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| Emilio Aguinaldo. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, February 8, 1899.
FILIPINO ASSASSINS.
Desperadoes Have Filled the City of Manila.
POLICE CONSTANTLY KEPT BUSY.
Men and Women Arrested With Weapons Concealed In Their Clothing—Attempts Made to Assassinate Americans—Rebel Prisoners Declare Attack Unpremeditated.
MANILA, Feb. 8.—There are many indications that Manila is full of desperadoes who had intended to co-operate with Aguinaldo. The police are continually capturing men and women with weapons concealed in their clothing. The vigilance of the authorities in this respect is highly reassuring.
Last Saturday about midnight two Englishmen accidentally encountered a gang of armed natives in a dark side street. The natives, fearing discovery, imprisoned them until morning and threatened to kill them unless they maintained silence.
Many native clerks employed in mercantile houses are missing. As it is impossible that they should have passed the lines, the inference is that they are in hiding in the city.
Several attempts have been made to assassinate Americans on the streets, but that danger is now at a minimum. The natives are terribly cowed; and the precautions taken, especially against incendiarism, are admirable.
The rebels, who have been swept in every direction like pheasants in a battue, die by hundreds in the trenches—for the most part passively, except the Ygorotes, who charge desperately and uselessly.
The rebel prisoners declare that their attack was unpremeditated, that the outposts fired and then everybody followed in accordance with a sort of general understanding.
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| Major General Elwell Stephen Otis. |
ADVANCE ON ILOILO.
General Miller Instructed to Take the City.
AN AGGRESSIVE MOVEMENT.
General Otis Is Left to Follow His Own Discretion—Washington Authorities Have Decided to Hesitate No Longer—Filipino Loss at Manila May Re Very Great.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 8.—There is little abatement of interest in the stirring events at Manila exhibited at the war department. The first feeling of anxiety for the safety of the American forces has given way entirely, save in case of personal friends and acquaintances of soldiers supposed to be injured, and there is displayed instead the greatest interest in the extent of the loss inflicted on the insurgents by the American soldiers and sailors. Officials of the war department who know General Otis well declared when the announcement came of the killing, capture or wounding of 4,000 men, that he undoubtedly had underestimated the damage inflicted by him as was his wont, instead of magnifying it in the Spanish fashion.
Naturally there is a great deal of speculation as to the future conduct of affairs by General Otis, but to some extent this must remain speculative inasmuch as Secretary Alger has said that the general is to be left to follow his own discretion. To assist him to a correct understanding of the diplomatic situation, he has been cabled the full text of the peace treaty.
A forward movement is probable at Iloilo, where General Miller has been for weeks lying in front of the town in his transports. He has never had any doubt of his ability to take the place whenever he got the word, but there has been a restraining influence from Washington, based in part on the hope that the insurgents could be brought to a peaceful retirement from the town, and an apprehension that an effort to force a landing might result in serious injury to foreign interests. Now, however, it is felt that the latter are perhaps more in jeopardy from a continuance of the existing state of affairs than they would be through a rapid seizure of the town.
General Miller now has with him the Eighteenth infantry and a battalion of artillery, and it is likely that he will be strongly reinforced before an attempt is made to take Iloilo.
CAUSED THE CONFLICT.
Admiral Dewey's Seizure of Insurgent Arms the One Complaint.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 8.—It may be that it was Admiral Dewey's act in seizing a vessel with arms and ammunition intended for them that incited the Philippine insurgents to attack the American soldiers Saturday night, for it is understood that one of the bitterest of their grievances was what they declared to be unwarrantable interference with their shipping.
It is learned at the navy department that about a week ago the admiral caused the seizure of the schooner Taneng with a full supply of such arms for the insurgents.
The admiral's report discloses the fact that an American and not a German owned vessel thus being used to arm the insurgents against Otis' troops.
PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.
◘ The count of votes in all the states, thrown in the election of 1898, has been completed and yields a total of 11,257,392. The total in 1896 was 14,071,097. In three states—Alabama, Georgia and Texas—no Republican state tickets were in nomination last fall, yet in the grand total of the Union the Republican vote footed up 5,257,206; Democratic 4,862,778; fusion Democratic and Populist 522,116; Populist,408,206; Prohibitionist, 207,320; Socialist and other 101,700.
◘ On Dewey's ships in Manila harbor are 3,800 men. General Otis had before the recent battle 15,079 officers and men, but about 9 per cent of these were on the sick list. There are now 5,100 men en route to the Philippines. The Filipinos around Manila are believed to number about 15,000 men who are armed with rifles of some sort. There are in addition several thousand savages, most of them armed with nothing but bows and spears.
