Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-01-12

Say About the Insurrection.
Paul ]. Spillane of Company c.
Ninth United States infantry, writing
from Manila. Philippine Islands. IN
der date of Oct. Ii, TO the Chicago
| Record. says:
Il was recently released as a prison
er Of war 10y the insurgent army.
was captured just outside of the town
Of Santa Rita, il the province of Pam
pango, whittier we lad advanced a
few days before. 1t is eight miles
from san Fernando and not on the
railroad. The climate here is very
warm and cOmpels man TO incline
toward laziness. Thinking that a little
exercise would do me good. / started to
take 4 walk and happened to stroll on
the outskirts of the town. The first
thing | knew / was surrounded by
well armed Filipino soldiers. l did
not have any weapon. and at that time
did not understand their language. so
/ expected nothing but death. fold
cd my arms and waited.
- sergeant stepped 10 the front.
He could talk little broken English,
and he told me TO surrender and not to
make any noise. Then they took me
into house. where they kept me until
night. In the darkness they marched
me past the American camp. holding
knives at my throat and telling me
that If l made a sound they would cut
my head of. Needless to say ! kept
quiet. They then marched me across
ricefields and through sugar and cane
fields, part Of the time hip TO waist in
mud and water. until nearly daybreak,
when we reached a town, and they
took me into n house and gave me n
raw crab and two bananas TO eat.
There they told me 10 go to sleep. for
l would have to march again soon.
After that / had to march almost ev-
cry night from town to town.
Il have been in almost every town
in the northern part of the island and
have met and talked with Aguinaldo
and all his generals and principal Off
GERS; also his secretary of war and
secretary OF foreign affairs. We were
used like gentlemen. My khaki blouse
was stolen by n Filipino thief, and
when l was taken before Senior Am
brosio Flores. secretary of foreign af- |
fairs, / had an uudcrshirt and pair of |
trousers on, but no coat, shoes or socks.
| told him. He then ordered his serv-
ant 10 look among his clothes and see |
if lie could find Il coat. He could not |
find one, so Senior Flores got up from
his chair and told me he had only one /
coat. the one he had on. made of white
duck. He took il off and insisted up
on my taking il, which l refused to do.
Also when l and other prisoners were
Senior Flores sent word that lie would |
like to sec us. We went to his house
i'm n body. He gave each of us one of
the best cigars made on the island and
said he hoped we were all happy at the
prospect of going back to our friends.
Three of us. Sergeant James Boyle of
the Sixteenth infantry, Corporal Otto
Schew of the Third infantry and my
self, he offered commissions in the in
sUrgcnt army. He said we should have
plenty of money and good food, good
houses to live in and free land after
The war was over. The American au- |
horities, he said, would never find us,
md we should never he on or near the
firing line, as our sole duty would be
20 drill recruits.
Most Of Aguinaldo's staff officers
ire we'll educated men and can talk
good English. They told us that they
lad been fighting for three years, and
II one year more they would be ready
o fight for six years. If they should
yet corncred and have to lay down
heir arms. they said. the trouble
would not be ended, for they would
lot allow an American to live on the
sland. The American would be as
assinated at his own door at night or
would be poisoned in his own house by
lis servants. They are capable Of
,eeping their word. They also told us
hat General Otis had offered them
autonomy under American protection
they would lay down their arms,
tut this, they say, they will never do.
.'rheY SaY they are only fighting for |