THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVIX, Issue 3004, 16 December 1896, Page 4

THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.

[By Eddar Besast.l London Olohe, The present disturbance at the Philippine Islands recalls to my mind a somewhat similar attempt made by the Mestizos some twenty-five years ago. My friend A. and myself were at the time bii a visit to the Philippine Islands, and after a run to 110-110 and Zeba by the steamer run- ■ ning from Manila, had returned to the latter place. On our arrival, we found everybody in astato of excitement, owing to an insurrection which had taken place a few days before at’Cavite, a garrison town, distant from Manila about 13 miles by land and eight by water, the. Arsenal and. Docks being sthere. The name “ Cavite " is more familiar to Manila cigar smokers as a special brand of cigars. ■ On the previous Saturday, about ’ nine or ten o’clock in the evening, .the native troops garrisoning Fort Philip,, about 300 in number, rose and murdered their Commandante and other officers, and then took possession of ; the fort, where they fought and held out till Monday morning, when they had to give in, ai d by order of the Captain General every man found in the fort was killed, no quarter being given. Several managed to escape by jumping into the woods, but most of these were captured and, condemned to be ahot or to imprisonment for life. It appeared from papers found ' afterwards that a general rising was intended throughout the Philippines, in order to kill or expel Ml foreigners. Several people holding good positions weid taken in custody „on suspicion of being implicated, among the number a lawyer and several padres. The Gover- ; nor, fortunate’y, was a mian who stood no; nonsense, and by his prompt , action no doubt saved many live*-and a great deal of trouble. Ona of the priests went to him to intercede, for the prisoners. He replied, “I know my business j.you go and attend to youfe. il shall , shoot the rebels, you can pray for their souls." The general rising,was said to have miscarried, owing to the Cavite men mis- - taking a display of fiteworks for the sig-. f ua! to tise ; and this doubtless saved the lives of the Spanish and foreign residents. Another account said that the Governor had received private information respecting the signal that Was to be made from the fort-in Manila, and had a guard posted, who made prisoners.of the intended signallers on the, spot. The gar-*, nsou consisted of about, 4,000 men, all being Mestizos or Indians, with the exception of one regiment, consisting entirely of Spaniards. , Even among the officers there was a great number of Mestizos. In the afternoon we wont to Cavite by the steamer and had a look at the -fort, and were surprised to find few sign? of .battery except in the trees, which were very much cut up, and great numbers .of bullets visible, partly, embedded in the wood. We were stopping with an English gentlerpan, who had married a Spanish lady, and during that night he came into our room armed with a sword, and wokp us, saying, “Don'the frightened, but Major , a Spariiah'officer living next door, has just sent in to say that he has, yeppivod official intimation that a ! general rising is expected to-night, and thatall the Indian servants are to take part in it." Our host then brought Us what defensive weapons he could find, but could produce no- firearms, at they were all at his office. He suggested that we should lock our dour, but the key, which was on the outside, could not be induced to come out of the look, so- my friend A. moved his mat, and laid down in front of the door, but we were not disturbed, the alarm having proved a false one. Some of the mutineers sere to be shot iii public in 111- morning. so at i-ix o’clock wo drove to the Calztda. On arriving there wo found about 1.700 troops assembled, consisting of Lancers, j Pack. Artillery, Girris-m Artillery, and] Infantry, with four or five military bands. I These were shortly after formed into’

three Rules of a square* the cavalry and artillery being on either side, in roar of tho infantry, the fourth aide being reserved for the prisoners who were about to be shot.

These prisoners, nine in number, wore marched very slowly on to the ground, in the middle of a company of soldiers, several priests being with them, and talking earnestly to them tho whole tune, while a single drum was beaten at short intervals, one beat only, in a most melancholy maimer. Tho prisoners were lashed together, with their elbows tied behind them, in rows of five and four respectively, and on reaching the vacant aide or the square formed by tho military, were made to kneel in one row, with their backs to the troops on the opposite side, this being done as a mark of disgrace. About this time, the Governor-Gouoral appeared in a carriage and four, escorted by a troop of Lancers. He alighted, and went into the middle of the square, and stood chatting with tho Deputy CaptainGeneral and a few other officers. Tne Town Major then marched round with a band and a'oompany of non-commissioned officers from the various regiments, and stopping at each side of the square, proclaimed that “ any person asking pardon for the condemned would do so at tho risk of hia life.” Nobody did so, and the non-commission officers returned to their respective regiments. The firing party, about 40 men, were then marched forward to within sis pacts of the prisoners, aod, at the word - of command, fired a volley into the backs uf the unfortunate wretches, who immediately fell forward on to their faces, all but ooe, lifeless. This one showed signs of life, and the manner in which an end was put to hia sufferings was anything but pleasant to witness. No provision had apparently been made for a case of this sort, as there was no loaded reserve, Iho officer in command of.tho firing party had to send for some more executioners, as they might well be called. Two toon were sent with loaded muskets to finish the unfortunate, and they fired at him bo closely that his clothes were sob on fire ; bub he still moved, and tho officer then drew his revolver and handed it to one of the men, - This however, on being presented, only snapped and missed fire, so that they had to get and fire another pistol nt the dying man before life was extinct. The troops were then formed in column, and marched past the bodies, each regiment headed by its band, playing a lively quick march. Before returning to the Barracks, they were marched past and inspected by. the Captain-General, who toox up a position under tho trees on tho road back to the town, for that purpose. Tho Spaniards at that time (January, 1872) appeared to be a long way behind the times, and seemed to do nothing but loaf through life. Tho troops were all still ariAed with the old musket, and there was only one mounted officer to each regiment, ho being tho Colonel, The cavalry were mounted on small Manila'ponies, but, being small men, looked very well, but not at all formidable. In view of the occurrences now taking place in the Philippine Islands, this short account of the result of an attempted rising may bo of interest. :1 may add that I was told that one of the great grievances an the part of the. Mestizos who mutinied was the non-payment of their wages, which were greatly in arrear.