Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-02-25
REBELS FIRE MANILA.
Great Damage Done by Incendiaries
in the Philippines Capital.
DIR ALLIES ON NEGRos ISLAND.

ucady, Anxious and willing to Ac-
.ss.spt Amy Proposition Made on Be-
gnaif or Our Government.
MANILA, Feb. o. While the guns IN
sabe city walls and those on board the
4AgTs 0f Rear Admiral Uewey's feet in
s1se bay fred a salute in honor of Wash
z.sxg1on's birthday four commissioners
sgesm the Island of Negros had an inter
uSrw with Major General Otis and in
garrnod linn that the American flag had
Taseady been raised over that island and
ssSns rs inhabitants were ready, anxious
zzzaa willing to accept any proposition the
1snerieans might offer.
The insurgents have been driven from
N1ae island entirely. Although the Iloilo
awbc3s have given the people of Negros
rnasaa trouble, especially in the matter
sxg financial assistance demanded by the
x-eEel leaders. the inhabitants of Negros
sEtwe persistentIy held aloof, and now,
sAraugh the commissioners, announce
s5aat they want the advice and help Of
general Otis. The latter assured them
-nat the Americans would provide an
-segeptable government, and in the mean
1Tnpe he instructed them not to pay the
sssfels anything. The Negros commits
asnssners were delighted with their re-
.sSption.
smniense damage has been done by
dxns which are believed to rave been
azSarfed by insurgents last night. The
15E@ department has experienced great
stfdculty in fighting the flames owing
e& dcfective apparatus. 1t Is reported
FAzf the natives have damaged the APP
yzzratus. There was some fighting in the
~sssrssets during the night, but the Ameri-
szns quickly quelled the uprising. A
srsTnnber of the insurgents were killed and
several American soldiers wounded.
n Sarge market place was among the
Hlrga TO burn, between 0 anc TOO resi-
sSenees and business houses having also
gIseea destroyed. Fires were started at
aSereral points simultaneously and spread
fn9s with great rapidity resisted all efforts
9s control them. Hundreds of homeless
asa1Ives are huddled in the streets, max
Ta< the patrol duty of the Americans
vsusry difficult.
Al s O'Clock an incendiary fire occurred
E@ n block of brick buildings occupied
ssE Chinese on the Gale Lacoste, in the
s9ynfa Cruz district. A stiff breeze was
ENsS1ving and the infammability of the
structures caused the blaze to spread
with alarming rapidity. The city fire
department was hopelessly incompetent.
ssnsa the English volunteer brigade from
SANTA Mesa was summoned, and with a
xzso6ern engine pumping streams from
rKse canal succeeded in getting the blaze
txaJer control.
9mpediments were placed in the way
or she firemen, and the hose was cut
ffce different times. This resulted in all
tao natives being driven off the streets,
eNsase in the immediate vicinity of the
Fxssxe being corralled in vacant lots and
asxzx rfed until the excitement was over.
fH g1aany instances the natives were in
SsGss9af, and the soldiers were compelled
fTz use harsh measures. The butts of
eiastxr rifles and their %bayonets were freely
szpyslied.
Shortly after midnight another big
k1eV. started. and when the firemen and
sssSsiers attempted to work a regular fu-
sSsl&ade of rifle shots and revolver shots
svs4~c fired from the windows and roofs
czT She buildings.
THe iiremen, escorted by soldiers, pro-
axgs1ed to clean out the houses, while the
fivye was UNDECIDED. The Thirteenth Min
rxssota were reinforced by detachments
farsm the Third infantry, the Second
S&cegon. the Third artillery and the
'sSeazfh Pennsylvania. Bullets few in
ssxsry direction in almost every street in
tAse Tondo district, causing the most in
1xs&se excitement. Captain Robinson, Of
sNpznpany G, Thirteenth Minnesota, and
tAype men were wounded.
With daylight punitive measures were
sfxcded upon, and the Americans, though
enksa1 after their sleepless nights work,
sssssSn cleared the district of every native
SITTER a slight resistance.