WHO IS MRS. RIZAL?

TO AVENGE HER HUSBAND; The Widow of Dr. Rizal Here to Secure Aid for the Patriots in the Philippines. HER WORK IN PHILADELPHIA Arrangements Made for Expeditions and Supplies and an Agreement for Mutual Assistance Concluded with the Cuban Junta.

September 22, 1897, Wednesday NYTimes

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 21. -- Marina Comenol Orbi Hozae Rizal, the widow of Dr. Hozae Rizal, who was butchered by Gen. Polaviejo on Dec. 6, 1896, is now in Philadelphia. Dr. Rizal was the acknowledged leader and instigator of the revolution in the Philippines, which had been smoldering since 1894. As the president of Manila University, he was honored and revered by the residents of the island. Religious persuasion and the atrocities list of tyrannies that are familiar to Cuban and Philippine historians finally were too grave for Dr Rizal to bear. He was instrumental in gathering together the patriots, and took to the field.

Marina Comenol Orbi had been a student in the university. An attachment has sprung up between her and the President, and on Dec 4 she went into the thick of the battle to meet her lover, and the President, and they were married, with a band of patriots as the only witnesses. Marina returned to Manila and two days later the young husband was captured. The Spanish General visited the prisoner, and offered him life, liberty, and passports for himself and wife if he would persuade the insurgents to yield. Rizal courageously and patriotically refused to buy his freddom at such a price. On Dec 6 he was led to a stone wall, compelled to knell, and was shot to death by a file of Spaniards under command of Gen Polaviejo.

Mrs Rizal then made up her mind to devote he life to the cause and avenge he husband. She first went to Japan, and there found sympathy and substantial encouragement. Mrs Rizal is now stopping in the northwestern part of this city, where she is the guest of a family thoroughly in sympathy manifests itself in her shrewd, secret work. Many cases of arms and ammunition have been shipped over the trunk lines to Canada, where they will be forwarded to Japan and ultimately to the patriots in the Philippines.

The Remington Arms Company is said to be have sent thousands fo rifles and is at work competing more for the same purpose. A band of recruits will be send from America as soon as they can be collected. The work has been done so quietly that the presence of Mrs Rizal in this city has been known only to two or three of her most trusted friends. She has been here in month and not a moment of idleness.

Mrs Rizal will go from here to Japan and it is her intention to head the troops in person when she returns to the island. The patriots have been stirred deeply by the heroism of this woman, who is willing to give her life for the cause for which her husband died. The Philippine insurgents have been fighting at a great disadvantage for want of troops and supplies. With renewed courage and abundant supplies under the inspired leadership of Mrs. Rizal, they expect long to gain their liberty and force Spain to grant practically the same reform that Cuba is struggling for. Japan is lending much aid to their cause, and is said to be looking with envious eyes upon the island.

The expedition which Mrs Rizal will soon lead from America is the first organized in United States, but a permanent organization has been formed which will act in conjunction with the Cuban Junta in supplying troops, war ammunitions, and counsel to the forces in the field.

The above article was published by NY times, LA Times, Desserter News, and other newspapers in the United States in Sept 22/23, 1897. Another part of that paper was about Theodore Roosevelt activity as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy. The same month when the Navy Secretary Long was on vacation and Commodore Dewey got his appointment from Roosevelt to head the Asiatic fleet.

Was this the start of what was known as the Yellow journalism ? Not the Yellow fever prevalent in Cuba. Dramatizing events to sell not only newspaper but also swaying public opinion for America's first world involvement in war and driving the Spanish forces out of the American continent and the Pacific. Bt stirring up prejudice and newspaper accounts of Spain's brutal treatment of Cubans and Filipinos, the Americans sympathized with the growing rebellion. I am still puzzled. Who is this Mrs Rizal? The sounding name of Hozae? Note that Gov Polaviejo relieved Blanco around the first week of December 1896.