The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-10-24
A TRAIToR 10 THE FLAG.
Henry Vance, Aloatra. Mill.
IS tary Frison For Life.
He Deserted In the Philippines and
Joined the Insurgents-He Was .
Sentenced tn Be Shot.

colned tne lnaurgents-He. WRs
Sentenced tn Be Shot.
San Francisco (SpeciaD.-Triators to
the flag of the United States have been
rare in the army. Instances of hero
ism are, 80 common that it is only
case'of special daring that attracts gen.
eral attention. 1t Is otherwise with a
genuine case of treason. These are so
rare that when a prisoner arrived here
from the Philippines with the crime
charged against him remarkable inter-
est was taken IN the case. Investiga-
tions Of the mans antecedents proved
that he was not a native of the United
States, and possibly not q citizen.
Henry Vance is the name Of the man
who deserted from the American ranks
and went over to the Filipinos, aiding
and comforting them and leading
them. In Majors uniform, against
the flag he had sworn to defend.
Little is known of Vance's history
prior to the beginning of the war In
Cuba. He was born In the City aof
Mexico twenty-seyen years ago. his
father being a Spaniard and his
mother a Mexican. he was in the
Spanish ranks in Cuba aud fought
against the Americans for @ time.
When the Spaniards surrendered he
became a camp follower, attaching
himself to the Twenty-third United
States Infantry. He next turned up in
the Philippines, where he associated
with the Spaniards, working against
both the Americans and the Filipinos.
He was then known as Enrique Vance,
and he displayed such hostility to the
Americans that he stood In the line
Of promotion to higher rank. But the
Spaniards lost and while they were
being sent home home Vance hung
around the American quarters In Ma
Mia and eventually. enlisted in Com
pany I, Thirty ty-seventh Volunteers,
which was made up largely Of dis
charged soldiers re-enlisting in the
Philippines. He was made a musician,
and through his musical abilities and
ingratiating manner he won many
friends among the Americans. After
some months Of service he was pro-
NOTED to the post Of principal must.
clan. All the while, 1t was discovered
later, he acted as a spy for the Till
pinoB. ~
Eight months Of service with the
Americans gave the traitor good in.
sight into the methods of the Ameri-
cans and g.. fair idea Of their plans of
campaign. Completing his secret ne
gotlations with Aguinaldo' or other off,
GERS acting in Aguinaldo's behalf,
Vance secured a commission Of Major
in the Filipino Army and deserted.
For long time he was supposed to
have been killed. Then reports came
in Of his capture. Still later rumors
spread that he had been seen among
the Filipinos wearing a uniform and
assisting in operations against the
Americans. g.; ..e
2 IT. was Vance's trick Of initiating
American bugle calls, that lied to his
capture and conviction as traitor. A
small party Of soldiers of the Forty
second Infantry laid q trap for the
traitor and succeeded in capturing him
five months after he had Joined the
F'ilipinos. He was accompanied by
two half naked Filipinos, and pretend
ed to be a prisoner In their hands.
The Filipinos told another story. They
declared that they were acting under
his orders, and that he held the rank
Of Major. As Vance wore side arms
at the time, and could have easily
overpowered the5 5Filipinos If. he had
so minded, the assertion Of his COM
panions was accepted. as true and
Vance was charged withaesertion and
treason. y trl ~ ~ SSssss, =.
In company with other prisoners,
Vance was taken to the prison Of Bill
bid pending court-martial. He was
found guilty Of desertion and treason
and was sentenced to be shot The
were forwarded to President
Mckinley, who committed Vance's
sentence to imprisonment for ninety
nine. years. Vance, with other Ameri-
can prisoners, was conveyed to Manila
and placed on board the transport
Thomas, bound for San Francisco.
Upon arrival at San Francisco the
prisoners, including Vance, were soon
marched on board tug bound for AL
catraz Island. Not one> of the other
prisoners noticed Vance or conversed
with him. He was In disgrace even
among disgraced men. The tug made
her way to the steep hill that stands
guard at the entrance Of the Golden
Gate, and Vance turned for the last
time to gaze upon the scene of life, be-
fore him. Then, heavily manacled,
he stepped within the gloomy walls
that crown the great rock, never to re-
appear alive. The last object that at
tracted his gaze was the Stars and
Stripes. floating from the parapet.
Fatal Panic In Russia.
Five thousand pilgrims assembled at
the st. Nikander Monastery, in the
Porkhoff District, Russia, for a relig-
lous festival. A panic was caused by
q. false alarm Of fire, and four men
and thirty-six women were crushed
to death, many sthers being seriously
injured.
Population of Delaware.
The Census Bureau, at Washington,
has announced that the population of
Delaware in 1900 Is 1S4, 1856, as against