Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-01-30
A REBELS HEAD.

This is not really my own story-it
is my grandIather's. Still, since it Is
all in the family, | may as well tell
1t; and, besides, it has special interest
now, when so many people in this lard
are looking and longing across the Pa
ciiic to where our flag floats over Man-
ila bay.
In the year 1912 my grandfather, Il
young man of 20, shipped as common
sailor on the three e-mastcd ship Polly
Ann of New Bedford. bound from New
York to the Philippines with cargo
of flour. The voyage was uneventful
and 1876 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
we'll, and believing there were chances
for II wide-awake Yankee to make Il
fortune in the islands, he quilted the
ship and took service with trad
ing firm on the harbor front In 10
years he was manager of a business Of
his own, and Il man of influence among
the foreign traders. The Spaniartls.
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.
ish half Malay, who had formerly
been an assistant in the packing house.
/ Aguado possessed polished, courtly
manners, and Il good education: he had
/ received his schooling at Il monastery
| and grandfather trusted hIm implicitly.
for in the course of time he made him
! chief clerk and adviser.
Aguado was absolutely fcarless-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 a jungle, some 10 or 10 miles away
| from the city, when they We're charged
by Il maddened buffalo that dashed out
| of Il water hole upon them. They both
ran for cover, but grandfather, by
some mis-step, tripped on Il vine and
fell. and before he could regain his
feet the animal was upon him Ii
was no time to use n gun-they wore
armed with nothing but light fowlng
pieces for pigeon shooting When
grandfather fell, Aguado who was q
little behind him, made leap to 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 bacl; IN
on the buffalo and stabbed it through
the neck again and again with the dt X
terity of veteran matador The buf
falo fell dead in its tracks and grand
father crawled away with Il broker
arm.
From that time on the two men Were
like brothers. Juan seemed glad that
he had had an opportunity to show
his regard for his employer and bane
factor, and grandfather was too mucl
of a man to be anything but generous
to one who had saved his life.
But it was about the end of thei1
comradship. One day native from
up country called at the warchouS,
for Aguado. They retired to distan
part of the building and talked lon.
and quietly together. Then the strang
, er went away and the clerk returned Il
his desk
That night, when it came time ro
I closing, Aguado said: "Senor, | mus
leave you'll am wanted at home. an
it will be useless to try to detain me
Grandfather was surprised beyon
1 belief, almost; but he did not try t
disuade him. He paid his arrears n
salary, added II handsome bonus. an
said good-hy to the only man in tn
east of whom he was truly fond.
Two years passed and not wor
came from Aguado: but that was nc
$ very strange, for the province Wher
| H.. In f,,
, some time, and as the fighting on bot
NJ sides was constant aud relentless, con
r. munication with Manila was practica
d ly cut off,
However, as time went on the rebe
Il lion was crushed, and the insurgcnt
We're scattered or captured. The leat
er of the revolution, one Luz Berce,
g" was a man of considerable generalshi
and resources, for without munitior
u or money he had held his groun
: against the Spaniards for long tim
= and had intrigued successfully anon
the native troops sent to oppose hin
} But he could not hold forever, and |
: too, was fugitive.
o. Then it was that the Government +
sorted to an eXpcdicnt often tried
' Spanish countries for catching tho,
d who VIII mol Surrcnder-a price w:
- set on Luis BcrccO's head. Placart
Y were posted in Manila and throughoi
o the islands wherever Spanish autho
X ity was recognizeds proclaming "A T.
i ward of 10000 Mexican dollars to IL
v one who would bring the head OF II
insurgent leader to tn" authoritie
My grandfather had frequently see
= these announcements, and wondert
.. what sort of a man it was who caus,
the captain-gcneral so much ammo
y ance Both the captain-general al
l.. himself were soon TO know.
T. One afternoon the captain-eener
st alone in his office. He was in
= complacent mood, for certain doc
d ments before him related to the di
+. position of the surrendered insurgeI
bands who had been harrassing h
u chosen province Tor the last two year
Suddcrly, without any warning, Il
door opened behind him and ms
b. sterp ped quickly into the room, mt Il
. same time SlipDirg the bolt again in