front. In ten years he was
manager of business of his own, and
man Of influence among the foreign
traders. AZ "a. "a
As his business grew he was unable
to manage all the details of the increas-
ing trade, and so called to his help a
young Filipino named Juan Aguado,
bright young man. half Spanish, half
Malay, who had formerly been an Is
sistant in the packing house. Aguado
possessed polished. courtly manners,
and good education; he had received
lShis schooling at q monastcry-and
grandfather 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 ten or fifteen
miles away from the city, when they
were charged by maddened buffalo
that dashed out of water hole upon
them. They both ran for cover, but
grandfather by some misstep tripped
on a vine and fell, and before he could
regain his feet the animal was upon
him. 1t was no time to use gun-they
were armed with nothing but light
fowling pieces for pigeon shooting.
When grandfather fell, Aguado, VINO
was little behind him, made leap to
one side to pass him; but he was not
thinking of saving himself. Quickly
drawing his kris, which was another
mark of the Malay in him, he rushed
back upon the buffalo and stabbed il
through the neck again and again with
all the dexterity of a veteran matador.
The buffalo fell dead in it's tracks and
grandfather crawled away with q
broken arm.
From that time on the two men were
ike brothers. Juan seemed glad that |
he had had an opportunity to show MS |
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 1t 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'll am wanted at home and II
Will be useless to try to detain me-"
Grandfather was surprised beyond
belief, almost; but he did not try to dis
suade him. He paid his arrears of sal
airy. added handsome bonus, and said
good-by to the only man in the east of
whom he was truly fond.
Two years passed and not word
came from Aguado; but that was notjl
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, commune
cation with Manila was practically cut
of.
However, as time went on the re-i
oeliion was crushed, and the insurgents
were scattered or captured. The leader
OF the revolution, one Luiz Berceo, was
a man of considerable generalship and
resources. for without munitions or
money he had held his ground against
the Spaniards for long time, and had
intrigued successfully among the ma
tive troops sent to oppose him. But he
could not hold out forever, and he, too.
was fugitive.
Then IT was that the government re-
sorted to an expedient often tried in ,
Spanish countries for catching those
who will not surrender-a price was set
On Luiz Berceo's head. Placards were
posted in Manila and throughout the
Islands wherever Spanish authority was | ,
proclaiming reward of .
10000 Mexican dollars to the one who !
would bring the head of the insureent
leader to the authorities.