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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
would not in any way interfere with us, but if the soldiers were in the Station, the best thing we could do was to leave the Station or get the soldiers out of it, because if the soldiers did not leave before 4 p.m. they would attack. We told them that we could not leave the Station, but would observe strict neutrality, and at the same time told them we could not clear the soldiers out. We are still parleying and have hopes that some arrangement will be concluded so that the rebels allow soldiers to leave in boat. The Spaniards in village and priests managed to escape in a boat, but don't know where they have gone: the rebels are on their track, and, if they catch them, they will all be killed. Report says that there are about 400 rebels. They have sent twice to tell us that we will not be molested in any way, but if we cannot get soldiers away, we will have a lively time of it. Cannot get any assistance from Manila, as line is cut, and I suppose they have out it in many places. It is reported that five of the surrounding villages have also risen. It is the Bolinao people who are in arms, and as we have always been on good terms with them they don't want to hurt us. Have spoken to the Government Telegraph Superintendent, and he says that we can notify the interruption. He does not care about doing it himself. Our delegate has just arrived from rebel camp. Will let you know what they say."
7th, 4 p.m.-The rebels still insist on saying if we get rid of soldiers we are safe, but soldiers will not leave, and now they have made a re- gular fort of our place, putting up blocks, stones, boiling caldrons of water. (When these words were being signalled to Hongkong the rebels got into the grounds and the staff were advised by Hongkong to clear out of the build- ing if they could do so. This was, however, not necessary as the soldiers were able to drive the rebels back with a few shots).
At 4.15 p.m., Bolinao signalled.--" We notice the European women and priests are captured and led back to the village; but two Spaniards seem to have been killed."
Nothing further happened at the Station after this, and the night of the 7th remained undisturbed, the office and quarters being kept in total darkness.
On the 8th, the rebels sent round again in the morning asking the staff to leave the building as they intended to attack at ten o'clock. This, however, the staff would not do. On the 9th, report came in from the rebels during the day that the Governor-General had left Manila for Europe, on the 5th, and that the whole of the Philippines had risen, all Spaniards had been killed in Manila, and that the country was in the hands of the rebels. This was hardly to be bredited, as Manila is well garrisoned, but no help reaching from Manila by sea looked sus- picions. The rebels also stated that some Spanish gunboats had been captured. No fur- ther move was made by the rebels at Bolinao to-day, owing to the absence of the rebel chief, a full-blood native, who was reported to be on his way to them. A launch came in during the day, and after skirting beach made for one of the small bays, and got out of sight.
On the morning of the 11th, one of the Company's staff again went to the rebel camp to that if the usual fortnightly steamer due the next day did not arrive, the corporal would surrender arms. The reply came back that the chief rebel required the corporal to meet him half way between the camp and the office, that he must not fear as he gave his word of honour that no harm would come to him. The Corporal refused the request, being against Spanish law, but repeated that he would surrender arms if no steamer arrived by to-morrow. Company's delegate then went back to say this, but noticing great commotion amongst the rebels hurried back to the Station after having overheard one of the rebels say that a warship was in sight. There was, however, no signs of it from the Station, but it was considered probable, as the rebels had sentries at the month of the harbour, The native whence they could see further. craft suddenly became very active, and the men at the Station concluded that they were either preparing to attack or to leave the place.
At 2.40 p.m., a gunboat arrived, much to the relief of all, and after landing 107 marines, the doors of the Station were once more opened, but heavy firing followed between the Station and the rebel camp, during which many of the rebels are said to have been killed, the Spaniards losing one soldier. The night passed quietly.
On the 12th, at 8.30 a.m., a merchant steamer and a Spanish oruiser arrived at Bolinao with Mr. Jones, the Company's Manila Superinten dent, and Telegraph-Operator Wright, on the former. They brought with them the necessary telegraph apparatus to be able to communicate with Hongkong in case the Station was des- troyed.
On the 13th H.M.S. Edgar arrived at Bolinao, and with this and the reinforcements sent by the Spanish authorities, the position of the Station became quite safe.
The following telegraphic information was received from the Bolinao Telegraph Station on the 15th, by the Head Office in Hongkong:-
"General Monet and one thousand men ar-
In some
[March 19, 1898, reporting that no landing could be effected and that it had been fired on from the shore. The people on board, however, were able to give the somewhat reassuring intelligence that the Com pany's house did not appear to have been dam aged.
“On the 20th Mr. Jones (the Superintendent succeeded in chartering a special steamer Manila, having made an ineffectual attempt do so on the previous day, and leaving me in charge of the Manila station proceeded Bolinao accompanied by Mr. Wright.
They have taken with them a mirror in- stallation in case of necessity. I have heard nothing of them since, but hope they will com- municate to-morrow from Santa Cruz.
"Three-men-of-war left for Bolinao yesterday and four thousand troops have been despatched northwards by railway.
The lighthouse keeper and inspector of forests at Bolinao have arrived at Santa Cruz, about forty miles south, having made their escape in a small boat.
They report that a detachment of troops at Bolinao was surprised and massacred on the 7th inst.,, and that the town is in the hands of the insurgents. They are, however, unable to give any information of the Company's staff.
