hundred residences
and business houses were destroyed. Fires started at several points
simultaneously, and, spreading with great rapidity, resisted efforts
to control them. Hundreds of homeless natives were huddled in the
streets, making the patrol duty of the Americans difficult. The fire
was started in three places. Native sharpshooters were concealed behind
corner buildings. They shot at every American in sight. Flames burst
forth simultaneously from Santa Cruz, San Nicolas and Tondo. From
these points the fire spread. In a short time a great part of the
city was burning. Notwithstanding the continual activity of the hidden
sharpshooters the American garrison turned out and fought the fire. In
many cases they had first to drive away the lurking assassins.

No one of our troops was killed, but seven members of the
Minnesota regiment ere wounded making a rush into the burning Tondo
quarter. Captain C. Robinson of Company C was one of the wounded. The
troops were rallied from some of the outlying encampments, quickly
spread through all parts of the city and subdued what was evidently
planned for a general uprising and massacre.

The fire lasted all night. The native rebels in the city have
been completely checked by the prompt work of General Otis and the
other commanders. It is evident that the incendiaries and assassins
believed that the entire town would be destroyed and with it the
foreign residents and the American soldiers.

General Otis telegraphed Adjutant-General Corbin February 23d:

"Determined endeavors to burn city last night. Buildings fired in
three different sections of city. Fires controlled by troops, after
severe labor.

"A considerable number of incendiaries shot and a few soldiers wounded.

"Early this morning a large body of insurgents made a demonstration
off MacArthur's front, near Caloocan, and were repulsed. Loss of
property by fire last night probably $500,000."

February 21st, 9:35 P. M.--"The natives of the village of Paco made a
bold attempt last night to burn the quarters of the First Washington
Volunteers by setting fire to the huts adjoining their quarters in
the rear.

"Fortunately the wind changed at the moment the fire was discovered,
and, fanned by a stiff breeze, the flames spread in the opposite
direction, destroying fully twenty shacks and houses opposite the
ruins of the church. The incendiaries escaped.

"Mysterious signals were frequently made along the enemy's line