The Korean Repository: Local Edition Vol. 1

No. VI  Thursday March 16, 1899


 The THE WAR IN THE PHILIPPINES.

        Immediately on the outbreak of hostilities Aguinaldo asked for a cessation of hostilities in order that negotiations might be opened but his request was refused by General Otis. The torch has been called to the aid of the rifle and towns and villages in the islands are laid in ashes. The troops while putting out the fires are attacked by the natives. The fighting at Caloocan was very severe as shown by the following from the Hongkong Telegraph : During Wednesday night and Thursday morning large numbers of natives came along the numerous creeks and salt-marshes of the Vitas district, fringing the sea-shore between Malabon and Manila. Their intention was to cut off Caloocan entirely, and enter Tondo in rear of General McArthur's position. At the same time, an attack was made on Caloocan from the other side, the Philipino artillery opening fire at the Americans at daylight. They were soon driven off by a few well-placed shells, and it was then discovered that swarms of them had got into Tondo, to aid their friends who were burning the place down. They threw up barricades and breastworks in a very short time. Signals flew like lightning between General McArthur, General Hughes and Admiral Dewey. The 23rd Infantry. Minnesota and Oregon regiments from Manila, and the Idahos and Montanas from Caloocan together with the warships combined to give the poor misguided natives a lesson. The Philipinos fought desperately but that was no use. In one house, surrounded by a stone wall, they tried to make a stand, and sixty dead bodies were found in the enclosure. In another place, between Caloocan and Malabon, they tried to hold a little bridge and 106 of them were found dead there. There must have been, judging by the heaps of corpses, not less than 300 killed in the whole fight which was one of the stiffest of the present campaign. The returns of casualties on the American side so far show ten killed and thirty-five wounded. The commission appointed by President McKinley left Hongkong on the 2nd in the cruiser Baltimore. Its proceedings will be watched with great interest.
The question as to which army at Manila provided the assault which ended so disastrously to the Filipinos is treated by the special correspondent to the China mail of Feb. 12 as follows: "I have made the most thorough investigations to find if there was the slightest truth in the allegations that the Americans had forced the Filipinos into active hostilities. Of these allegations I can discover no corroboration. Indeed the contrary seems to have been the case. Forbearance almost to weakness has been the predominant note in the American treatment of the natives. On the frontier lines the Filipinos have come up to the American lines over and over again, have deliberately loaded and pointed their weapons at the sentinels, laughed contemptuously in their faces, and as contemptuously retired to their own lines. It was felt that this conduct could not be tolerated for long. It says much for the restraint of the men and the control their officers had of them that the American troops behaved so splendidly in the face of serious provocation. On every hand I hear that General Otis, the United States commander-in-Chief, exerted his personal influence on the side of peace.”

A special despatch to the N. C. Daily News from Hongkong of dated Feb. 23 says, “The natives hoisted the United States flag on the Island of Negroes on the 18th inst. They desire a protectorate with no reservation and no relations with Aguinaldo.

The four Philippine Commissioners are visiting General Otis, the United States General in command. , .

Negroes has a population of about 50,000 and an area of nearly 5,500 square miles.

 

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

LONDON; March 3rd—The Times sympathises with the Italian government in its demands for concessions in Chekiang province and hopes that the British Foreign Office will grasp the true condition of affairs before it is too late. China is just breaking up, and the future of the country lies with those countries who understand what to do.

LONDON, March 5th.—It is believed that Great Britain approved of the demand made by Italy for a lease of Seamen hay, in the province of Chekiang.

LONDON, March 5th.—The Hon. Mr. Brodrick, replying in the House of Commons to a question concerning the Russian protest against the terms of the Newchwang railway concession, said that the British government regards its engagements with China as binding.

LONDON, March 6th. - Rear-Admiral Dewey has been appointed an Admiral and Brigadier-General Otis a Major General for distinguished services.

LONDON, March 6th.—Senor Silvela has formed a conservative Cabinet. The Cortes has been dissolved.

LONDON, March 6th.—The Daily Graphic states that Sir Claude MacDonald has assured the Tsungli Yamen that China may rely on the support of Great Britain in resisting any attempt to force her to repudiate the Newchwang railway contract.

 

THE FOREIGN CEMETERY.

A meeting of western foreigners resident of Seoul and vicinity was held in the rooms of the Seoul Union on the 9th instant to transact business relating to the cemetery at Yang-wha-jin. The attendance was not very large. At 4.30 o’clock the Hon. H. N. Allen called the meeting to order and after the reading of the minutes of the last meeting which was held as far back as Nov. 11, 1896, the Secretary read his report showing the satisfactory condition of the cemetery. The report of the treasurer is of sufficient importance that we give it in full below.

There were three vacancies on the Cemetery Committee and they were filled by the election of Messrs Reinsdorf, Pavlow and Wakefield-

After a full discussion section four of the “General Rules and Regulation” was amended and the section as amended now reads:

“Any person who has paid the sum of ten dollars, or more, to the first cost of preparing the ground shall be entitled to one interment free of cost, including the fee for the erection of grave-stones.”

The meeting discussed at some length the mode of raising money and empowered the treasurer to send the subscription list and pledge of annual dues to new residents on their arrival.

 

REPORT OF TREASURER.

H. G. Appenzeller in account with the western foreigners of Seoul

Time covered by this report, November 11,1896, to March 9,1899.

Receipts

November 11. 1896, To,

amount on hand                                  $97.90

Receipts from Annual dues                324.10

Receipts from subscriptions               195.00

Receipts from sale of grave spaces     70.00

Receipts from interments                    25.00

Interest            8.53

                                                                        720.03

DISBURSMENTS.