ON BOARD THE OREGON.
Morgan McAllister Writes of His Visit to Callao.
Mrs. B. H. Lyon of South Cortland has just received a letter from her brother, Morgan McAllister, on board the battleship Oregon, which was written at Valparaiso, Chili, and mailed at Callao, Peru, Dec. 31, 1898. It is as follows:
VALPARAISO, Chili, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 1898.
DEAR SISTER LENA—Last Saturday, (Dec. 17, 1898,) we arrived in Valparaiso, Chili, and stayed until this morning at 8 A. M. This is a nice city, at least it appears to be such from all outward appearance. There is a mountain range extending all across the horizon, which shuts out all trace of the interior and so on. There is no large timber in this vicinity as far as I can see with the naked eye. The city is built on high land and there are many, large disappearing-guns mounted around the city. In some places you can see the railroads; and the horsecars are also to be seen in some places. You can see some buildings. The custom house is one of the largest ones here. The people are mostly of Spanish descent. The ladies, as a usual thing are pretty good looking, the young ones especially.
Our next stop will be at Callao, Peru. We expect to get mail from the United States there; it will be the first mail we have had since we left New York City, Oct. 12, 1898, and we are all looking for mail in there.
I always try to collect some one or two small things in every place at which we stop, to remember the city and countries by. I am making a coin collection, but it is slow work, as I do not have a great deal of money to run business with, as is necessary. Well, I cannot write a letter of much interest until I get to the next place to learn something to say.
CALLAO, Peru, Monday, Dec. 26, 1898.
Yesterday was Christmas and we were at sea and did not get here until this morning, the 26th. The first thing, when we got here and dropped anchor, some mail came on board and I got two letters, one from Cousin Josie McNeil and one from a friend in Cortland. I have not had any mail from you or mother yet. I am not certain as to where we will go from here. Some say to Honolulu and some say 'Frisco, Cal. All we have to do is wait orders and go where they direct us. Not even the captain knows until then. One thing is certain, we have got to coal ship here, for it will take at least twenty days to go, as either place is 2,000 or 3,000 miles from Callao, Peru.
This is a very wonderful place and has many wonders here. It is the city that disappeared in one night in the eighteenth century, never to return again, and only one man was left to tell the tale. You can take a row boat and go along the shore in places, and peer into the water and see what used to be Callao long years ago before it met its awful fate on that terrible night when it was swallowed up in the sea by a great volcanic eruption. In its stead, there appeared an island of nothing but sand and rock. We are anchored right over the lost city.
Lima, the capital of Peru, is 7 miles distant. Of course, Callao is built up again, but it is not as large as the Callao of the past which was buried with all its inhabitants and all its wealth under the deep blue sea. One can scarcely believe it when they think, but nevertheless it is so.
Callao is in latitude 12 degrees south and lies in the volcano belt of South America. It is very warm here the year round. They never saw any snow down here.
On the island is a natural cross formed of solid rock, and the people think it sacred and go there every year to worship it. Only one man lives on the island. It will not raise a single thing, not even quack grass, so you must know what a place it is.
The people of Peru are mostly of Spanish descent and are very small compared to those in the United States. Their money is worth only half as much as ours. We get two soles ($2) for one of ours. I think I will be able to get ashore here, as they are going to give liberty here. Some of the boys went to-day, and my turn will come next, I think. If I do go, I am going to try and get some of the ancient city from the depths of the sea and bring home for a curio, as it is not a chance every one can get in such places.
Well, I would like to write more but I have so many letters to write when I get into one of these places, that I cannot write them all long letters, such as I have written you, but I will be able to tell you all about it some day. I must close now, with love to you all. Goodbye.
From your loving brother, MORGAN MCALLISTER, U. S. M. C.,
U. S. battleship Oregon. (Address the same as before.)
In this letter was a bill of Brazilian money with the figures 500 on the front and corners just like one of our bills, only it is smaller, and stamped in a foreign language, but the value has not yet been ascertained.
Funeral of Mrs. Davis.
The funeral of Mrs. Susan A. Davis, wife of Eugene Davis, was held at 8:30 o'clock this morning from the family home on Venette-st, Cortland. The services were brief, consisting only of a few appropriate remarks and prayer by Rev. William H. Pound, pastor of the Congregational church. A number of friends and neighbors were in attendance. The floral tributes were profuse and very beautiful and many of them costly. Among them were handsome pieces from the Odd Fellows, the press, from friends at Lisle and from relatives in Connecticut who were unable to be present. The bearers were Messrs. Isaac Edgcomb, L. D. Boies, F. M. Ingersoll and Simon Stahl. The remains were taken to Lisle, the former home of Mr. and Mrs. Davis, for interment.
