Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-03-12


of tie country behind the town and AZ
We looked the woods began to show
our fleet-fOoted enemy. They peered
out at Us from behind nearly every
clump Of trees. We caught sight Of
them in threes and In dozens as they
skunk through the jungle, apparently
not quite daring to attempt it. From
a clump of bushes not a hundred
yards away we presently flushed two
natives. They came forward holding
out their bows and arrows and tremb-
ling with fear. When Major Wise
told them later they would be paid
Money for Carrying Water.
for the American soldiers these two
men asked. 1T this true or is it some
joker" Harsh tales had been told
them of what the Americans would do
to prisoners, and this promise of work
and wages could not be believed with
out especial assurance of its truth
and validity.
The Chinese residents of Donsol had
not abandoned the town. They hid
away in shacks and warehouses, COM
ing out later in the afternoon and
taking advantage of such opportuni-
ties as the occupation by our soldiers
made possible to loot Filipino houses
But this practice was quickly termin-
ated by the American officers.
This morning, before we landed,
there had been a meeting of the
townspeople in the principal plaza OF
Donsol. Some men with property In
terests and bales of hemp ready for
the market were in favor of surrend-
ering. But there was revolutionary
hot-head, an officer, in the gathering,
who turned to his followers and said:
Shall we tamely surrender our
town to the enemy and become the
laughing stock of our fighting broth
ers in the north? Let us show them
we also have the courage to fight and,
if need be, to die, for our beloved
country.
This kind of talk, properly prolong-
ed, won the orator certain following,
and it was thus decided to ask for
three hours for elaboration. But
when our boats were actually seen
coming ashore, the Tagalos in the par
ty for resistance could not hold their
less sanguinary followers. and the army
broke for the Mill top. There they were
persuaded to fire that one volley, and
then they
Gladly Run Away.
There was little enough food in this
town of Donsol, and back in the hills
there is still less. The natives already
have begun to come back to the viii
lage, bringing their families, and as
this continues Major Wise will soon
have a community to administer. In
the beginning they will be sullen and
Indifferent to us, for they are still
under the fear of Tagalos, but when
they see we intend to remain and will
afford them protection against retail
lotions, they will accept us more gladly
and be ready to do little work for
good wage. The local president die
not fee with the others, because, as he
said, 81 am unusued to the bush, and
there is little food there" He was
told for the first time of the occupation
of Sorsogon, and that the insurgent
garrison had abandoned the town at
our approach, whereupon he
Seemed More Cheerful.
for row he can say that, having heard
of his chiefs surrender at the more
important town, he deemed it hopeless
and unwise to resist the same superior
force Of the enemy.
Company B and the Nashville met
with no resistance at Bulan. The ma
tives did not abandon the town, but
instead crowded down to the beach, to
witness our landing. 1t seems that
about nine months ago three Tagalos,
with rifles, stalked into Bulan and in
the name of the Filipino government
ordered the townspeople to construct
trenches for the defense of the place.
This the people did whereupon the Ia
galos went away and that was the
first and last time the people Of Bulan
ever saw any insurgents. 1here was
not a soldier in the place when our
men landed. A few frightened wo-
men had run into the country when The
Nashville steamed in but they soon
came back to their homes and were
laughed at by their neighDors for
their fears. Our officers talked with
the town president, who is to be con-
tinued in Office as before and follow
ing his suggestions our troops were
quartered in comfortable houses Lear
the beach. The president seemed
pleased at our occupation and prom
ised his people peace prosperity and
resumption of business under our con-
troll. Bulan suffered much from lack
of food during the six months OF the
blockade and the natives there were
much more interested in the approach
ing arrival of a steamer bringing rice,
clothes and -four than In any matters
of Filipino independence.
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