The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-01-16
-EXGITING HUNS
Eoz Filipino FilibuStsrs-Piratss By
Instinct and Training
THE FILlBuS1ERING FILIPINO.
Takes to Smuggling and Like Fur
suits as Naturally as a Duck Takes
tolWAter, and the utmost Vigilance
Of ednboats q Constantly Neees-
Sary to Keep Watch Upon Tham.

New York Press: one Of the most
vexins problems which have engaged
the attention OF the American authorit-
les in the Philippines Is the suppression
OF smuggling between the Islands, and
that kind Of smuggling which is carried
on for the benefit Of the Insurgents.
Until recently the Tngalogs in Luzon
have been able to carry on regular
mail service with the southern islands,
and to get from ports held by the
Americans food. clothing and some
times munitions OF war for the insur-
gent bands. noilo, on the Island Of Pa
nay. occupying a central position in
the archipelago Of over two thousand
Islands. has been favorIte clearing
house for the smugglers. and is stillto
some extent, though now Che vlgilant
patrol of the small gpnbosts bought
from the Spanish for just such work
has brought the illicit traffic within
some bounds. und all along the palm
bordered beanh Of IloIlo Straits can be
seen canoes and prOas drawn up on the
ahingle and covered with matched palm
rools. Only a little while ago all this
fieet was afIoHt waiting for ',ssisiasss
opportunilIes Ilollo Straits lie be-
tween the island OF Panay and -the
small island Of Gulmaras. which forms
the southern shelter 6or the harbor OF
Hobo. GuimarRs is a beautiful is
land. and before the war the wealthy
citiSens Of 1foiio had their summer
homes there. airy bungalows, surround
ed By gardens and plantations. 1t is
broken up into many hills and valleys.
and the people are prosperous. When
the Americans occupied IloiTo and
opened that port to commerce the
smuggfing began. Each morning from
Gulmaras come dancing over the three
miles Of shining water fleet Of proas
laden with milk. fruit. chickens and
garden truck for the city, for Guimaras
Is the market garden for 1loIlo. mex
change the canoes take back at night
rice, kerosene, matches, clothing and
various other things which the inhabl-
tants Of the island require. AS there
are ten thousand people on Guimaras,
q large quantity OF stores can be la
ken back without exciting suspicion.
Besides. Guimaras is American terri
tory, where thsre is no sign Of rebel
lion, the inhabitants gladly having well
coined American rule. But the rebels
not only used the island for smuggling
purposes. but over from Panay and
from Negroes came now and then rebel
bands Of raiders. who levied tribute OF
food and money, and then sailed away
in their canoes.
The smuggling was done in this wav'
when the laden feet returned from IL
oIlo to Guimaras ut night only por-
ton of the canoes or proas unloaded.
The rest. under cover of darkness, ran
back to the Fanny coast, which. to the
north of IloIIo, is full of hidden bays
concealed by the mountains and little
coves, the narrow entrance to which
cannot be seen from the sea, so thickiy
to the waters edge grow the tropical
iungles. In these sheltered retreats
the supplies bought IN Ifoiio in daytime
were discharged and carried to the In
surEent bands in the mountains or
stored to await the coming Of a native
coastlng schooner. which would carry
them to Luzon. The proas used In this
smuggling business are canoes with
bamboo outriggers on either side. They