The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1899-03-22

some - conspiracy 10 machete our
Soldiers by Wholesale In Barracks
Discovered In Time.
"The Porto Ricans want independ-
ence, eaid Colonel William H. Hub
bell, commander of the Forty seventh
regiment, which had a triumph in
Brooklyn recently upon its return from
Porto Rico.
Colonel Hubbell in an interview de-
clared his belief, based upon his expert
ence as soldier of this government
that an instruction of the natives of
Porto Rico is bound to come sooner or
later. He says that every evidence of
the forthcoming uprising was given in
Porto Rico, especially in the latter part
of the stay of the Forty-seventh regi-
ment there.
A Porto Rican Agmnaldo can cause
this government much annoyance The
people-that is the mass of them-have
been left UNNECESSARILY poor after years
of Spanish misrule. They are in great
part ignorant particularly ignorant
concerning the intentions of the Ameri-
can government They have become de-
mOralized by the example Of Cuba, hav
ing observed there the successful issue of
great revolution, and, although their
grievances are impossible to discover,
like all Latin races they like a reyolu-
ton once in a while, just for the sensa-
ton Of the thing.
1T Is just five months now, said
Colonel Hubbell the other afternoon at
the FOrty-seventh' S armory, ''since we
left Newport for Porto Rico on the
Manitoba. We were sent to Porto Rico
to help restore order and set the ma
chinery Of the somewhat modified civil
government in operation.
Contrary to cur expectations, we
have had to attend largely to military
business during the latter part of our
stay The headquarters of the Forty
seventh regiment were at Caguas,
small town in the northern part of the
island, containing about 1000 people. .
We found it very dirty. very i'll smell
ing. We first set to work cleaning the
place.
eve left Caguas clean. l think we
restored order completely. At least this
was so during our stay. By the conduct
of officers and men and by the charac-
ter Of our orders We tried to impress the
natives with the worth Of American
institutions. But we found out that
there is a latent determination among
a large class of Porto Ricans to gain
independence. There is no longer any
use in trying to conceal the fact.
"Our troubles and annoyances in
creased toward the last The demon
STATIONS made at our departure con-
WINGED US that the majority of the ma
tives were glad to get rid of us. Our
first difficulties on the island were
caused by our suppression of a secret
society known as the Black Hand II
was organized on the same lines as the
Kuklux in the United States. A plot
was formed of which we obtained am
pie proof, to enter our barracks by
stealth and put the entire portion of
the regiment which was at Caguas to
the machete. Fortunately we were
placed on our guard and the conspiracy
was frustrated
Il soon found out who was at the
head OF this organization and informed
him that | should hold him personally
responsible for any act of hostility to-
ward US, whatever it was or by whom
committed. This had beneficial effect,
although it did not prevent the foul
murder OF one of our men, who was de-
coyed to a clubhouse, where his head
was almost severed from his body.
eve found many of the native Porto
Ricans given to treachery, Many who
received us with flowers and loud hur-
rahs were afterward discovered in some
of the plots against us. Our sentinels
did not need the caution of their officers
to refrain from sleep. Some of the ma
tives were detected sneaking up on the
sentinels for the purpose of stabbing
them in the back. After that, when
ever we saw a suspicious looking man,
we made him throw up his hands and
submit to search. On men thus halted
we frequently found knives in their
sleeves
"Of course there is a better class of
VI w 4S4SduS' WIN are III IdNOI OF large
force remaining Oh the island They
were sincerely sorry at our departure.
These men are anxious to resume bust
ness and are waiting for closer com
mercial relations with the United
States so that they may be able to dis
pose of their sugar and their tobacco.
The taking Of the island by the United
States has disarraAged the old commerce
OF Porto Rico, and many planters are
almost completely without money, al