The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-01
SIGNED IN OWN BLOOD
DOCUMENTS OF KATIPUNAN
 SOCIETY IN PHILIPPINES.
oaicer Who Was Active in Ferreting Out the Offenders That Kept Rebellion Alive in the
 Cagayan Valley.

trunk, Major Robert Gage, late of the 4tSh regiment, drew some interesting papers yesterday as he conversed on the habits and ways of the Filipinos. There were numerous documents drawn by officials of the famous Katipunan Society, a secret organiza- tion, which army officers believe has done more than any one other influence to keep the rebellion alive in the Philip pines. Original oaths. inscribed in Spanish, or the local dialect of the Spanish language the English transla- tions thereof, constitutions and by laws of the societies, and commissions of officials, which were tantamount un- der the sway of Aguinaldo to com missions in his army, were among the papers in the Majors, possession. The War Department has long been cogni- zant of this secret organization, and papers not unlike those now held by Major Gage have ben in the files here for some months. -s -r
 Major Gage has lately returned from the Philippines, his most recent sta tion having been at Tuguegarad, capi- valley penetrated by the Cagayan River. He Is registered at the Eb- bitt as from Mobile, Ala. and that is his home. But although he married in the South. and has long been in business there, serving during the Spanish war with a regiment of Ala bama volunteers, Major Gage Is a Bos- ton man by birth, and a scion of d family that has been identified with the marketing of ice for many years. He went out to Manila as adjutant of the 49th regiment. and was subse- quently promoted to the command of a battalion.
 Broke Up the Secret Organization.
 Somewhat by accident over a year and half ago Major Gage happened to capture papers belonging to the katipursn Society. which gave clue to the plan to organize thoroughly up and down the Cagayan valley. He was eventually detailed to the work of thwartinS the plans of the Filipinos in that particular and achieved much suc- cess. "One of the precepts of the orr ganisation.' says Major Gage. "is that the members on entering the order shall subscribe to an oath declaring unfaltering allegiance to the sacred cause, which means opposition to- the authority of the United States. Origi- nally their opposition was to the au- thority of the Kingdom of Spain, and likewise allegiance to all other mem bers. The rite of signing Is perform ed by drawing blood out of big vein on the inside Of the forearm"
 The original written oaths which Major Gage showed. are written inside of triangle drawn in black ink. The text is fairly good Spanish, and the penmanship is as good as the average business hand to be met with in this | country. The copy of the constitution and by-laws has on one of its con- cluding leaves three or four sigma lures, written somewhat faintly. but yet dbcernible. These names are all written in blood, which. Major Gage says, Is quite durable. "The members are also branded" he added, "and they bind themselves to assassinate all Americans or friends of Americans. I nave the original commission of Alber- to Beutista Graz, which amounts to the commission of colonel. He was dispatched by Aguinaldo to organize societies throughout the Cagayan val ley. The society In effect is to the Fnipinos what the Mafia is among the Italians"
 Paris of the Island of Luzon. Major tiage speaks of the city of | Tuguegarao as the Paris of the Island of Luzon. Tt has about 20, 900 inhah . tants." said he. "and among its resi- dents are some of the most learned among the Filipinos. One of them is Gonzaga, who was Secretary of State for Aguinaldo in the Malalos cabinet. He took the oath of allegiance several months ago. Across the Cagayan River from Tuguegarao is Enrile. a city of rising 5000 inhabitants, where re- sides Vincente Guzman, who was a memoer of Congress when the seat of the Filipino government was at Mala- los. oBth gentlemen are highly edu- I cated lawyers.
 Almost the entire city of Tugue- gsrao was burned some time In the NUS, and 1t has moi entirely recovered. yet. Pu: it has fine macadamized streets and a splendid boulevard. It isN>the seat of fine college for young ladies. and also of a large Catholic Church and monastery, which, should judge, must have cost as much as S2bO.0O0 Many of our troops were quarteredj in this monastery. There are numerous splendid. native houses In the city and the people are of a | cultured class.
 How the wealthy mer of that sec tfon acquired their fortunes I was never able to learn as to particulars Much has undoubtedly accumulated through the ownership of lands, which have beenh anded down in the diff ferent families for many years But l title to real estate Is exceedingly diff l ficult to get. Our courts and our au- thorities will in time be able to settle that matter properly. The natives never admit, as rule, that the church has any ownership in land They argue that the church vas able to buy the property only by imposing taxes upon them"
 Good Business Opportunities.
 Being a business man. Major Gage l naturally observed much of the busi- ness methods and opportunities in that fertile valley. He says three crops a | year are grown, one of tobacco and two of corn. but Americans, he thinks. who would ploy the soil deeper and till it wisely could just as easily raise four crops a year. The blows now in use are of the most ancient manu- facture and dig only about three | inches into the soil
 "It may be some years" declared Major Gage. but am convinced that | eventually the Philippines will prove and exceedingly profitable possession | The tobacco raised in the valley is of | naviGable for many miles frfm ite mouth and can carry an extensive shiOping."
 Major Gage is now on his way north to 500 his relatives in New England | He fund the climate Tn the Phtlirninee very nleacant and snvq the stories ot