Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-27
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- ~ DSNHJ 4
~ call them Uncle Sans pirates be-
tEK9fAI cause they now live under the
- American flag. | refer to the
brigands, banditti and thieves of our Asiatic
possessions. They are to be found in one
shape or another In all parts of the Islands
and even in Manila itself. We have there
a good corps OF native policemen and thou
sands of soldiers with clubs and revolvers,
but nevertheless robberies occur every day
and the counterfeiters make false money
so fast that you have to ring every dollar
to see whether 1t is silver or not.
Manila has not only land thieves but
water thieves. Think of an American city
containing more than 800, 900 people in
which there are professional pirates. The
place is cut up by canals, the Pasig river
flows through 1t, and its waterways are
as thickly crowded with boats az those OF
Canton. A short time ago 1t was found
that these parts OF the city were infested
by an organized band of thieves and pick
pockets who made the boats their head
quarters and vent out to prey upon the
people. They robbed the houses and black
mailed their brothers upon the boats. An
additional force has been added to the
water police to keep them in check, and
both harboT and canals are now being pa
trolled on the lookout for pirates.
A few weeks ago one of the government
launches passed a large boat on the River
Pasig In almost the heart OF the city. In
1t was a native who waved his hand for
assistance. The launch stopped and 1t was
found that the man had been attacked by
pirates, who had stolen the tobacco, sugar
and cocoanuts which he was carrying into
Manila.
On another boat the natives were seen to
be greatly excited. The officials stopped
and were told that there was nothing wrong.
They saw, however, that several ropes
were tied to the bamboo outriggers of the
native craft and caught hold of them and
pulled them In. At the other end OF each
rope they found a Mauser rife and later on
discovered that Of the men on the boat four
were pirates. They were robbing the boat
when the government launch came up and
had threatened the owners with death II
they Informed upon them.
1t is this fear on the part of the natives
that makes 1t dinicult to break up piracy.
The criminals are so organized that their
friends will take revenge upon informers'
They blackmail the boatmen and carry on
their smuggling under the very eyes Of our
soldiers.
Pirates of M~IndRnnO.
lue NOIsl place ll plIdtest uuNtNCl N
in the southern part OF the archipelago
The Moros have been pirates for ages ant
they have had their pirate settlements IL
Palawan, Mindanao and the Sulu islands
The sultan himself is a professional pirate
who is only restrained by the fear OF ouI
government. There Is one pirate chief II
northeastern Mindanao who until very re
Gently has been sailing along the coast an
collecting tribute from the villages at tn
mouth Of a cannon. Shortly before on
troops came into Matt he entered that har
Dor and sent word to the merchants tina
he must have a certain sum Of money a
once or he would blow up the town. Tn
presidente was a Spanish eX-lieutenant, n
brave as a lion. He had several SINAI
howitZers, which he lined up on the shore
and then sent back his reply, telling tn
pirate to fire and be hanged, but that II b
did the howitzers would send his vessel
to the bottom OF the bay.
This presidente was in charge OF the por
when General Bates called, and Genera
Bates gave him an American flag, He &C
cepted 1t. saying that he would use It at a
times except when that pirate appeared