Evening journal., 1896-11-25
Is REVIVED
How Spain Tortures the Unfor-
tunate Philippine islanders.
TALEoF UEsPEAKABLB BRUTALITY

Ingenious Crueities Inflicted to Fxtott
concessions of Disloyaity From the Ma
tives-NO Official Advices Received In
Washington Regarding the Competitor.
SAN Francisco, Nov. e5.-Thc news
rom Manila brought by the Hongkong
steamer shows that the Spaniards have re-
sorted to torture of the natives and half
castles Of the Philippines that surpasses in
cruelty that practiced by the Chinese
mandarins in cases Of the most atrocious
crimes. They are also charged with con-
flscating the estates Of wealthy half castles
ana deporting these wretched victims to
the Caroline islands and to the west coast
OF Africa, both places having climates that
quickly prove fatal TO the strangers.
These facts are not given without authori-
ty. James w. Davidson, a well known
correspondent sends full details of what
he has seen and heard in Manila TO the
Hongkong press and declares that he has
positive proof of everything which he mem
tions
According to him, the instruments Of.
torture used in the Spanish inquisition
three centuries ago have been kept I'm the
mcnasteries of Manila and were brought
out recently and used to extort confessions
from native and Mestizo suspects. He
says over 600 suspects have been arrested
and kept in jail in Manila, and he adds:
TO care for such a great number has
taxed the authorities to the utmost and
foul dungeons unfit for any human being
have been used as last resort. 1t was
thus that "a horrible death was dealt to
the 80 unfortunates who were smothered
in the black hole of Manila.
The Death Pit.
1T seems Chat the prisoners were let
down into this death pit from an opening
above. The sentry or guard excused the
affair by saying it was raining, and as he
was afraid the inmates would get wet he
placed boards over the opening, thus shut
ting up the only chance for ventilation,
leaving over 400 gasping creatures fighting
each other like madmen in their efforts to
find breath of air.
when a native is arrested, his arms are
bound back by fastening strong cords
drawn across the back to each elbow. So
tight is this drawn and so long continued
that the arm is badly laceratcd. For exam
pie, one prisoner named Lerma had his
flesh so badly torn that he lost the use OF
both arms.
Then the native is taken before the
military court, where he is subjected to an
examination. If his answers are not salts
factory-and they ordinarily are not, un-
less guilt is confessed-he is taken to the
torture chamber. After being stripped he
is first subjected to whipping with rattans
300 blows or more if the victim is espe-
cially obstinate. If this is not successful,
good old fashioned thumbscrews are
brought into play, and the poor wretch,
already half dead from the beating, is
Obliged to undergo the exquisite pain of
these instruments. These tOrturing ma
chimes were actually those used in the days
of the inquisition and are preserved to this
time in the monastery of St Augustine at
Manila TO be brought into use at this day.
Statements vouched For.
"Ghese statements are well known by
all to be facts. The natives tell of other
fortunes They say prisoners have been
placed against a board wall and small
nails driven through each finger holding
the arms out as in cruciilxion, until the
suffering man cries out a confession.
again, the suspects have been fastened in
"a position from which they cannot change
will % vessel of water is so arranged
aDovc them that drop after drop falls on
. leiT heads causing great torture.
The Spaniarjs Justify these tOrtures by
g., ir,, that the natives suffer no shame
fr - Imprisonment, and severe measures
~sl 'cessary. When suspects are condemn
they are executed in "a hours. The exc
ion usually takes place in the public
whore the men, bound are placed on
/ cir knees and shot in the back death
hclrly always being instantaneous. Dur
1g the last execution "a Spanish women
7rra counted among the spectators. In
&C.. The killing is looked upon 70 a GER
"a. extent as a sort of exhibition and no
1OnLt conpensates them for the loss of bull
rhts which have been during these days
Giscontinued. Bands of music are also
playing during the execution.