Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-04-03

(Staff Correspondence Associated Press.)
Manila, P. l., March 1, Via Steamer
Nippon Maru, to San Francisco, April
2.-After many false alarms and frus-
trated attempts, the oft-repeated
threats of the rebels to burn Manila
and massacre every European and
American within it's walls, eliminated
in disastrous confagration and an at
tempted uprising which was promptly
checked on the night Of Washington's
birthday. That preconcerted arrange
ments had been made to fire the city in
half a dozen different places simultane-
ously, there can be no doubt; but, for
tunately, the plans miscarried for
various reasons and the natives them
selves, or at least their sympathizers,
lost as much if not more than those
upon whom they sought to wreak their
vengeance.
A quieter day than that of February
22d it would be difficult to imagine.
All the banks and leading mercantile
houses were closed, and except for the
fact that the saloons were open, it
seemed more like Sunday than a holt
ton of affairs outside having kept most
people indoors. About shutdown, how
ever, the town bestirred itself and the
streets were soon filled with people TAX
ing an airing after dinner, it being the
custom here to dine at eight o'clock
and retire Immediately afterward. Just
as the last strings of carriages which
daily pass and repass each other on the
Luneta were forming for the procession
homeward,
A DENSE BLACK COLUMN OF
SMOKE
rolled up above the intervening roofs,
and almost Immediately afterward an
ominous red glare was reflected from
the sky. Murmurs of horror were fol-
lowed by the sharp orders to coachmen
and there was a wild scramble for the
city. Even when this was reached
and it was ascertained that the fire
was in the Santa Cruz districts, some
distance from the residence section, the
alarm was undated, for no one doubt
ed that incendiaries were at work and
none knew where the next blaze might
not be started.
On the streets in the vicinity of the
fire, which was within two blocks of the
Escolta, the widest confusion reigned
for some time, people scurrying here,
there, and everywhere. The blaze had
started in a row of two story modern
buildings, with brick foundations. on
the Gale la Coste, in the center of the
Chinese section, and as several of these
had been fired within few minutes Of
each other, it soon assumed alarming
proportions. The local fire brigade
turned out with commendable prompti-
tude, but with more zeal than discre-
ton, proceeded to pour three tiny
streams of water from as many lines
of hose upon the red hot brick walls
of the buildings fired, which were al
ready doomed, instead of attempting to
prevent those opposite and adjacent
from igniting. The consequence was
that by the time Gen. Hughes and his
men arrived on the scene and COM
menced to clear the streets. the fire
was spreading on both sides of the Gale
laCoste and a stiff breeze was tanning
it forward. During the excitement the
hose was cut five times and other i'm
pediments placed in the way of the
firemen. Upon learning of this, Gen.
Hughes
ISSUED ORDERS TO HIS MEN
to shoot the first man who interferred
with the checking of the flames, or at
tempt to start others. Several natives
who picked up burning brands and
started off with them were either shot
or bayonetted by the guards, and then
a general round up of all natives on
luS SlICelS III TIE slCII4ly was vi uC1Nu.
AS thousands Of people were vacating
their houses and carrying off their eff
fects and the sidewalks and roadways
were Uttered with furniture for blocks,
this was a work of some difficulty, but
by degrees the soldiers corralled hun
dreds of protesting natives and hustled
them into yards and vacant lots, where
they were guarded until the excitement
subsidized.
About o'clock the European volun-
teer fire brigade arrived on the scene
with modern engine and after three
hours work, the fire was controlled.
Meantime, the whole of the block in
which the blaze originated, two-thirds
of that on the opposite side of the
street and a block and a half west of
it had been completely Quilted
Shortly after midnight, just as the
weary workers and watchers were re-
pairing to their quarters, congratulate
ing themselves that the fire, bad
though it was, had been no worse, an
other blaze was reflected from the