The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-05-23

he Natives.
house, in the manner Of ants, rushing
to their homes with bags of rice on
their heads.
On Thursday night a body Of rebels
returned to San Luis and burned a part
of the town.
Lieutenant Cunningham, with a sig
nal corps party engaged in running a
telegraph line, was camped near the
place. Major Kobbe sent the army gun
boat Cayadonga there and found the
party today in the town.
PHILIPPINE EXODUS.
The Rio Grande, since Major Kobbe
started, has been the highway for ex-
Odus of the natives, and today there
is a continuous procession of thatched
cascoes, with white flags, drifting
down the river and containing whole
families, of twenty to thirty persons,
with their household goods and animals
on board. Thousands of these boats
have passed the army gunboats. -
THE NEBRASKANS GIVEN A REST
The Nebraska regiment marched
from San Fernando to Calumpit today,
for thirty days rest. The regiment
numbers about 800 weather beaten
veterans Two of the companies are
mere squads and their battered can
teens and shiny clothes show unmistak-
able marks of rough campaigning; but
the soldiers are happy. Several Of
them dropped by the way from heat,
but when they boarded the special
train at Calumpit, bound for Manila,
they yelled like school boys and the
other troops went to the stations
and cheered heartily.
DEWEY SAILS FOR HOME.
The cruiser Olympia, with Admiral
Dewey on board left here on her home
ward journey to the United States ait
o'clock this afternoon. AS she steam
ed away the Oregon, the Baltimore and
the Concord fired an adrnirals salute.
AT the first shot the band on the flag
ships after deck played lively air
and her white clad sailors crowded the
decks and gave tremendous cheers.
AS the Olympia passed the Oregon
| the crew of that battleship gave nine
cheers for the Olympians, who re-
sponded by throwing their caps so
high that dozens of them were left
bobbing in the wake of the cruiser.
Then followed the noisiest half hour
known in this harbor since the battle
which linked it's name with that Of
Dewey. The din Of guns and brass
bands echoed through the smoke, fleet
of steam launches shrieked their whis-
ties, the musicians of the Baltimore
played Home, Sweet Home" her flags
signalled Good Bye" and those of the
Oregon said Pleasant Voyage"
The merchant vessels in these waters
dipped their flags, the ladies on the
decks of the vessels of the feet waved
handkerchiefs and the great, black
British cruiser Powerful, which lay the
furthest out, saluted the Olympia The
latter's band then played God Save the
Queen" and to this the crew of the
Powerful responded with hearty cheers
for the Olympia. The last music heard
from Admiral Dewey's ship was "Auld
Lang Syne," while the guns from the
forts at Cavite, and from the Monterey
ON guard off Paranaque, too far to be
audible, puffed white clouds Of smoke.
The Olympia was disappearing past
Corregidor island when a battery be-
fore the walled city spoke Manila's last
word Of farewell.
Admiral Dewey sat on the deck of the
Olympia and received the adieus Of his
friends during the most of the day.
The launch Of Major General Otis was
the first to arrive alongside the cruiser
at Z o'clock this morning and after
! wards the admiral landed and called
upon the major general and the United
States Philippine commissioners.
On it being said that the people
wanted Admiral Dewey to go home by
the way of San Francisco and across
the continent, the admiral replied: ''If
1 was twenty years younger and had
political ambitions, I would not miss
that chance"
Sp"aking of the situation. Admiral
Dewey said: II believe we are near the
end. The insurgents ARE fast going to
pieces The sending of third commits
sion shows that they believe this COM
mission means business
Captain Walker, of the Concord, the
last OF the commanders in battle here,
went to the admiral and said: Don't
leave me behind" So he was relieved
and goes home on the Olympia
The Philippine commissioners called
On Major General Otis this afternoon
and arranged to meet the members Of
the American commission On Monday,
when they expect their colleagues will
have arrived The chairman and secre-
tary of their commission have been
chosen.
OTIS DECLARES AN ARMISTICE.
Manila, May 20.-Major General Otis