Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-02-23

Manila, Feb. %, 7:50 a. m.-Last night
was one of terror to the thousands OF
inhabitants of Manila, the rebels max
ing good their oft repeated threats to the
extent of burning scores of buildings. AT
O'Clock an incendiary fire occurred IN a
block of brick buildings occupied by Chi
nese in the Gale La Costa in the SANTA
Cruz district. A stiff breeze was blowing
and the infiammability of the structures
caused the blaze to spread with alarming
rapidity. The city fire department was
hopelessly incompetent and the Enghsh
volunteer brigade from Santa Mesa was
summoned and with a modern engine
pumping adequate streams from the
canal, succeeded after four hours work
in getting the blaze under control. Mean
time the entire block and the greatest
part of two others across the street were
Quilted, Hundreds of inhabitants were
rendered homeless.
The Chinese and natives lined the ad-
iacent streets while hundreds more,
fearing a general confa grafton, removed
their furniture and other portable goods
in every direction within a radius or a
quarter of a mile, when the alarm was
first given General Hughes personally
superintended the police arrangements.
The whole city was thoroughly patrolled
and guards were doubled. Every avail
able man was dispatched to the region OF
the fire. Impediments were placed IN the
way of the firemen and the hose was cut
five times. This resulted in all the ma
tives being driven off the streets, those
in the immediate vicinity of the blaze
, being corralled in vacant lots and guard
ed until the excitement was over. In
many instances the natives were insolent
and paid no regard to the orders given
them and the soldiers We're compelled to
i use harsh measures. The butts Of rifles
and their bayonets We're freely applied.
The danger from live electric wires neceS-
STATED the closing of the circuit in the
burning region and the only light in GER
tain parts of the city was that furnished
by the blaze.
Shortly after midnight another big fire
was started in the Tondo district, whore
! the natives are thckest, and when the
| fremen and soldiers attempted to work a
regular fusilade of rifle and revolver shots
were fired from the windows and roofs of
buildings. The firemen, escorted by SOL
ders, proceeded to clean out the house,
while the fire was unheeded. The Thir-
teenth Minnesota was reinforced by de-
tachments from the Third infantry, Sec
ond Oregon, the Third artillery and the
Tenth Pennsylvania. Bullets flew in
every direction. IN almost every street III
the Tondo and Bononda districts, causing
the most intense excitement.
Capt. Robinson of company c, Thir-
teenth Minnesota. and three men We're
wounded Many timid persons, imagining
that, the rebels had effected an entrance
through the American lines and We're ad-
vancing into the city, hurried frantically
! from the hotels and houses, only to be
stopped at the first corner by a guard.
! The sounding of a native bugle call i'm
mediately preceding the firing lent color
| to the story Thousands of Chinese cross
ed the bridges and plazas under fire,
hurrying with their bundles to the Chi
| nese consulate.
! All night long the fire spread through
! the Tondo district, sweeping away rows
of houses and devastating acres of ter
/ rtory. The damage was inestimable
With daylight punitive measures We're
decided upon and the Americans, al
though tired after their sleepless night s
work, soon cleared the district of every
native after a slight resistance.