The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-09
Hero Of Philippine Campaigns
Tells of Their Sayagery.
RELATIVE OF PRESIDENT POLK.
Capt. Lucius e. Polk, of Forty-Third
Volunteers, Returns After Excit-
ing Experience I'm Far-OH Islands
Insurgents Delight to Torture
and Mutilate American Cap
tives-Peacc stiIl Far Distant.

Capt. Lucius z. Polk, granddaughter
or President Polk, who returned to Sc
attic few days ago in command of the
United States transport Kintuck, gives a
most interesting and lucid account of the
bloodthirsty and savage characteristics
or the Fflfpinos, with whom the Ameri-
can soldiers have had to contend since
February, 1899. As mementoes of his
service In the archipelago, Capt Polk
bears the marks of bullet wounds
through hts stomach and neck, as well as
dagger and bolo wounds In his arm and
leg
In an interview with a Post -Intelli-
gencer reporter yesterday Capt. Polk de-
clared that in his opinion II would be
twenty years before conditions were es
tablished in the islands which would
make possible such peaceful development
or Internal resources as is in progress In
this country.
The hero of many a hard-fought fight
IN the Philippines. and a veteran. too.
OF the Cuban war, Capt. Polk is a slender
man of 30 years. Of dark complexion with
black eyes and hair, a strong chin and
mouth and a dropping black mustache.
He Is native of Columbia. Tenn. where
his great-uncle, President Polk was born
and raised. and where his father. Maj.
Gen l.. +. Polk. of the Confederate army.
was reared. After graduating from the
University Of Tennessee. Capt. Polk en-
tered Harvard. from which he graduated
few years ago. He entered the service
of the United States at the outbreak OF
the Spanish-American war as first lieu
tenant OF Company f, Fourth Tennessee
volunteers. After several months duty
In Cuba he was commissioned as captain
of Company ID, Forty-third United States
volunteers. and ordered to the Philip
pines.
MY first work In the Philippines" said
Capt. Polk yesterday. was when in Feb
ruary last two companies of the Forty
third, c and ID, landed at Tacloban. the
principal city OF the island of Leyte, the
southernmost island In the Philippine
group. Tho island has population OF
100000, mostly visayans. At Tacioban
we found two companies of insurgent in
fantry, 400 bolomen and battery of
artillery. After half an hours fighting
we. drove the insurgents from the town.
killing numbers or them.
Il remained ON the island Of Leyte
until. being weakened from wounds. I
was ordered TO take charge Of the trans,
port Kintuck and coma TO the United
States for treatment and recuperation.
Are . savage Race.
THE Filipinos are a savage race. In
which love OF bioodshed and torture are
the most moving instincts. There Is
now no Well-OFkAnlxfu 8ImeQ IGDStll0n
against the United states government in
the islands. The natives are. however.
conducting guerrilla warfare on Wig
o,ou. scale II bands q from l nfsy 70 100 rs.
the American soldiery and are getting az
many men in the long run as II they
were Ehns y 0ah hs ,h inc opsn make.
life for an American outside Of the towns
held by our troops absolutely unsafe. A
man who strays beyond the limits of
pa rifiAS vtflaRpq takes the
almost certain chance OF being murdered.
The Filipinos lie IN walt with daggers
Sr the hae or hayns tho 10
streets OF the citias and towns where
American troops are stationed. and at
night II possible. they wnyls ssvs ana q XII ~
carefully watched ali the time for fear
of falling victims to the daggers of the
s'The average Filipino 10 q cruel brute.
He delights in torturing his victims and
then, after death ensues, mutilating the
bodies. More than once my company
find the heads OF our men stuck on poles
or to discover their bodies horribly mutt
lated.
Mutilation OF Americans.
For example. at pagmai. island of
Leyse. q member Of Company A, OF the
rorty-thlrd, was cut OF from his com
rades and captured by the Insurgents.
Later We captured the camp OF the en-
nailed To pole. His body had been
hacked 20 pieces after death. which en-
sued only after the victim had endured
the most horrible fortunes.
"At Jaro. on the same island. an or
DERBY Of one OF the Officers was unfor-
tunately captured by the Ftlipinos Later
than thirty-seven knife and bolo wounds
on IT,
capt. Polk speaks modestIy OF his own
experiences In hand to- hand fights with
al ipn0A "a hat.
tie OF Hflaugns, Leyte island, MAY 9 last.
Capt Polk's company engaged 40 insur-
gents intrenehed behind heavy stone for
TO the fort, in the center OF which was
stone church. Two eastions stood AT
one end 81 me fort These we're hlied
had been killed BY the Americans. Capt
Polk called for volunteers to storm the
fort Twelve men responded.
After entering the walls the men mis-
understood his orders. for Capt Polk
found himself within the nearest has
ton. In which there were iefs three Fiji
rushing down the stairs from the para
pet Capt roik killed instantly with his re-
volver The third ered AZ him and then
Through the muscles % his pistol arm.
Capt Polk's weapon dropped 10 the
ground. and be xrappled With his adver-
nefore assistance could Sc had tAe Ffii-
pine eat him severely IN the leg with his
holo. An instant later one OF Capt. Polk's
comrades snasfpa the Finpino in the
Head With the butt OF his musket ana
the eEht wss ended
I'VE buried ninety within the walls of
the fort" said Capt Polk. IN speaking Of
the Incident
pany we're auhushei by large foree ~
rehels and he Was shot through ihe
stomach and neck Re resumed duty Al
che head az his company In two weeks
w'hare ne win meet his wife ana son Tho
latter IL n nonths old. and hts father
has never seen him.
Ciary Goes 20 Mexico.
Robert a. Clary. the mining engineer