Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1899-03-12
MAY LOOK FOR SOME
TROUBLE IN PORTO RICO.
Colonel Hnbbell Believes the Natives
WIN Go 10 the Extreme 10
Get independence.

New York March ii.--Colonel VIII
liam H. Hubbell. commander of the
Forty-seysnih regiment which has Just
returned from Porto Rico. when inter
viewed by a journal aud Advertiser re-
porter said
Tho Porto Ricans want independ'
ence. he said. and II was his belief
based upon his experience a. a soldier
Of this government. that an insurreoiion
of the natives of Porto Rico il bound 70
come sooner or later He said that
every evidence Of the forthcoming up
rising was given in Porto Rico espe-
c.ally in the latter part u the stay oi
the Forty-seyenth regiment there
"At Porto Rico Aguinaldo oouldc cause
this government much annoyance. The
people had become demoralizel by the
example Of Cuba. having observed there
the successful issue Of great reyo'
luton
~ Is iust Eve months now said
1 Colonel Hubbou since we left New
port Tor Porto Rico on the Maitoha We
were sent 10 Porto Rico 10 help restore
order and set the machinery oi the some-
what modified civil government IN op-
Grafton.
Contrary 10 ourexpectaiions, we had
10 attend largely % military business
during the latter part of our stay. The
headquarters of the Forty-seyenth regi'
ment were at Caguas, a small town In
the northern part of the island. contain-
ing about 1000 people We found II
very dirty and illsmelling. We first yet
20 work cleaning the place.
We loft Caguas clean. I think we
restored order completely. AZ least tins
was ~ during our stay. BY the con
duct of officers and men aud by the
character of our orders We tried 10 inn
press the natives with the work oi
u American institutions But we found
out that there is latent determination
among large class of Porto Ricans IN
triguing 10 gain independence. Ther'
Is NO longer any use IN trying 20 concea
the fact
"Our troubles and annoyances In
creased toward the last The demon
drations made 40 our departure con
p WINGED us that the majority % the No
\. tives were glal 20 get dd II us On
10 first dificultios ou the island were causes
II by our suppression oi secret -ociet
,l known a. the Black Hand 10 was oI
il. panizel on the same lines a. the ku
klux In this country. A plot was formc
.p of which we obtained ample proof .
M enter our barracks by stealth and pm
d. the entire portion Of the regiment whic
ri was at Caguas 10 the machete. Fol
re tunatelv. We were placed on our guar
m and the conspiracy was frustrated
n Il so1n found out who was at the hea
AN of thi. organization aud informed hin
he that should hold him personally n
/. spousihle f1r any act of hostility towar
us whatever it was. or boy whom con
mittei This had a beneficial effect, a
though IL did not prevent the foul mu
~ der of one of our men, who was decoy'
he 10 "a club house. where his head was a
he most severed from his body
ug I'VE found MANY Of tine native Por
'at Rirnns given to troachery. Many wi
ral received us with us flowers and loJ
m hurrahs were afterwards discovered
ill some of the plots against us
int "Our seutinels did not need the ca
tion Of their officers 90 refrain fro
sleen. Some of the natives were dote,
al aneakiug upon the 'entinels for Z
". purpose ~ stahhing them IN the hac
rn After that whenever we saw % susl
Ext cious looking man we made him thr,
poo up hi. hands and submit 90 search
'-e- men thus halted we frequently fou
lh knives iu their sleeves
lu "Of course there Is % better class
in Porto Ricaus. who are in favor ~
The large force remaining on the islar
ing They were sincerely sorry az our
eau parturr These men are anxious
resume business and are waiting
closer commercial relations with
. United States so that they may he al
W to dispose of their sugar and iohac
'.' The taking " the island 10y the Unit
'N' state. has disarrmngcd the old commc
IN. of Porto Rico. and many planters
'l. almost completely without money
% though they have the harvest Of LAT
... crops
~ "The government is adopting pol
'' of Withdrawing iue soldiers from
island gradually, but / look sooner
p" later for trouble