avowed that it was lucky for the shopkeepers that they had got money,
otherwise they would have looted their goods. The Chinese shut up
their shops from the beginning of the troubles, leaving only a hole
in the closed door to do a little business, as they were in constant
fear for the safety of their lives and their stocks. A great many
families packed up their belongings and went over to Negros Island in
small schooners. The little passenger-steamers plying between Yloilo
and Negros were running as usual, crowded to the brim, and flying the
Philippine flag without interruption from the Americans. Amongst the
better classes opinions on the situation were much divided. The best
Philippine and Spanish families expressed their astonishment that
the Americans made no attempt to take the town immediately after the
Spanish evacuation. There were foreign merchants anxious to delay
the American investment because, meanwhile, they were doing a brisk
trade, and there were others longing to see the town in the hands
of any civilized and responsible Power. Delegates from one party
or the other, including the native civil government, went off in
boats almost daily to parley with General Miller in the roadstead,
each with a different line of real or sophistic argument. The best
native families, the foreigners of all classes--those who desired a
speedy entry of the Americans and those who sought to delay it--were
agreed as to the needlessness and the mistaken policy of announcing
a bombardment. Yloilo is a straggling, open town. The well-to-do
people asked, "Why bombard?" There were no fortifications or anything
to destroy but their house property. Plans were voluntarily offered
showing how and at which points a midnight landing of 400 or 500 troops
could be secretly effected for a sunrise surprise which would have
cleared the town in an hour of every armed insurgent. The officers
ashore declared they were ready; and as to the men, they were simply
longing for the fray, but the word of command rested with General
Miller.

In the evening of February 10 the native civil government held an
extraordinary session in the Town Hall to discuss the course to be
adopted in view of the announced bombardment. The public, Filipinos
and foreigners, were invited to this meeting to take part in the debate
if they wished, Raymundo Melliza, Victorino Mapa, Martin Delgado, and
Pablo Araneta, being amongst those who were present. It was proposed to
bur