Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-12-04

Of the islands in the past When Fray
Diego reached the viceregal court Of
Mexico, he found that the viceToy
would not assist him, having no d.
rect orders from Spain to do so Then
the priest appealed to the viceroy's
wife. who was on her knees entreating
her husband 10 help the Jesuit, when
an earthquake occurred. which CON
siderably damaged the city. The cum
ming friar avowed that it was nothing
less than a manifestation from Heav-
en-, and the viceroy yielded to the
superstition of the age.
Nature again came to the aid of Fray
Diego several years after he had es-
tablished his mission. A revolution
broke out in the LadroneS on the dis
0overy that the strangers religion
carried with it restraints of liberty and
q social dominion which made the ma
tives little better than slaves. 1t was
the old Spanish proposition of con-
quest under the veil Of Christianity
The natives were on the war path,
and it looked badly for the little gar
rison Of Spanish and Filipino soldiers.
One day there was terrible quaking
of the earth and a windstorm which
leveled the huts of the natives to the
ground. The priest persuaded them
that it was a visitation from Heaven,
and peace was concluded.
e 49,
will undoubtedly blame the United
States for the recent earthquakes.
When the Americans took possession
of the islands Gov. Leary forbade any
public demonstration Of the Catholic
church. to which most Of the natives
belong. As a result the earthquake
festival was omitted in 1900 II was
80 years ago that the islad suffered
a terrible shaking up, and after that
until the Americans came one day Of
each year had been set aside for
prayer to a certain saint and for a pro-
cession through the streets of Agana,
the capital.
The natives said that the typhoon
Of November, 1900, was due to the
fact that the festival had been abol-
ished. When there were subsequent
earthquakes the people began to get
restless, and Padre Palma finally pc
titioned. the government for permits
sion to hold the fiesta as in other
years. This permission was given, and
the anti-earthQuake parade took place
this year.
The more cowardly natives will put
the blame on the "Viaio" and the
"Bruia," which are regarded as re-
sponsible for most of the evil which
occurs in beautiful Guam.
Miss Mary A. Channell, a recently
returned missionary of the American
board, describes them thus
"The 'Viajo,' so they say, is large,
headless thing, clad always in white,
frequenting the jungle roads and
mountains, and Isl a cause of great
fear to the timid ones. The 'Bruja'
is never seen, but commits awful
atrocities on people and property.
The following story illustrates its
work
zone evening a man was eating his
supper, when he heard the peculiar
click, click, which indicated the pres
ence Of the 'Bruja.' In a sudden fit of
bravery he invited the unseen to par
take Of food, adding that he was not
afraid; when, without a moments
warning the candle was extinguished,
dishes were broken, and the man him
self was attacked until his face was
covered with blood and his hair lay
in tufts about the room. This was
the work of the witch, itself fright
ened away at last by the terrified
mans prayer to the saints, Jesus. Ma
ia, Jose from whom protection was
sked. Suffice it to say that that man
never again invited the 'Bruja' to
lunch"
The military governor of Guam will
have his hands full persuading the
natives to enter into the work of re-
building. They are so dIatory, in
deed, that they do not have regular
meals, and this is the prevailing
motto:
'Do not do to-day what can be put
off until tomorrow"