Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-08-09
THE MINDORO WHITES.
Facts About a Strange Race In
the Philippines.
YoUEg LAWYER THEIR RULER


Taken From His Parents when "A
Baby and Reared "A Christian In
spain, He II Vow sultan of IA Mys-
terious Mohammedan Tribe, which
Has Limited Dealings With Out
siders Through Traders.
Acc riding to Manuel Castro, prom
inelt Filipino, who Informed Lieuten-
ant l. reno a. Declairmont of the fact,
there is a race of white people in
the interior of the island Of Mindoro.
These white men were discovered
twenty-five years ago by Spanish
surgeon who had penetrated the in
terror on hunting trip, says dis
patch from San Francisco to the New
York Herald.
The surgeon noticed some birds of
rare and curious plumage and, anxious
TO secure a specimen, was led for sew
eral miles through the trails of dense
tropical growth. He came to clear
ing, in the centre of which stood
neatly built hut. On a nearby tree
was resting one of the birds he sought.
He took careful aim, fired and missed
the bird
The sound of the explosion alarmed
the inhabitants of the hut, and, while
looking, in vain for the bird, the sur
geon was surprised to see white man
and woman step out of the house, stare
Mt him with frightened gaze and then
run for the cover of a nearby thicket.
He followed the fleeing pair, but after
a short distance lost their trail and re-
turned to the hut.
Within, lying all unconscious of
their parents alarm, he found two boy
babies, apparently twins. They had
blue eyes, and such hair as they had
was fair and straight. After waiting
several hours for the parents return
the surgeon decided to take possession
of the twins. This he did, and by
dint of great care got them to Manila
alive and in good health. He took
them to Spain. where he adopted them
and brought them up as his own. one
he educated as a lawyer. The other is
today practlcing medicine near Mad
rid. When the boys reached manhood,
they were told the story of their
babyhood.
The lawyer expressed a desire to Wis
II the scene of his birth, find his par
ents, If alive, and tell them of the
great outside world and If possible
take them to Spain. He secured per-
mission to make the journey and,
armed with detailed directions from
the surgeon. started out on search
for his parents.
About a year after his departure the
surgeon received a letter from his fos-
ter son. He had found his parents and
had decided to cast his lot with them
and their people. They were Moham-
medans. he said, and he purposed to
devote his life to introducing the Chris
tan religion and in other ways to give
the people from whom he had been
kidnapped the benefit of his wider
knowledge.
The young lawyer. it is said, is now
the ruling sultan of this isolated peo-
pie. Under his influence many of them
have embraced the Christian religion,
and limited and strictly commercial
intercourse has been established with
the outside world.
Manuel Castro is one of the few out
siders admitted TO the privilege OF
trade with these shut in Caucasians.
He exhibited to Lieutenant Declair-
mont photographs of some of these
strange white folk and told in detail
of his trading operations with them.
They are expert cloth weavers, and
from the amount of crude gold jewelry
with which they adorn themselves
their supply Of the precious metal in
virgin form seems TO he plentiful.
There are few products Of the outside
world that they want. and these they
get through Senior Castro and about
half dozen other traders I'm whom
they have confidence.
Il reported the matter TO the govern
ment tribal bureau" said Lieutenant
DecIairmont, land was informed that
they also had heard of the tribe. but
had been unable to locate it. ! gave
them all the information | could and
expect to hear very shortly of the or
ganization OF an exploring expedition