Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-02
VISIT TO A: SULTAN
Religious Leader Of Many Blood
Thirsty Mohammedans.
WHAT SORT OF 4 MAN he is
He Wanted to Take His Harem on
a Government Transport.
SNAPSHOTS OF THE LADIES
Copyrighted, 1900, by Frank C. Carpenter.
special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

Copyrighted, 1900. by Frank C. Carpenter.
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
PARANG-PARANG. April u, 1900
You will do we'll to remember the names
Of the distinguished characters described in
this letter. They are liable to appear any
day in the news dispatches from the Phil
ippines. and that in letters of blood.
refer to the Sultan of Mindanao, Datto
Piang of Cottabato and Datto Baqui They
are the rulers of some of the worst Mo-
hammedans of the far east, Mohammedans
more barharous and savage than the Mo-
ros of Sulu. of which you have read. They
have been noted throughout the centuries
as pirates and cut-throats and the Span
iards have for three hundred years attempt
ed to quell them in vain. For this pur-
pose they had garrisons here and at Pol
Iok, but though nominally at peace. Sc
eret warfare went on. and within the past
eight years, 1 am told. that 300 Spaniar'ls
were killed at this fort alone. The soldiers
did not dare to go into the interior, and
the Moros were not, allowed to come into
the fort Still every now and then Span
ish soldier would be found dead. OFTEN II
would be a sentry who had been carved to
pieces at his post with one of the terrible
knives that the Moros use, and again it
might be by Juramentado, or Mohamme-
dan fanatic, who had started out VoW1ng
to kill Christians until he should be killed
himself According to his religion every
Christian he killed would advance him d
step up toward the top platform OF the
Mohammedan heaven, and his victims
would be compelled to serve him there as
slaves.
GEL Moro!, Ell Moro""
: The war cry of these people is lei Moro!
Ell Moro!'' A few days ago our soldiers
heard this cry and saw the Moros drawing
their knives and Upslinging their guns.
Every one was ready to tight on the IN
slant. There was a pushing and slashing
and Datto Baqui and his son came near
being killed by one of the fanatics. The
story illustrates the savagery OF the peo-
pie. - The fanatic, who was just Ike any
one of thousand men.whom have walked
among today, became angry at MS VIE"
He assaulted her with his bareng, knife as
sharp as a razor and as heavy as butch
er's cIeaver, and literally chopped her to
pieces. He then began on his second wife,
cutting a deep cash in her shoulder, ana
left his house and ran down the main
street, striking at every man ne
met. He attacked Datto Baqui, who
was standing on a corner, and VINO only
saved his life by ducking his head. As 1t
was, the knife went deep into the neck Oh
one of the slaves who was standing be-
Kind. and a second blow killed another CT
his attendants. In the meantime other MO
ros were shooting and throwing lances at
the murderer. They failed to hit him and
he turned and ran. He might, indeed, nave
escaped for time. had he not met an olo
Nero in his path. He could not resist
stopping to kill him With one blow OF MS
knife he cut the old mans head In two,
cleaving 1t from crown to chin. Before ne
could withdraw his knife the dattos war
riors were upon him. dozen campilaas,
krises and barongs were chopping up MS
body, and he was actually cut into mlnce
meat before he could utter cry or
groan. The man in this case seems to have
killed for the pure love of killing Such
cases are not uncommon, and L hear daliy
stories of men who have, as they call II
here run amok," and gone on killing all
they could, expecting TO be killed them
selves.
Such things seem incredible, but they are
a part of the civilization here, a civilization
so curious that can hardly hope to make
you see it as it Is. 1t has all the elements
of an opera bouffe show and at the same
time of the most terrible tragedies.
The sultan and the Datto.
During my stay here have had many
queer experiences with the Moros. and have
met both Datto Baqui and the Sultan or
Mindanao. There are, it is estimated, more
than 10000 Moros on this island-more
than are in the whole Sulu group-and the
most of these are subject In some way to
this sultan. The Datto Baquf Is one or the
most powerful of the Mohammedan princes
He has several thousand warriors ana mas
made himself noted as fighter There IS
considerable friction between him ana Dat
to Piang, and at the time General Bates
was here the two came near having fight
on our man-of-war. Each had called with
his retfnue to pay his respects 70 the
American general and had. 1t Is said. not
known of the coming of the other TILL he
met him there. There we've fierce looks for
time. Krises were drawn half out OF
their sheaths and lances. seized ready for
hurting General Bales. however. so Wen
acted the part of peacemaker that the rival
dattos shook hands before leaving. They
are today as far apart as ever and their
forces may yet come, to battle. AT present
Datto Baaui has his quarters in the Spanish
longs to the United Statis. He lives with
his wives In the seed !slory of the largest
building in it and usually keeps himself
surrounded with armed retainers:
I have been travelling with Col Webb
Hayes. who. as the esecond officer OF the
31st Infantry. has been making tour
Of inspection Of the posts of Minda-
mao. and it was with him and the sol,
crowd of Moros TO pay my re-
spects to the sultan and to Datto Baqui
We met the datto first. He was surrounded
and some dressed in skin-tight jackets and
drawers OF all colors of the rainbow. All
wore turbans. All had great knives in
wooden shields fastened into the bright col
ored sashes they wore about their waists.
Several carried long spears and two were
armed with Remington rifles. They were
sober-looktng heather and there were more
scowls than smiles All were chewing the
betel and all had teeth as. black as Jet.
The datto also was chewing and the blood
red juice trickled down the corners of his
mouth as he opened It, and, showing his
black teeth. bade US welcome to Parang-
Parang The datto was a better-looking
man than the sultan. whom shall describe
farther on. He is. I judge, about forty
years of age, of medium height and has
strong Moro features. His complexion Ia
dark brown. his eyes jet black and almost