The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-19
PORTO RlCO'S BRIGANDS.
A BUSINESS ABOLISHED SINCE THE
AMERICAN OCCUPATION.

Murder, kidnapping and Arson For
merIy Done for Hire--Of the Two
Great Leaders, One Has Taken His
Band to san Domingo and the
Other Has Reformed.
From the New York Sun.
The death knen of brigandage in Porto
Rico was sounded when the American
troops landed at Guanica last summer Up
to that time brigands had been active.
Now few if any, remain. Since early last
January there has been no indication what
ever of their existence, and the band that
made a manifestation then was believed to
be the only one that had not yet quit bus
mess. Its experience on that occasion was
such as to discourage it. The brigands had
no sooner begun operations than word was
sent TO the military post at Arecibo about
them A squad of sharpshooters from the
Forty-seventh New York Volunteers was
Immediately detailed TO look after them.
The soldiers soon came up with them and
opened fire. The brigands were far in adj
vance at the time and were mounted on the
swift-footed little mountain ponies which
Porto Rico produces. They therefore es-
capped, but the incident opened their eyes to
the fact that American troops have diff
ferent and far more unpleasant way of
dealing with such things than the old
Spanish civil guard.
Prior to this from the beginning of the
American occupation, there had been few
and poorly organized raids. Indeed, 1t long
ago became evident that the great leaders
or captains of the bandits of Porto Rico
had forsaken the calling. The overthrow of
Spanish sovereignty was sufficient to rid
island of them AT the coming of the Amer
lean troops they dug up their gold and sill
YER and other valuables and fled from the
island. There are holes to be seen in the
ground and mounds where holes have been
dug and then reflied near some of the
caves in the Ponce district, the former hot
bed of Porto Rican brigandage, and the
country people say that at these spots was
hidden the plumber of these outlaws prior
TO the American invasion.
They were brigands in every sense of the
word, not merely petty indicators, but
robbers, kidnappers, cut-throats and foot
pads. They waylaid travellers, levied
blackmail on planters, pillaged homes kill
ed for pay and even made descents upon
villages for booty. Some of them made
a specially of removing hated persons re
ceiving for their services sums ranging
from 500 to $500, according to the finan-
cial ability of the person hiring them and
the prominence of the intended victim or
his fighting ability. The people Of Porto
Rico tell to-day with a certain pride that
these cut-throats never betrayed a patron.
The two most famous leaders in the bust
ness up 20 the time of the American cap
ture of the island were Pan Blanco or
White Bread" and Aguila Blanca, or
white Eagle" When the city of Ponce
fell into the hands of the American troops
Pan Blanco fled incontlnently His rec
ord was so bad that he could expect no
mercy. Aguila Blanca stood his ground
and decided to see what the Americans
were like. The result of the scrutiny was
favorable, so he came into the city, said
he wanted 10 lead better life, and would
reform, If the Americans would permit
him, and asked for and received a sort
of safe conduct
When Pan Blanco fed he took his entire
band with him Il is vafiously estimated
that thus the island was rid Of from If
teen to twenty-five rascals, Pan Blanco
took them to the Island of San Domingo.
This explanation of his name was given
by resident:
The good gentleman lived an apparent
ly open life in Ponce-the city, not the
district-which he protested was. decent.
respectable and virtuous. Moreover. the
authorities never nloested him vet no