In 1871 I joined Mr. William Morton Clark of Philadelphia, who
had a large timber business on the island of Luzon, and started
cutting some timber contracted for by the Chinese government.
I soon discovered that I was interfering with the business of a
certain priest, who was also in the same line of business.
Shortly before this, this priest and an inspector of roads had
loaded the Spanish bark Santa Lucia for Hong-Kong, and had made
things so disagreeable for others who had tried to ship merchandise
that foreigners were becoming afraid to risk their capital.
Mr. Clark finding how things were going on soon abandoned the
enterprise, and I then determined to fight the thing out on my
own account.
At this time I had 25,000 cubic feet of hard timber, cut and
squared, for a foreign market, eighty-two buffaloes for hauling,
and a plant of machinery and appliances valued at $7,000.
I had a license for carrying on my business, duly granted by the
superior government, and in 1874 chartered a vessel at Manila to
carry my timber to Hong-Kong, and then went to the port of Love,
where my timber was, taking with me $940 in gold to prepare for
the vessel's arrival and to continue cutting.
Upon arriving at Love I found that during my absence at Manila a
portion of my timber had been forcibly taken possession of and had
been shipped on board the Spanish bark Teresa by Joaquin Barcello,
the captain of the Teresa, who was then on his way to Hong-Kong. I
also learned that my buffaloes, stock and rice had been removed,
and that Juan Gaal, my foreman, whom I had left in charge of
my property, was all subject to the orders of this Barcello,
and that my choppers had been bribed into the service of Padre
Fidel Moreno, the priest of the town.
When I complained of this I was confronted with a document signed
by the Adelantado of Love, to the effect that no notice should
be taken of my complaints, to give no testimony in my behalf
(thereby shutting me out of my legal rights), and that my foreman,
Juan Gaal, should look after the interests of Captain Barcello
until the captain's return from China.
I then applied to the Governor, protesting against the robbery
of my timber and the appropriation of my property by Captain
Barcello and Juan Gaal, but was merely told that the commandante
had so ordered and that there would be no interference.
Seeing there was no justice to be had at home, I sought to regain
my rights at Manila and so left the next morning for Manila
on the bark Industria, taking with me all my private papers,
contracts, &c.
That night we encountered a terrible typhoon in which the vessel
was wrecked, and all that I was able to save was the clothes I
then wore.
Upon my arrival at Manila I put in a complaint against Captain
Barcello, and also against Padre Moreno and the commandante of
the district, as accomplices in the above fraud and robbery.
The case dragged along, as is customary in Spanish countries,
and about a year later my funds were all exhausted. At this
time a Spanish friend at Manila, acquainted with my misfortunes,
took me to his home and lent me some money, shortly afterwards
sailing for Europe.
With this money I returned to Love, expecting to find at least
a portion of my timber left which I intended to ship. Upon
arriving at Love I found that Captain Barcello had been there
before me and had seized and shipped everything but a few
worm-eaten logs. Barcello had even hauled the timber I had cut
in the mountains, and aided by his accomplices had cleaned me
out entirely during my absence.
I saw it was no use to complain further, and so I set to work to
cut some more timber, and after much trouble and expense got two
cargoes ready and left for Manila, intending to go from there to
Hong-Kong to sell what I had last cut.
Learning that Barcello was in Manila and was about to leave for
Hong-Kong, I applied to the Alcalde, Señor Torranco, who had
my suit in charge, to stop Barcello from leaving the country,
as my case against him had not yet been decided.
This didn't benefit me much, as the Alcalde wouldn't grant my
request, and although a case of robbery and fraud was pending
against him, Barcello was allowed to leave without hindrance.
I then applied for my passport, but to my surprise this was
refused me, on the ground that my suit should first be decided.
I then returned to Love, having authorized Charles Germain to
charter for me, and in due time I had despatched three cargoes
to Hong-Kong, but finding that my presence in Hong-Kong would be
absolutely necessary for the success of my business I applied a
second time for my passport, and was again refused.
Thinking that if I offered security I would be allowed to leave
the town, I named a friend who was willing to go on my bond, but
the Alcalde shut me off from this chance by sending his clerk to
my friend's house, and succeeded in so frightening him that my
friend withdrew his name as my bondsman.
I know that this act was done deliberately, as at this time,
and during the whole of my suit, the Alcalde was on the most
intimate terms with Captain Barcello.
My next step was to protest against Señor Torranco trying or
hearing my case, as I showed conclusively that he was hand and
glove with Barcello. This had the desired effect, and the case
was transferred to another Alcalde. Torranco had, however, served
his friend well: he had stopped my passport at a vital point in
my business on a frivolous pretext.
I was a foreigner, and that was enough, and not being able to
obtain permission to leave the country, all my efforts being
frustrated by those in power, although I was the aggrieved and
injured party, I was held a captive in Manila, my business,
meantime, going to ruin abroad.
This state of affairs continued for months, with no signs of any
beneficial change in my circumstances, and so I finally brought
the matter officially before the American Consul, who wrote to
the Captain-General, stating my case in full, and advised me to
abandon my suit, which I did, the Consul officially notifying
the Captain-General of the fact.
From that day to this I have been sustained by my friends. My
means were exhausted, and I was compelled to leave the hotel a
beggar on the streets, with my resources all gone and heavy debts
pressing upon me.
Mr. Collins was never able to get justice, though he tried
frequently. His experience is no uncommon one. The establishment of
a pure judiciary and the purification of the courts should be one of
the first reforms undertaken by the Americans.