New-York tribune., 1900-05-06

houses, like Smith, Bell & Co, Warren. Barnes &
Co. and others. who had been living for
months in those blockaded ports. doing what ousi
they could. looking after their employers in
terests and property TO the best of their ability and
waiting patiently for the advent of the American
soldiers.
AS a rule these English agents got well with
the rebels. and there are cases record
where they received actual i'll treatment at their
hands. In one or two instances Englishmen were
threatened, especially during the last few hours
Of rebel occupation of towns and when the rebels
knew they would soon be away in the hills.
Mr.. Easton Smith. Bell &; Co.'S agent at Cat
balogan. in sanar for instance. received letters
from Sutban, the rebel chief. after the
Americans occupied the town. in which he was
threatened because of his friendliness toward the
American officers. Just before the rebels left
Catbalogan, and when they setting fire
the town, Mr.. Easton went out in the street and.
with the help of his boys, prevented by his firm
and aggressive attitude the rebel incendares from
firing his place
REBEL EXTORTION PREVENTED.
The arrival of the Americans AT Calbayog also
in Samar. saved about $500 the English repre-
sentative of a house in Manila. on the ground of
taxation, the rebels had been trying for some
time TO collect or extort a considerable OF
money from this man. He had put them off with
several small payments hoping for arrival of
American troops before the rebels became
exigent. The soldiers did arrive just as the rebels
had delivered him an utimatum. saying the money
must be paid at once. The presence of the Ameri-
cans in the bay. however, gave the rebels something
else to think about and they forgot 10 insist the
payment of the last $500 demanded
Two Englishmen in Legaspi spent a rather
vous time in their warehouses while the Ameri-
warshps bombarded the town and while
Major Shiptons battalion drove the enemy from
their trenches.
They well hidden under many bales of
hemp. however. and were fairly safe from the
projecties The British gunboat Pover, which wit
before the fighting began in order to bring off any
Filipino leader Colonel Baiarmino, declined to tii ai
low the two Engiishmen to leave the town, saying.
Government he would be responsible for their
The English agents have in the main been faith
II, fT and at their posts and have senes
often at great personal risk
1t seems that the tale of the burning and attack
dremy nj OF Lnzon was eNaggerated and that the
by the populace, and during the excitement few
shots were fired on the streets; that all. The
it's object, directed against George Coing-
aept m at hsP MF mSs na9ss WSs
thoroughly frightened and, with two hundred
steamer Juno and came straightway to Manila.
HEMP CONFISCATED BY CUSTOMS OFFICER.
1t has just to light that the American
customs authorities have confiscated about three
thousand bales of hemp in the Camarines provinces
belonging to the rebels Tracy Page. of the Manila
newly opened ports in the south to establish
branch custom houses there and put the ma
chinery OF collections and cearances into running
order. While in the Camarnes MIR. Page learned
that considerable hemp had been collected by the
rebel officers, and that they holding it
sell the material opportunity offered 1t
ascertained that this property had been col
lected from the natives IN lieu of cash contribu-
tons for the maintenance of the rebel soldiers and
the continuance OF the revolt against American
authority. Consequently. the hemp in question was
clearly contraband Of and subject to conhsca-
tion-
Mr.: Page worked hard prove the ownership
efforts by the fact that the rebels always
noted for recording all transactions in detailed and
learned from the Spaniards. They had recorded the
collection of this hemp, from whom and when
received. and SO forth, and when Mr. Page finally
found these documents and had also taken several
affidayits from natives familiar with the facts
considered his evidence sufficient and recon-
ing army offcer of the district This officer de-
c!ined TO take the responsibility of conhscation
Mr.. Page took the duty upon himself and has just
placed the entire matter before General Otis here
IN Manila 1t seems that the rebel owners of this
hemp claim TO have sold their property to Fill
in question has been In the Camarine
Provinces for nine months their contention will be
about $4,000 gold
The accumulation of hemp placed upon the
come rapidly to Manila. and already the ports
wellnigh emptied. Many hemp plantations have
been destroyed by the rebels. The conditions exist
ing To-Day IN the hemp country are all against the
production OF even fair crop year Laborers
are both scarce and timd about working in the
nelds, where they would be subject to attack by
merauders and iadrones md. all things considered,
II will probably be some time before the Philip
pines produce a good crop The rope and binder
twine manufacturers In America will have 10 fan
back on Yucatan sisal in place Of the Manila
~ and aayA