LUKBAN
anchored . The large out-triggered vessel was unloading earthen wares ( pots , jars , etc .), but mostly 20-liter kerosene cans . The kerosene cans were , in the normal course of trade , being readied for delivery to consignees in town . But today , they would have other uses .
The belfry boys got their instructions the night before . Usually they rang one bell for the customary ringing at 6:00 A . M . on a Sunday of ordinary time . But today they were to stay put and wait for a small-arm gunfire , at which instance they were to ring in full blast all three bells , including the giant de ruida . This de ruida bell was rung only on solemn occasions , such as the arrival of dignitaries , or at the inception and completion of a High Mass during town fiestas , or in cases of calamities such as fires beyond control .
Rebadulla however objected to the small-arm gunfire , for it could in fact mean hostilities . Instead , he ordered the dropping on the concrete street of an empty kerosene can to produce the loud , sharp decibels . That was supposed to mean that the American garrison did not accept the town leaders ’ demand to surrender with their guns and military wares and to vacate the convent and the church premises .
At about 7:00 A . M ., just before the Americans started their daily morning drills , a courier was dispatched by the town capitan to hand in an envelope to the doorman at the rectory containing the demand . As expected , the garrison turned the demand down . A thumb-down signal from the courier as he emerged from the rectory caused the fall of an empty kerosene can from a husky longshoreman while he was stacking kerosene cans not far from the town square . That sudden fall was the signal that the belfry boys were awaiting . A few bell rings sent the token force of militiamen at the rear of the convent firing to decoy the Americans in that direction . Then the shooting war began . 1
“ The garrison was alarmed by shots coming from the rear of the church on the left side of the barracks . The men immediately prepared to resist the attack . Almost at the same time a heavy fire was opened on them from the hills on the right and left , and also from every available part of the town which could be utilized by the insurgents ,” said a report by Capt . Dey , who commanded the detachment . 2
The bells of Catubig , especially the giant de ruida that day , kept spinning in crescendo , as the other two bells were tolling unusually fast . All able-bodied men ran toward the convent even without orders and volunteered to fight . But unarmed , they instead ended up rolling the hemp bales around the convent to serve as shields to the militiamen . But the Americans were shooting too and in higher volume of fire . After all , they had better guns . Their bullets were proportionately taking higher tolls than those of the native militia . 3
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