Death of Mrs. Stevens.
Mrs. Lucy Jane Stevens, widow of Wilber Stevens, died at 10:30 o'clock last night at her residence 226 Port Watson-st., at the age of 79 years, 6 months and 24 days. Funeral services will be held from 226 Port Watson-st. at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon and interment will take place in the Cortland Rural cemetery.
THE BASEBALL FAIR.
Interest Rapidly Increasing—Manager Ramsey is in Attendance.
If the second night of the baseball fair indicated nothing else, it indicated that the people of Cortland are going to uphold and support a baseball team in the State league this year as never before. The declaration of the board of directors that the team shall play no Sunday ball is believed to be responsible in large part for this public expression of sentiment, and another important factor is the engagement of Henry D. Ramsey to lead the fortunes of baseball in Cortland.
The attendance at the fair and bazaar in Taylor hall last night was very satisfactory to the management indeed, and while the large hall was somewhat crowded, there was still room for more, and it is predicted that before the fair closes the capacity of the hall will be fully taxed. One of the distinguished visitors was Manager Ramsey, who had come from Paterson, N. J., to be present at the fair and also look the ground over. Mr. Ramsey was a much sought personage by the baseball "cranks." Doubtless his natural modesty prevented him from saying anything from the stage on his first arriving in town, but he has consented to have something to say to-night, and of course all will want to hear him, as well as see him.
The Orient Hook & Ladder Co. of Homer and the Orris Hose Co. of Cortland were the special visitors last night. The firemen appeared in full uniform. The Cortland City band gave a short concert, after which the assembly was called to order by Arthur E. Seymour of McGrawville who is an ardent lover of the national game. Mr. Seymour was in a jolly mood, and after one or two good stories started the ball rolling by introducing Mr. William Chamberlain, who delighted all by singing several ballad songs. Mr. Chamberlain possesses a full, rich, pleasant voice, and has it under perfect control. He is one of the best of the younger singers in Cortland, and will probably be heard again during the fair. Miss May Beaudry followed in a couple of songs with great credit to herself. Wilcox and Smith next entertained the audience in a musical way upon a number of instruments at the same time. Perhaps the greatest hit of the evening was the appearance of the "McLean Octette" in popular songs of the day. The entertainment closed with "An Evening with Flint" by "Prof." Edward Huguenin. Mr. Huguenin is a pupil of Dr. Flint, and has attained quite a proficiency in the science of hypnotism, of which he gave a good exhibition last night. The City Band orchestra furnished music for dancing until midnight.
The various contests went merrily on again last night, that among the fire companies creating considerable strife. The result of the voting at the close was as follows: Water Witch 61, Orris 161, Excelsior Hook & Ladder Co. 77, Emeralds 132, Hitchcocks 40, Tioughnioga hose of Homer 37, Orient Hook & Ladder Co. of Homer 16.
Caterer H. Arthur Bennett is serving hot and cold lunches in the balcony each evening.
An interesting collection of war relics attracts many visitors in the southwest corner of the hall.
Three fire companies will attend tonight: Excelsior Hook & Ladder Co., Water Witch Steamer & Hose Co. and Hitchcock Hose Co.
The floor is crashed [floor covering installed—CC ed.] and dancing with music by the Cortland City band orchestra is a feature.
An attractive program is being arranged for this evening.
A season ticket is good for six admissions, and it costs but $1.
Someone remarked last night that Manager Ramsey was the handsomest man in attendance. "Hank" seems to have "caught on" all right.
The following donations have been made to the fair in addition to those previously referred to: Cobb & Co., twelve pounds Lowney's chocolates and bonbons; Coon Bros., large fruit cake.
BREVITIES.
—The Rob Roy dancing class meets Empire hall at 8 o'clock to-night.
—New display advertisements to-day are—Glann & Clark, Spring Stock of Ladies' Shoes, page 6.
—The Cortland village paving bonds have been sold to Berkron & Storrs, brokers of New York City, who were the highest of seven bidders on each series. Series A went at 107.65, and series B at 103.25.
—A young man in New York broke his arm while putting a rubber on for his sister. He probably proceeded with the impatient haste that is peculiar to what men do for their own sisters. No man ever hurt himself while putting on some other fellow's sister's rubbers.—Norwich Sun.
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