The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-08
SMUGGLERS AUD INSURGENTS.
A Troublesome Contention In the
Island of Fanny

forces in need OF provisions and contraband
OF war made the smuggling and blockade
running Of stores and munitions from Tloiio
to the rebels a possible and profitable in
dustry. In Iloilo there were many men
ready and anxious to engage in this occu-
patton. for the profits to be derived from
the successful landing OF cargo OF rice.
kerosene, and matches in rebel territory
We're large. and until the Navy took the
matter of its suppression strongly in hand
the attendant risk Of capture was not great
enough to deter men of an adventurous
turn of mind II is not 50 easy since the
Concord and the two gunboats Paragua an:
Pampanga have been exercising great Wig
ilance over this smuggling. and the man
who can run a cargo today is either skillful
or lucky.
Three miles south Of Iloilo. and forming
the southern shelter of Iloilo Bay. is the
island of Guimaras. Ii Is twenty-five miles
long and about tea miles wide. and thus,
skrting the southern shores OF Panay. 1t
forms Iloiio Straits, which must be ira
versed by all vessels coming to this port.
Guimaras is not American territory. be-
cause America has never attempted to &C
cupy 1t. The inhabitants VI the island.
some ten thousand, are Visayans, and they
would be glad of the projection of the
United States. AS 1t is. they are subjected
TO the raids of insurgents from Panay.
who come over and levy a tribute OF money
and food and make use Of :iuimaras as a
way station for provisions between Iloilo
and the insurgent territory Immediately
surrounding it. Running north from Iloi-o.
the coast Of Panay is full of bays, indents.
and small isiards, all Of which are helps
to the smuggier and serve to render the
work OF patroling gunboats more difficult.
Guimaras Island is fuiI Of miniature val
leys and mountains and from the sea Its
aspect Is most pleasing. 1t was formerly
popular pleasure resort, parties being made
up for Sunday excursions across the hsr-
Dor TO Guimarss. and foreign residents lad
bungalows and summer horlss there. The
island produces lime, which Is essential N
the extracting Of sugar frJr the cane. and
also WIS the truck garden for Iloi,o. Milk,
fruit, chickens, and vegetables came OYER
each morning TO the Hello market.
In exchange. Guimaras drew its supply
of rice from iloilo. and. not being insurgent
territory. was proper market Tor rice and
other provisions. 1t was. however. short
step back to Panay. insurgent territory.
where rice was In great demand The
beats used in this traffic are known locally
as proas. 4 proa is a narrow canoe, win
wide bamboo outriggers on each side 1t IS
propelled by a square lateen Sail and
steered by a rudder dangling over the STAR
board stern, which the helmsman cieverly
manipulates with his feet. The toats
range in length from 90 to so feet, and
with good wind astern can easily distance
the coast patrol.
The nearby Island OF Negros also offered
a good excuse for smuggling into Pauay-
Negros is at peace all her coast towns
being occupied by American troops. and
hence merchants In Iloilo have n right to
clear schooners with provisions 20 points
on Negros. To reach Negros ships pass
out the northern entrance OF Hello Straits,
between Gulmaras and the mainland. a
schooner. bert on smuggling, and cleared
for Negroes. will coast along Panay watch
ing for a slant Of wind to carry her over
near the insurgent town of Donate. for in
stance. where her cargo can be sold at such
good profit that the schooner can be beach
cd until these troublous tines are over.
or even burned. Many a coasting schooner
is missing from Iloilo port today. and the
merchant owners naively declare they
fear these must be lost II the schooner
finds no chance TO get into Panay she will
continue on to Negroes and unload with all
signs OF honesty. From certain points on
Negros it is only two hours sail to
Panay. and proas carry cargo over TO the
insurgents under cover of darkness.
This method was possible because the
garriscns on Negroes are small Many towns
have only dozen or so American soldiers,
and It ia impossible for these men TO watch
long reaches of coast we'll cut up into
bays and inIets This was the field for
profitable smuggling ont OF Iloilo back into
Panay. and the field was actively occupied
:Shen the Navy, represented by the Con-
cord and the former Spanish guuboats
Pampsnga and Paragua, developed IN ae-
tivity and watchfulness that have put
new phase upon the industry. The former
Spanish gunboats here mentioned were
built for service in these waters, and are
consequently more useful in their present
occupation than are any vessels OF our
own. They are both of about two hundred
tons burden. draw eight feet Of water. and
can steam nine knots. They are nnpro-
tected.
The Pampanga is commanded by Lieu
tenant Leigh. and is armed with one o
FOUNDER. one Colt automatic gun, and two
31-mm. revolving cannon. The Paragua
is now commanded by Ensign Davidson
but Ensign Kuepper, OF the Concord. is
soon to succeed him. This boat is armed
"
two 1l-mm. Nordenfe!dts. The Concord is
commanded by Captain Ackley. naval COM
mander OF the station. to whose activity
and energy are due much OF the success
of the Nays work in these waters.
The steam launch Nesan belonging to
the captain Of the ports office. is armsd
with a Hotchkiss revolving cannon azl
has been by no means inactive in putting
down smuggling and discouraging the
transfer OF rebel troops to and from Fanny
There was a dark night about three
weeks ago when the Nesan was coming
down the coast, inside OF Guimaras. show
Ing no lights. and met a collection Of proas
carrying insurgents from Il cove on the
Panay side, apparently over to GuimaIas,
for one of their raids on the inhlbit1nis.
The Nesan asked no questions when as
sured of the facts There followed q few
moments of swift maneuyring. the Swapping
of bamboo outriggers. and confusion; the
Hotchkiss cannon spun around and the
flashes showed struggling forms in the
water In can safely he said that this
particular raiding expedition was thorough
ly discouraged.
ceasalessly patrol the coast; with no lights
showing they slip into bays and behind
headlands. and they are always on The
watch for coasting craft whose papers are
not in order or who are approaching parts
of the coast where they have no legiti-
mate business. The work is hard and
wearing but the results have been most
The vessels have picked up
numberless proas and coasting schooners
bent on smuggling. and destroyed their
cargoes. and the men have gone ashore and
burned cargoes OF kerosene that succeeded
in eluding their vigilance. When such YES
sels are found with contrahlnd of war on
board the crews are taken prisoners to
Hello. otherwise the boat and cargo are
DESTROYED and the men allowed to go free.
proa was bought and freighted out of