The National tribune., 1900-04-05
VISIT TO CAVITE.
Historic Philippine City as 1t
Looks T0=Day-C0ck=Fighting
and Gambling.
special correspondence to THE NATIONAL tribune.

MANILA, Feb. 20.
1t was a holiday off in the office, and
accordingly Messrs. Bryan. Cuneo and |
took the opportunity TO visit the now world
famous town of Cavite, located in the
Province of that name some eight miles
by water south of Manila. We took the
ferry boat Manila at IL a. M. II was n
clear day and the upper deck where VIC
located ourselves TO avoid the very much
mixed crowd below also had n varied
company of Chinese, Filipinos of both
sexes, soldiers, sailors, officers and Ameri-
can ladies.
gave up my seat on wooden bench
to make room for three of the latter, some
Cinnamon vamosing ut the same instant.
BATTLE OF CAvITE.
We passed the cruiser Brooklyn at
anchor. the battleShip Oregon and numer-
ous other vessels. and when near Cavite
three of the sunkeu Spanish ships. A
jackie at my right volunteered the informa-
ton that three Of these vessels. raised ny
Hobson, were now mt Hong Kong being
refittcd. Then he added the novel state-
mcnt that when the first gun was fired by
the Olympia in the battle of May l the
Filipino contingent. Of which he said there
was large number in each of the Spanish
crews, Immediately jumped overheard and
swan ashore.
AT this some naval officers sitting at the
left took 4 hand in Ill" conversation.
one rcmarking that Dewey was not entitled
to the glory he had received. because the
Spanish feet consisted of nothing but a
lot Of steam launches, anyway, while at
Santiago dc Cuba. in which battle, as it
appeared. hc ht'! the honor TO b" engaged,
they possessed large and well-cquippcd
vessels.
One of orr party remarked that from
any pO'ut OF Wow Dewey was entitled to
Hll honor. because he executed the orders
h" had received promptly and thoroughly
and besides Montoio had more men than
Dewey. and the aid of the guns in the
arsenal and wa;er-battcry at Cavite; while
the total tonnage of his fleet was nearly
equal 10 that Of DeweyS being over 5000
tons. while Dewcy's was but 19,O9S. Then
the conversation ccascd.
AT THE LANDING.
The pier at the landing is such a one
rs might he duplicated at small towns
along the shores of the Potomac or ChoSa-
UcakC: and though the natural scenery is
pleasing. the general appearance Of the
place is worn and dilapidatcd.
The male inhabitants prior to American
occupation We're chiefly laborcrs in the
ars"ual and fishermen, while Il small in
dustry il the way Of weaving hats. mats
and coarser cloth was conducted by the
women.
The larger proportion,o Of the houses are
accordingly of nipa thatch, though there
are some well-constructed shops and dwell
ings in the Spanish style. The marine
barracks occupied by olT troops and the
commandments quarters at the arsenal
are among the best types Of residences.
The same curious small shops and
market places rs in Manila We're obsarv-
able. with wares, fruit, vegetables, fish.
meats, cigars. clgarctS. and what not in
small display. surrounded by scantily-
dressed men, boys, girls, old women and
h#lf-makcd children, the greater number
of thcm smoking, when not talking, and
all eyeing the new corners with perhaps
kcencr curiosity thanswe bestowed upon
them.
We passed a one-Ieeged Filipino veteran
Of the Spanish war on our way TO the arse
nal, and | had the fortune 10 find a five
pound cannon ball which had evidently
been fired at some time, and which despite
of its saggng influence on the pocket Of
his white apparel, one of the party persisted
in carrying back to Manila us a souvenir.
The heavy guns in the shore batteries
and arsenal appear formldablS enough,
and that with the necessary attention TO
range and elevation they might make
it exceedingly uncomfortable for approach
ing ships, though of course hardly equal
to coping with more modern ordnance.
The battle of May 1 showed this as well
as the lack of expert gunners. The shores
are bllJ SllpllN clcNdlci iDDNt Ilie water,
so that for lOng-range firing considerable
elevation is required, which the projectileS
in that battle did not appear to have.
EARLIER BATTLES.
Cavite has been the scene of earlier CON
flict and incident though Of less Importance.
II was from Cavite on St Marks day in
1910 that the Spaniards embarked and
sailed out of the harbor to attack the Dutch
feet lying in wait for merchantmen near
the entrance.
The Spanish had six ships mounting 40
guns. two galleys, two launches and some
lighter craft, with Il fighting force of over
manded, carrying on his standard the
image of the Holy Virgin. with the motto:
'sNoStrate esse Mairem." He had pro-
claimed st. Marks promise of intercession,
and his men We're filled with fierce desire 10
destroy the Dutch iniidcls."
After a battle of three hours duration
the cncmy's feet was destroyed and mcr-
chandise TO the value of $500. 900 recovered
The authorities of the Cavitc arsenal
when first constructed required the in
hahitants Of surrounding provinces to cut
timber for its support without pay, and in
1850 the natives of PampanGa rcvotcd
and killed many of the Spanish, but We're
finally subdued, according to the accounts,
"bv q greatly inferior force"
The garrison ut Cavitc was the last to
canitulate in 1862 when the English cap
turnd Manila and when Draper's ScpOv
followers outraged the women and muir
dernd the inhabitants in the streets. 1t is
eo;d that when our soldiers landed there,
@" many of the people believed that similar
scenes would be enacted that Il dcputation
of entreatv was sent to beg lenicncy.
The Cayite inSurrcctlon of 1872. Fore
man saws. was instigated by the Spanish
friars for the purpose OF attaining DIR.
Joseph Burpos, who had antagonized them,
md thereby striking terror into the native |
cIarpv The arsenal at Cavite was cap
tured by the disaf-
fected soldiers, but
retaken, and many
suffered
death and banisl-
ment in cOnSe-
uuence: DR.. Bur-
gos and three other
native priests be- H..
ing executed on Her, lEesSsssy s.sss@
the Luneta. szzess~S &; r. ~; 81
II was from Ca HAs ~ h
vite that the revo- ~ xs2 ~
in June,
1898. replied to the ~
manifesto Of Pa r.
erno, the medi- - - -
ltor, who advo-
cated the continue
lnce Of Spanish .ZH -
-lIle; and Cavite
was the first Phil
ppine soil to be ~