Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1899-01-13
A REBELS HEAD.

80 hJ ~ fN'llis FIilNt u 10
all In the family, ! may as well tell
It; and, besides, 1t has special Interest
now. when no many people In this land
are looking and longing across the Pa.
cihc to where our flag floats over Man
lila 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 l3O 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
disposition, looked over the city pretty
well, and believing there were chances
for a wide-awake Yankee to make
fortune In the Islands, he quilted the
ship and took service with "a trad
Ing firm on the harbOr front. In 10
years he was manager of n 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 In
creasing trade, and so called to his
help young Filipino named Juan Ag
uado, bright young man, half Span
lsh, half Malay, who had formerly
been an assistant In the packing house.
Aguado possessed polished, courtly
manners, and IA good education: he had
received his schooling nj a monastery
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 n jungle. some 10 or 10 miles away
from the city, when they were charged
by n maddencd buffalo that dashed out
of q water hole upon them. They both
ran for cover, but grandfather, by
some misstep, trippcd on u vine aud |
fell. and before he could regain his |
feet the animal was upon him. II |
was no time to use gun they were |
armed with nothing but Hight fOwIing |
pieces for pigeon shooting When |
grandfather fell. Aguado, who was n
little behind him. made leap 10 one |
side to pass him: but he was not think
Ing of saving himself. Quickly draw
ing his kris. which was another mark |
Of the Malay IN him, he rushed back up
on the buffalo and stabbed II through |
the neck again and again with the dex-
terity OF q veteran matHd0r The buf.
falo fell dead in its tracks and grand.
father crawlcd away with broken
arm.
From that time on the two men were
a .I...N
he had had an opportunity TO show
his regard for his employer and bene.
factor, and grandfather WAS too much
Of a man to be anything but generous
to one who had saved his life
But It was about the end OF their
comradship. One day native from
up country called at the warehouse
for AguadO. They retired 10 u distant
part OF the building and talked long
and quietly together. Then the strang
er went away and the clerk returned to
his desk.
That night, when II came time for
closing, Aguado said: "Senor, | must
leave you'll am wanted at home, and
IL will be useless to try to detain me-"
Grandfather was surprised beyond
belief. almost but he did not try to
disuade him. He paid his arrears OF
salary, added "a 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 not
very strange, for the province where
he lived had been In open revolt for
some time, and ms the fighting on both
sides was constant and relentless com.
munication with Manila was practical
ly cut on.
However, ms time went on the rebel
lion was crushed. and the insurgents
were scattered or captured. The lead.
err OF the revolution, one LUZ BerceO
was a man Of considerable generalship
and resources, for without munitions
or money he had held his ground
against the Spaniards for n long time,
and had intrigued successfully among
the native troops sent 10 oppose him
But he could not hold forever, and he |
too. was fugitive
Then II was that the Government re.
sorted TO an expedient often tried IN |
Spanish countries for catching those
who will not surrender price was |
set ON Luis BerceO's head. Placards |
were posted in Manila and throughout |
the Islands wherever Spanish author. |
ity was recognized, proclnlmlng re
ward OF 10000 Mexican dollars 10 the
one who would bring the head of the
lnsurgcnt leader 10 the authorities
My grandfather had frequently seen
these announcements. and wondered
what sort Of man II was who caus"H
the captain general 20 much annoy
ance. Both the captain general and
himself were soon TO know.
One afternoon the captain general
sat alone In his office. He WAS In