The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1898-10-07
PHILIPPINE PIRATES.
FIERCE MoRos oVERRAN THE
ISLANDS.


fire Guns.
Prof Dean c. Worcester Of the Uni
yersity Of Michigan contributes an ar
ticle on "The Malay Pirates Of the
Philippines" 10 tho Century. Prof.
Worcester says Of the dreaded Moros
OF the southern Philippines: The Mo-
ros entered the Philippines from Bor-
neo at about the time Of the Spanish
discovery. They FIRST settled In sulu
and Basllan. but rapidly spread over
the numerous small islands Of the sulu
and Tawi Tawl archipelagoes and
eventually occupied the whole Of the
great island Of Mindanao to the east.
and Balabac and the southern third or
Palawan to the west Before their
conquest Of Palawan was completed
they had their FIRST serious collision
with Spanish troops. and have not
since been able TO extend their terri
tory: but what they had taken they
have continued to hold Hostllitios be-
tween Moros and Spaniards we're pre-
cipltatod by an unprovoked attack by
the latter upon one OF the Moro chiefs
OF north Mlndanao. The attacking
force was almost annlhilated and the
fanatical passions OF the Moros we're
aroused. They forthwith began to or
ganlzo forays against the Spanish and
native towns OF the central and north
ern Islands. and from the outset met
with great success. Their principal
expeditions soon became annual
events with each recurring southeast
monsoon hordcs OF them manned thelf
war praus and sailed north. where
they hnrrled the coasts until the
cnange OF monsoona warned them 70
return homo. Thousands OF captlvCa
wore taken. Men were compelled 20
harvest their own crops for the bonoft
OF their captors. and were then butch
cred In cold blood. while women and
children were carried away. tho for
mer 70 enrich tho seraglios OF Moro
chlofa. the latter 10 be brought up M
slaves. For two and n half centuries
this state OF affairs continued En-
I boldened by continued success. the
/ Moros no longer confined their atton-
Z ton 10 the defonseloas natives. Span
/ iah planters and government officials
| were killed or held for ransom. But
the delight OF the grim Moslem war
riorH was to mako prisoners OF the
Spanish priests and frlars. toward
whom they displayed the blttorest ha-
tired. Islands which had once been
/ prosperous were almost depopulated.
Even foreign sailing vessels were at
tackled and captured. The spaniards
did not tamoly submit TO this state OF
AFFAIRS. Expedition after expedition
was organized. Millions Of dollars and
thousands OF lives we're wasted. Tenn
porary successes were gained. hut thoy
resulted In no permanent advantage.
on several occasions landings were
made on sulu itself. forts built. and
garrlsons established. only to be drlv-
on from the island or masaacrol TO n
man. The steel weapons Of the Moros
were OF the best, and Tor years they
were really better armed than the
Spaniards; but with the Improvement
In firearms the spanlnrds gained an
advantage IN which the Moroa did not
share. Such cannon and rifles az they
possessed were antlquntod, and they
had difficulty On getting ammunition;
but Il was not until tho day OF rapid
ere guns and llFht-draft steam gun
boats that they were finally confined
10 the southern waters OF the nrohi-
pelago An efficient patrol OF gum
boats was established and the Moro
praus were forbidden 20 put 20 sea
without FIRST obtaining q written per-
NIT from tho nearest Spanish govern
or. Thoy were also ordered TO ny the
Spanish flag. when n prnu was en-
countercd that did not show the nag,
or was not provided with a pasaporte,
II was rammed and cut IN two. or sunk
by the IRE OF maohlne-guns. No quar-
ter YVES given. As opportunity offered
the gunboats shollcd tho Moro villages
which were built over the sea and "a
could be easily reached. sulu. which
had always been the seat OF govern
ment and the residence OF the rolgning
sultans. was destroyed IN 1876. and q
Spanish military post established
where Il had been. At lrst the Moror
had dlsagroeabio habit OF dropping
IN from time 20 time and wlplng out
the garrison. II was constantly rein
forced or renewed. however. so that
from 1876 to the present day the Span
ish occupation az this point has been
almost continuous.
]