The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-02-23

about ole block east from the pal,
ace at old Manila may be seen the ar
tillery depot for all the islands. it be-
ing the chief one. This itself is walled
and contains a variety Of building,
used for residence purposes, storehouses,
workshops and prisons. We were en-
abled to visit the depot at a favorable
time and found tho Spaniards actively
engaged in cleaning up the various
munitions Of war that had been left tc
them, they having received the impress.
sion that they would be allowed to re-.
tain so much Of their arms and amuni.
tion under the Paris treaty. This was
subsequently found to he true, and
when the soldiers themselves were sent
home all the munitions Of war that
would be needful for protection were
sent with them. They were very active
shops that we say within this inclos-
ure. All the Mausers we're being
cleaned and repaired the latest pattern
canon were being 0%verhauled; even,
the harness for moving the oaisons Of
the Spaniards were being reoiled and
put il proper shape 50 that they might
be sent back to Spain to help her out
in her fearful dilemma. We saw in the
storage office a sample Of about every
gun that had been used from the time
that Magellan had entered at Cebu, in
1865, down to the present time. After
the SpaDiards had been allowed to
leave for home, great quantities Of old
flint locks and guns that were Of no
possible use, together with canon,
%shrapnel, fireballs aud larger variety of
canon balls, were sold to the highest
bidder. All en%terpris,ng English firm
bought the whole lot for 81, 900, 900,
Mexican, aud then broke it uE aud
shipped it to Hong Kong, where it was
utilized in the manufacture Of iron and
copper commodities such as would be
used il the construction of their build.
ings. 1t was one Of the stipulations at
the time Of the sale that none Of these
munitions Of wal, as such, could leave
the islands, and it wal rather a gro.
sight to see the caribou teams
going along the principal thoroughfare
OH the way to the boats, carrying huge
boxes of broken canon and bent gun
and unloaded shells. OF course
this sale dismantled the city Of canon,
and it was a drearier looking place than
aver. When it was asoertained that
the heavier articles were to be sold, the
5paniards saw u good chance to make
4 little money OH the side by selling
spears, bolos, m%achetes, haliberds and
other such articles as could not be used
against the Americans themselves, to
he officers. and there was some very
bidding. When it was under
stood that these things were to be sold,
about every officer that was off duty
md that could possibly make it was on
land. They were allowed to enter the
select such things as they
night need or wish, carry them to the
loor to one Of the colonies or generals,
Who placed a price upon them, and il
he prospective buyer thought the price
vas exorbitant. he simply carried his
wares back to the place from where he
lad obtained them, and the next fellow
hat came along repeated the operation.
10 suspicious were these Spaniards
I was not possible for a buyer to leave
he door Of that building with his
,oods, not even to get out into the mar.
outside hall, were there were about
|fty Spanish officers Watching, until he
lad deposited his money in the hand Of
he u who had done the appraising.
u course this made some Of the buyers
lot, but they we're allowed to get cool.
The Spaniard knew that he had him,
nd in this one particular instance
ould dictate his own terms, Our own
,allant Captain Hallihan was enabled
O buy a full-sized brass canon, and !
tote now, by the Anaconda Standard,
hat he il endeaycring to inspire pa.
li0tism In the hearts Of tho council at
Anaconda by selling them the same for
800. 1t was a happy scheme of his,
II the outcome had been as he de-
ired ! should have certainly kicked
lyself for not buying mp the remain
ng canons that wero OH sale, bringing
hem back to the state of Montana, SELL
ng them for one,half that price, retir-
ne from the ministry and take life
asy for the balance of my days,
clearing that there were some
hings that the Spanimds had surren-
cred, several of us, on the quiet, went
o the bnildipg where tho First Wyom-
ne was qpartered, and we were al
owed TO get what we wanted oil q
memorandum receipt, Here were to no
opnd the various articles that had been
furnished by the Spanish government
0 its soldiers, One thing that ! re-
member obtaining that was of my scr
ice were 2,000 abdominal bandages, /
nd when 1t was known, on my return
0 quarters, that ! Ind ohtained these,
very Mother's son in the regiment was
fIaid chat no would have the belly
che, aud oAmu and asked for two
andages, lost sight OF them the I
- AL /.