By new building and ground improvements $410.42

By interment expenses                                    49.90

By keepers wages                                           111.60 •

By sundry office expenses 7.35

                                                                       578.07

 

March 9 1899; amount on hand                      141.96

Respectfully submitted

 

H G. Appenzeller, Treasurer;

 

 

PLAUSIBLE BUT NOT CONCLUSIVE

Last fall when Prof. Hulbert went to America he left a check with a Korean to whom he owed a little money. The Korean raised the cheek from 8 yen to 800 yen. This was easily detected by the cashier of the bank on which the check was drawn, the forger was arrested and handed over to the Korean authorities. On examination the man put forth the plea that he was under a ten years contract with Mr. Hulbert and that he was anxious to draw the whole amount at once – a tendency we fear only too prevalent here. The explanation was so plausible that the case was dismissed

 

CITY AND COUNTRY.

A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Emberley on the 11th inst.

Mr. Leigh Hunt, of the Oriental Consolidated Mining Company, arrived in Chemulpo yesterday per steamer Genkai Maru.

Rey George Cobb returned from Chemulpo Tuesday after ten days sojourn at the port.

A. ship load of ties for the Seoul-Chemulpo railroad is expected soon at Chemulpo.

The Seoul-Chemulpo railroad company are planning to recommence operations on the road early next month.

Part of the machinery for the power house of the electric railroad is now at Yong-San and is to be brought to its final destination soon.

The friends of Rev. S. Miller and wife will be glad to hear that Mrs. Miller is much improved in health. They expect to remain at Chemulpo another week.

Rev. H. B. Hulbert since his return from America beat the record on quick connections, waiting over one day at Yokohama, one day at Kobe, and one hour at Chemulpo.

The Home for Destitute Children was moved on the 14th from the northern part of the city to Mowhakwan in what was known as the Shelter supported by Dr. Underwood.

It is estimated that the Korean government has issued nickel coins to the amount of 1,250,000 yen. Unless the government is ready to redeem them there is likelihood of their eventually declining to the bullion price which is about thirty cents per pound.

The water front improvements at Chemulpo are progressing finely. About 166 feet of land is being reclaimed and the work is to cost 40,800 yen. No permanent structures are to be erected upon it. Temporary go-downs for storage and rice-cleaning purposes will be erected there.

Hisano, a Japanese engineer, together with seven assistants started from Seoul yesterday on an inspecting tour for the route of the Seoul-Fusan railway. Our Japanese contemporary, the Kanjo Shimbun, is authority for the statement that the road proposed covers the towns of Kong-ju and Chun-ju on the west and thence along the southern coast to Fusan. This will increase the length very materially but it will avoid the high mountains in the center of the peninsula.

The government is at present making arrangements to send a large number of new prefects into the country. But some of the new appointees, however, are a little exacting in their demands, among other things refuse to take districts where Christians reside. So, at least, it is reported.

 

A CORRECTION.

To the Editors of the Korean Repository:

I see in your last paper a statement that the reorganization of the Peddler’s Guild, you understand, has been effected.

I have made inquiries and feel authorized in stating that the information on which you make this mention was incorrect and that the reorganization of the Peddler’s Guild has not been effected and respectfully request that you could make this correction in your next issue.

 

Very Respectfully,

H. K. Ko.

We gladly give space to this communication. We received our information from two independent, and what seemed to us reliable, sources.-Ed. K. R.

 

NOTES FROM WONSAN.

Foreigners and natives, the halt, the maimed, the blind, lepers and demon-possessed have hailed with joy the arrival of Dr. Grierson. Others may complain of a dearth of society there is no lack for him.

The new year for the Chinese has passed modestly, with only a meagre display of lanterns and fire-cracker. The old dragon that used to wobble through the streets at night, with glaring eyes, and internals all on fire has disappeared. No doubt his seven heads and ten horns are somewhere kicking about Port Arthur or Wei-hai-wei.

All await with lively expectation the coming of Mr. Yun. Apart from that of His Imperial Majesty no arrival could create a greater interest. Conservative, as well as Progressives seem glad that the place of his exile from the capital is to be Wonsan.

The Presbyterian Mission closed a two weeks session for Bible study on Saturday, 26th inst. Some sixty natives were in attendance, representing Wonsan and the eastern coast as far north as Puk-ch’eng

 

LESSONS ON THE HUMAN BODY.

젼톄 공용문답 pp 34. Price 12 sen.

Missess Paine and Frey of the Ewa School have given in this small but comprehensive book lessons on the human body. It was begun, so we understand, to supply a text-book on this subject for use in their own school. We feel quite sure other schools will introduce the book. Every boy and girl in school now should know just what is contained in this excellent volume. The lads to whom the binding of the book was committed volunteered the information that the book contained much that was very good. We quite agree with them.

Several years ago a missionary lady published an elementary geography. Someone in the Department of Education saw it and a new edition was promptly published, the lady not knowing it for a long time. The authors of this modest little volume, unless on their guard, may receive a similar, albeit somewhat doubtful compliment.

We are glad to see back again from his six months trip to the United States Prof. Hulbert of the Normal School, who arrived in Seoul on the evening of the 9th inst. The professor looks very well, indeed, showing the excitement incident to the signing and ratification of the treaty of peace did not affect him unfavorably. Mrs. Hulbert and the children will remain in America until next fall when they will come to Korea.

 

Westminster 150° test oil for lamps. Mineral Colza 300° test oil for oil stoves. 2-4t Townsend & Co., Agents.