The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-17

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that We could obtain permit from the Britis
Government for the export Of arms from the col
ony: second. that Commodore Dewey would pei
init said shipment Of arms 10 Luzon, and Their
deliver IL at Cavite 10 Aguinaldo. The perni
was granted on our false representations tina
the arms were 10 be shipped 10 Ticntsin. where
upon we contracted with the Filipino representa-
tive TO supply the following: 1000 rifles, Mause
| II nm at $40. $50 900; 900 900 cartridges at So
VI, $4,000; two Maxim guns $4,000; cost o
vessel (steamer Pasig), S3s 900 provisions an,
| incidentnls S77, 900: total, Sl38O0O
| THE ABBEY EXPEDITION.
This contract was closed the 9TH Of June
1898. and 5000 rifles and 100000 cartridges
Gines at $500. cartridges at s2s per ND wer,
| bought from Mcssrs Sicmssen Il Co, Of Hong
| Kong. We received bargain money 500 600
| MeS.. the balance Of S4S, 600. Mex, 10 be paid
| by the Filipinos after the landing of the ship
| ment--t that is 1000 rifles and two Maxims The
| steamship Pasig. with these materials in pro
cess Of loading was seized by the British al:-
| thorities on information communicated by the
Spanish Consul, and her cargo ordered 10
be discharged. The permit was Withdrawn
| and close watch kept on the ship by the har
Dor police. In spite Of our constant applca-
tons end repeated offers of guarantee TO the British
authorities that the vessel was really bound for
Tentsin, we could obtain no renewal OF the permit
Mr. Sylvester, in the meantime, had made tho
acquaintance Of DR. Edward Bedloe, the United
States Consul at Canton who suggested that
we have the arms ira nsfcrred TO Canton by means
of false sale 10 the Chinese Government With
his help we found no difficulty in doing this. and
succeeded in ceiling the rifles etc, TO the Viccroy
AZ Canton, with the understanding that the Chinese
to reject them after examination. When
the arms arrived in Canton, rebellion had broken
out in a neighborng district, and the Viceroy
kept $500 ard returned only 800. | had TO
vey 10 Mr. AgonCillo the unwclcome news Of
the seizure. and had difficulty in convincing
him that we not party to the affair We
next refused by the customs authorities
in Canton permit 10 take away the balance
of the rifles, the cartridges and the Maxims The
Commissioner Of Customs, Mr.. f. b Drew, was
suspicious OF our good Intentions and stood firm
in his determination not 10 allow the arms and
ammunition TO be rcFNpOncd from Canton in
spite Of Consul Bedloe's assurances and pro.
tests AS a way out Of the difficulty the steam
ship Pasig transferred By the British
owner, without payment or consideration, TO W.
F Sylvester The bill OF sale and transfer
made in the United States Consulate, her name
changed to Abbey. and she was granted by Com
sui Bedloe American papers and the privilege Of
flying the American flag. Complete record
Of this transaction can be found in the books
OF the United States Consulate at Canton.l This
put different aspect the affair for Commits
sioncr Drew. who had refused 10 allow the steamer
TO clear under the British flag from information
received from British officials could not refuse
70 grant a permit when the American Consul
IBedloel insisted that the vessel being Amer
can owned, was cleared at the American Con-
sulate for Singapore, and that her cargo was
consigned To tho American Consul there. Com
missioner Drew, however demanded that Syl-
vestor deposit with the customs authorities a
bond for $4,000 Mex, which bond could not
be withdrawn until after the receipt Of the re
port Of the American Consul at Singapore that
the Abbey had arrived there and had discha rgcd
her cargo. At the time Of leaving Canton there
was due us on the arms that had been taken over
by the Viceroy 10000 taels This sum still
remains unpaid The Viceroy is holding il at
tho request Of Commissioner Drew until the for
feited bonds ere made good. | placed in
complete charge Of the cargo and OF the steamer
and on about the 9th of August 1898 the Abbey
flying the American flag and comm nded by
Captain e. W. Ellis citizen of the United States
left Whampoa IA place fifteen miles from Can
ton with orders from Mr.. Sylvester to proceed
To Batangas a seaport town about eighty miles
south Of Manila Before leaving Whampoa a
photograph of the vessel and all on board was
Jams I had accompanying me a Mr. Lewis
Leonard Etzel. an American citizen who had
charge Of the two Maxim guns and whose duty
it was u teach the Fiipnos how to Use them
We had on board the following cargo 498 rifles in
2l cases: 100000 cartridges in $50 cases: Maxim
guns 1000 rounds Of Maxim ammunition.
AGUINSLDO WANTED MORE.
II was assured by Mr. Sylvester that would
not endanger myself in any way, or be mocstcd
by the authorities as the entire transaction, he
claimed was known TO both Admiral Dewey amidst
Consu-General Wildman have since learned
TO my sorrow that this statement was not true
On or about the 3lst Of August, 1898 we arrived
at Batangas and proceeded to discharge the cargo,
winch delivered to the insurgont governor Of
the town. AT the governors request | went 10
l'akor, the then headquarters of the Filipinus,
accompanied by Mr. Etzcl and an escort TO re- |
port to Gen Aguinaldo. We took an overland |
route leaving the Abbey in charge of her captain
and we were received in every town through which !
we passed with great enthusiasm The Journey |
took two days and nights and we arrived at Bakor
on the I'd Of September Gen. Agunaldo was
pleased at our success but regretted the small
amount OF rifles we brought in. lie wanted TO |
contract Tor big deal, and when told him was |
not IN position to close any such contract he |
me 10 wire for Mr. Sylvester at once, |
Ah'
own account to proceed to Shanghai Immediately
TO procure for him two six pound quick firing guns
Tor which he was to pay us S24, 600. Mex. on dc
livery Of the guns in Hong Kong to his agent DR.
Apactble. Aguinado had about 500 rounds Of
six pound ammunition which he had seized from
the Spaniaris and he was very anxious to have
guns that could use it, Before leaving Bakor.
Agunado gave me passport over his own sig
nature, which now have in my possession
left Manila day or two later for Hong Kong.
and Mr. Sylvester left Hong Kong at the same
time for Manila. ! was not successful in nv
mission when arrived in Shanghai, neither was
MI Sylvester successful in inducing Aguinaldo
to enter into contract for large amount Of arms
to be procured in Germany II will be seen by
the above statement that both Sylvester and Etzel
plotted on American soil against the American
Government Sylvester and | met u month later
in Hong Kong, where news was received that the
Abbey had been seized on or about September
Goth, 1893, by the L. S. S McCuoch We
also heard at this time that the third instalmcnt
OF the payments on the rifles that were sold
to the Nlceroy was suspended, and held as Sc
curity for the bond that was given by Sylvester
To the hlDcSP I'm Maritime ~