CL
Everything seems to be quiet at Manila, and it is impossible to divine the cause of this sudden émeute in the northern provinces."
THE "COMERCIO ON THE REBELLION. The Comercio of the 10th March publishes the following:-Our readers already know that at a court-martial held at San Fernand de lal Pampanga there was condemned to death the head or leader of a movement which broke out in the middle of last month in Apalit, to which adherents were induced by religious fraud. The fanatical sect, who call themselves Gabinistas, having been opportunely discovered, the leader was summarily tried and was shot at Apalit the day before yesterday. The sect has ramifications and proselytes in the provinces of Pangasinan and Zambales, and its leaders were seized by our Authorities, who worked indefatigably for the preservation of order. The arrest of the leaders produced great agitation amongst their adherents, who, in their blind folly, attacked several places held by the civil guard and the military, and took possession of and occupied
rived overland last night, and reported that he had five engagements between Bolinao and Lingayen. The insurgents suffered heavy losses, and the Spanish losses were one lienten- ant and one soldier. The garrison and priests of neighbouring villages had been killed, only
rious undefended towns and villages where six soldiers managing to escape.
there were only one or two men on guard, villages the garrisons surrendered their arms on
confidence being entertained in the unalterable condition they would be allowed to go to the nearest friendly village. This the rebels agreed peace and tranquillity that have prevailed in the province of Pangasinan. These parties of to, but after getting their arms the soldiers Gabinistas, on occupying the towns and villages were killed, proving that the Bolinao garrison of Alaminos, Salasa, Sual, and San Isidro, cut was only spared on account of the English staff the telegraph lines by which communication being there. The telegraph line from Lingayen is maintained with Bolinao and, in conjunction to within a few miles of Bolinao Station has with the cable from that place, with Asia and been cut to pieces, and a party is now engaged Europe. The Governor-General, after repairing it. General Monet leaves a garrison long conference with General Monet, in com of 300 men, and returns to Manila this after-mand of the central provinces of Luzon, noon by cruiser.
The following is an extract from letter a dated 11th March, received by Mr. F. von der Pfordten from the Assistant Superintendent at the Manila Office :-
f
As you must be aware, communication between Manila and Bolinao has been totally interrupted since the 7th inst. We are in total ignorance of what has passed at Bolinao since that date. One thing appears to be certain, and that is that an insurrection of most serious dimensions has broken out in the North of Luzon and that Bolinao is in the hands of the rebels. In case the cable should have been out, or the Bolinao station occupied by the rebels, I take this opportunity of communicating to you briefly what has happened and what action has been taken by us in Manila.
If
On the 10th, Bolinao reported that the rebels seemed to be increasing and that there was no sign of any help from Manila. The staff were still able to get food from the village, but a servant who had gone out for firewood, yester- day, had not returned. The rebels sent in an ültimatum, that they would attack the Station if arms were not delivered up, and that they would spare the soldiers' lives if this was done. Some parleying went on after this, and on the receipt of a long letter from the rebels, one of the Company's staff went to them to try and arrange matters, and brought back the news that the surrender of the two rebels captured by the soldiers and taken to the Station on the day of the rising was demanded that day, and that the Company's staff had permission to come and go whenever they liked. If these conditions were not fulfilled they intended carrying out the original plan of attacking the Station. The corporal in charge, however, refused to surrender the prisoners at any price. "On the 8th inst., we wired to Dagupan to This corporal is evidently a splendid fellow. send a launch to Bolinao in order to ascertain if is only twenty years of age and has shown the station and staff were safe, but no launch great tact. No attack was made up to the was available on that date. pight of this date, and all precautions were taken at the Station to meet a night attack.
On the 7th inst. the line from Bolinao was announced to be interrupted from Lingayen. Some hours later the Lingayen office reported that the linemen who had been sent to repair the line had been prevented from working by groups of suspicious looking natives, A detach. ment of the Civil Guard then accompanied the linemen to the place of interruption, but were attacked and forced to retreat.
On the 9th, at daybreak, a launch left Dagupan for Bolingo, but returned on the 10th
who arrived at Manila yesterday. decided to send reinforcements to the large body of troops which was concentrated in the dis turbed districts immediately the first informa tion was received by telegram. These troops had already, according to advices received, in flicted upon the Gabinistas a loss of 197 killed, besides many wounded and taken prisoners, General Monet left at noon to-day for the pro- vinces with orders from the Governor-General and full powers to establish summary courts and adopt whatever measures may be necessary to put down this imbecile movement originat ing in a province which during the recen rebellion remained quiet and gave strong proofs of loyalty and patriotism.
A mixed battalion was recently formed, re presentative of the various sections of the army in the Philippines, which was to proceed to Spain to receive the honours it was desired to confer upon the army for its services the suppression of the recent rebellion. Thi battalion left with General Monet for the scene of the present disturbances, the Gov ernor-General desiring that it should carr with it to Spain the additional glory co-operating in their suppression.
A Madrid telegram in the Comercio state that Lieut. General Basilio Augustin y Dayi. has been appointed Governor-General of t Philippines and will leave Barcelona to take his appointment on the 12th March, by steamer Iela de Panay.
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