New-York tribune., 1901-01-13
THE PRISONERS AT MANILA
sTERNER MEASURES FOR THE CRAFTY
NATIVES-THEIR QUARTERS
IN THE CITY

Manila, Dec. l5-since the period within which
amnesty granted TO captured insurgents ex-
-,red the insurrectos have been sent in TO Manila
n patches of dozens. scores and hundreds II is
ouly q month since the Military Government began
-etention Of the prisoners OF war and already the
cuarters fitted up TO hold them are filled Liberty
gained formerly simply by swearing allegiance to
,be United States looked upon by the insur-
rents as so easy of attainment that the Yankees
we're set down as being simple indeed for being
SO lenient. Within the last few weeks however
the insurgents have been learning that sterner
war measures are in force, and to-day fifteen bun
dred insurgents are in confinement in this citv ev
elusive Of several hundred natives so-caled nolit4
cal prisoners. most Of whom may also be classed
IS insurgents
prisoners Of war appears to be wholly undeter-
mined. They have not been tried or sentenced
and apparently are unlikely TO be for long time
10 come They are brought in by rail and by
steamer. and few were arrested within the citv
plank uncertainty and curiosity concerning their
fate is strongly depicted on their brown faces
Their relatives and friends who once daily have
opportunity to visit them follow the officials in
charge about and importune them. with the idea
that they release them If they choose.
IN THE QUARTET NALATE
Practically all the prisoners thus far brought
IN are confined in the Quartet Malate. an incosure
containing four long double, barnlike wooden
buildings. built for troops barracks but lately
transformed into prisons by addition of bolts on
the doors and bars across the windows Two OF
these buildings are occupied by a couple of bat
tslions of the Sd and 9Th Artillery stationed on
guard duty. The others the prisons. Some
three hundred natives confined in each of the
four wings which measure each about so by 30
feet. -Four platforms six feet wide run nearly
the length of the building. Upon these the captves
Sleep lying crosswise in four long rows, and
there they sit about in rather expectant idleness
during the daylight hours. excepting the four hours
during which they allowed the liberty OF the
yard. A serviceable combination OF bathroom and
laundry is at the end of the buildings. The pris-
oners' food-pork, sometimes beef. and greens and
rice-is cooked in rear inclosure. a hospital is
provided, with native doctors. For hour al
midday the prisoners friends are admitted the
yard. At first they were permitted TO come into
as close contact high barbed wire fence be-
tween them would permit, but recently second
lower fence was built six feet outward. Beyond
this the rebels wife, sweetheart mother cannot
come. and whatever is passed in 10 a prisoner is
handed across by a sentry and incidentally scru-
tnized
No insubordinatIon has been shown as yet in the
Quartet. Most Of the inmates show some degree
OF military training in their bearing salutng, etc
IhsE 4 @h o @ hay 6eP e pqe %9a 6ay
tendencies have been noted among them thus far,
rnand OF the Quartet works the prisoners to some
extent in cleaning barracks and grounds and at
General Young attributes the recent wholesale
depoTIation to Manila or elsewhere. an apprehen-
sion which is exceedingly developed especially
friendship both with Americans and Insurgents.
THE CARCEL DE BILIBID
One OF the unprogressive public institutions of
the archipelago is the Carce de Bbid the only per-
rnaneat prison Of any size in the Philippines Could
the leaders in American Boards of Corrections and
Charities visit this institution they would find
prison reform in embryonic stage indeed About
the only visible Improvement since the old place
came under American control has been in the mat
ter OF Cleanliness the erection of a small hospital
OF wood and bamboo. and betterment OF sewerage
conditions.
military prisoners. was built by the Spanish at
inclosed by stone walls. with sentry boxes. The
buildings long che story affatrs grouped IN
boys are confined together without any separation
privacy, and all degrees Of native criminals are
allowed iuH liberty OF the yaro. women ano amer
ioan civil and soldier prisoners are imprisoned IN
separate places, and the Americans have different
feed from the natives. the chow" Of the latter
The .nirstes pass their days and nights in idle
ness with the exception Of few who are skiltu! IN
weaving, carving. bamboo Work, etc, VINO ger
percentage of receipts from sale Of their handTork
There are two parts 10 Bilibid the city side and
the presidio side Each contains $50 prisoners. The
rresiSio confineE all political prisoners and
culprits sentenced for than four years. There
tried and sentenced by military courts in the
various islands and waiting to be sent 70 the the
tarv prisons The health of the place Is excellent
and the native prisoners, aside from the i9ng
break for liberty OF July Is last. in which several
were shot down by guards. was planned and leq py
are taxed 10 their capacity. The Military Govern
ment has been advised to provide more places, and
especially for captured insurrectos %1G i,b. npcS
sa crihce IN details for prison guard duty.