Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 August 1898 — AGUINALDO’S DARING DEED. [ARTICLE]

AGUINALDO’S DARING DEED.

Rebel Leader Collects a Prinoety Re* ward for His Own HeadL Nearly two years ago Agulnaldo and a compatriot -named Alexandra, also a lieutenant of native troops, organized a revolt in the native corps at the Philippines. Aguinaldo’s regiment one morning, while on parade, shot all the Spanish officers, except a few lieutenants, and took to the savannas—great trackless prairie, swampy, with occasional high bits of land, called “mattes.” Here Agulnaldo made his headquarters. At one time he must have had 4,000 or 5,000 men under arm# of some sort hidden In these fastnesses, raiding the rich settlements whenever they felt like it. The political governor general of the Philippines, Senor Don Basillo Augustin y Davila, offered a reward of $20,000 for the head of Agulnaldo. Within a week he received a note from the Insurgent chief, saying: “I need the sum you offer very much, and will deliver the head myself.” Ten days later the southeast typhoon was raging. The hurricane—for It was one—was tearing things to bits, and it was raining as it can only rain in the Orient, a sheet of black water flooding the earth. The two sentinels at the governor general’s gate made the usual reverent sign as a priest passed In, who asked if his excellency was In and unengaged. They answered yes to both questions. Don Basillo did not turn his head as some one entered. It was his secretary, he supposed, come to help prepare an eloquent statement upon the condition of the colonies. It was not the secretary, but the priest,' who said, "Peace be with you, my son.” The cleric locked the door, and, dropping his cloak, said: “Do you know me?” Don Basillo did not know him. It was Agulnaldo, also a twenty-inch bolo, a native knife, sharp as a razor, carried by every Malay in time of trouble. They can lop off an arm with one blow, as though It were a carrot. “I have brought the head of Agulnaldo,” the chief said, touching tha edge of his jewel-hilted bolo to ascertain its condition, “and I claim the reward! nasten, else I shall have to expedite matters myself.” Don Basillo was trapped. He had to open the desk and count out the sum in Spanish gold. Agulnaldo punctillously wrote a receipt, coolly counted the money and walked backward toward the door. He suddenly opened it and dashed out, just ahead of a pistol bullet that cut his locks on the temples. Captain General Polavleja offered him and Alexandro a free pardon and $200,000 each to quit the colony. They accepted It and got the money, only to learn that they were both to be assassinated the next night at a festa. The two men who had undertaken the job were found dead, stabbed to the heart In their own beds. On the kriss handle was a bit of paper with a line saying, “Beware of the Malay’s vengeance.” Polavleja resigned and returned to Spain, being succeeded by Gen. Augusti formerly captain general of Barcelona. ;