The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-23


night was one of terror to thousands of
the inhabitants of Manila, the rebels
making good their oft-repeated threats
to the extent of burning acres of build
ings. wounding an officer and three men
by firing through windows during the eX-
citement AT 8 o'clock an lncendlary
fire occurred in block of brick buildings
occupied by Chinese on the Calle La
coste. in the Santa Cruz district
A stiff breeze was blowing and the
infiammability of the structure caused
the blaze to spread with alarming rapid
ity. The city fire department was nope
lessly incompetent and the English vol
unteer brigade from Santa Mesa was
summoned and with a modern engine
pumping adequate streams from the
canal, succeeded after four hours work,
in getting the blaze under control. Mean
time the entire block and the greater part
of two others across the street were
completely gutted.
Hundreds of inhabitants We're render
ed homeless. The Chinese and natives
lined the adjacent streets, whlle nun
dreds more, fearing a general connagra-
ton, removed their furniture and ofhef
portable goods in every direction, with
in Il radius of quarter of mile, when
the fire alarm was first given. Generai
Hughes personally superintended the
police arrangements. The whole city
was thoroughly patrolled and guards
were doubled. Every available man was
despatched to the region of the hre.
Impediments We're placed in the way
of the fremen and the hose was cut
five times. This resulted in all the ma
tives being driven off the streets, those
in the immediate vicinity of the blaze
being coralled in vacant lots and guard
cd until the excitement was over. In
many instances the natives We're inso-
lent and paid no regard to the orders
given them, and the soldiers were COM
PEELED to use harsh measures. The butts
Of their rifles and their bayonets We're
freely applied.
The danger from live electric light
wires necessitated the closing of the
circuit in the burning regions; and the
only light in certain parts of the city
was that furnished by the blaze.
Shortly after midnight Gnother big
fire was started in the Tondo district,
where the natives are thickest; and when
the firemen and soldiers attempted to
work a regular fusillade of rifle and re-
yolver shots were fired from the windows
and roofs of the buildings.
The firemen, escorted by soldiers, pro-
ceeded to clean ont the houses while
the fire was unheeded. The Thirteenth
Minnesota were reinforced by detach-
ments from the Third infantry, the
Second Oregon, the Third artillery and
the Tenth Pennsylvania. Bullets flew
in every direction, in almost every street
in the Tondo and Binondo districts, caus-
ing the most intense excitement.
Captain Robinson of Company e.
Thirteenth Minnesota, and three men
were wounded.
Many timid persons, thinking that the
rebels had effected an entrance through
the American lines and were advancing
into the city, hurried from their hoteis
and houses, only to be stopped at the
first corner by a guard. The sounding
of a native bugle call, Immediately pre-
ceding the firing lent color TO the story.
Thousands of Chinese crossed the
bridges and plazas under fire, hurrylng
with their bundles to the Chinese Con-
suate. All night long the flre s1reai
through the Tondo district, sweeping
away rows of houses and devastating
acres of territory. The damage IS in
estimable. With daylight punitive
measures were decided upon and the
Americans, though tired after their
sIeepless nights work, soon cleared she
district of every native after a slight
resistaifce.
MANIFESTO BY AGUINALDO.
Hong Kong, Feb. 22.-Aguinaldo has
issued a manifesto accepting the sltua-
ton caused by the unexpected provo
cation of the Americans" while lament
ing the hostilities which, he says, he
tried to avoid by every means" in his
power, making hmniliating concessions,
and tolerating insults and outragcs of
the army of occupation against the peo-
pie of Manila.
He adds that he is prepared to sacri-
fee everything to maintain the ''integri-
ty of the national honor" calls upon all
ito witness the good faith and homes
ty" of his intentions and complains that
he has been treated as a rebel because
i defended the national interests instead
of becoming the tool of the Americans
preposterous pretensions."
The rebel leader further alleges that
the country is unanimously in his sup
port, that the people Twill perish rather
than accept the odious American domin-
ion," and alleges that "eyen the cor
rupt Spanish dominion is preferable
The Philippine commission is consid-
cred by Aguinaldo to be farce. and
Otis, Denby, Dewey and Secretary
Harden are classed as pronounced an
nexationists," the latter being charged
with having "malciously DETAINED the