Willmar tribune., 1899-03-01
REBELS APPLY THE TORCH.
Insurgent Conspirators in Manila
Make an Attempt to Burn
and Loot the City.
AMERICAN TROOPS CHECK The FIRES.
The Property Loss Is EnOrmOus-The
Native Rising Which Was Planned
Proved a Failnre-Seven of Our
Soldiers Wounded Stars and
Stripes Fly Over Negros.

Manila, Feb. 23.-Rebel conspirators
in Manila, in pursuance of orders issued
by the insurgent leaders, as set forth
in their plan for a rising against Amer
lean rule, attempted to burn and loot
the city.
In order to make sure of success, the
incendiaries planned to start the con-
f1agrations in three different quarters
CT the city, believing that the flames
would soon get beyond control, and that
they would then have a chance to kill
the foreigners here and pillage their
property. Santa Cruz, San Nicolas and
Tondo were the quarters selected for
the starting of the fires.
Did Their Work Well.
Those who were chosen to apply the
torch did their work only too we'll.
In, a short time after the fires were dis
covered the flames had spread to such
an extent that the destruction of the.
city was threatened. The troops and
foreign residents worked manfully to
check the fires, but it was not until this
morning that the flames were under
control and the city out of danger.
Uprising a Failure.
The native rising which was planned
to accompany the fire proved fail
ure. Many of the rebels were detected
and arrested. There was considera BILE
firing upon the troops from native
Il
and the inmates imprisoned. The first
fire was in the Santa Cruz district. and
after an interval of quiet fires broke out
in the other native quarters named.
Americans Wounded.
During the confusion attendant upon
the work of fighting The fire armedre
sympathiZers concealed in houses in
the vicinity Of the burning quarters
fired upon the troops. In the Tondo
quarter seven members of the Mime
sofa regiment were wounded. including
Capt. n. G. Robinson, of company C.
There was the widest excitement t
among the natives, and they were
primed for general uprising. Strong
guards were stationed everywhere
about the town, and the natives were
awed into submission by the show of
force. Matters are quieting down at
the time this dispatch is sent.
Loss Is Heavy.
It is estimated that the loss will be
very heavy. About 1000 native houses
and several hundred native shops were
burned. The fire, originating in the
Binondo quarter, threatened at one
time to reach the wharves, but was
checked. The property of European
residents generally escaped.
The FlaE Over Negros.
Manila Feb. 23.-While the guns on
the city walls and those on board the
ships of Rear Admiral Dewey's fleet in
the bay fired salute in honor of Wash
ington's birthday four commissioners
from the island of Negros had an in.
terview with Maj. Gen. Otis and in
formed him that the American flag had
already been raised over that island and
that its inhabitants were ready, anx-
ious and willing to accept any propo-
sition the Americans might offer. The
insurgents have been driven from the
island entirely. Although the Iloilo
rebels have given the people of Negros
much trouble. especially in the matter
of financial assistance demanded by the
rebel leaders, the inhabitants of Negros
have persistently held aloof and now,
through the commissioners, announced
they wanted the advice and the help
of Gen. Otis. The latter assured them
that the Americans would provide an
acceptable government, and in the
meantime he instructed them not to
pay the rebels anything The Negros
commissioners were delighted with
their reception.