Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-14
SAW THE WATER CURE
Testimony of a Former Ser
geant Of Volunteers.
TORTURE DESCRIBED
ADMINISTERED TO A CHIEF FILL
PINO OFFICIAL.
Had Professed Friendship for Ameri-
cans, but Was Captain of
the Insurgents.

The Senate committee on the Philippines
began the week with the intention of max
ing an investigation of the charges to the
effect that the water cure" so called, is
practiced on the insurgents, and Charles S.
Riley of Northampton, Mass, formerly
sergeant in Company NJ, 26th Volunteer
Infantry, was the first witness called with
that end in view.
Mr. Riley said he had been in the Philip
pines from October 25, 1899, to March 4,
1901. In reply to questions by Senator Raw
Inns he said he had witnessed the water
cure" at Igbaras, in the province Of IoiIo,
on November 27, 1900 1t was administered
to the presidente, or chief Filipino official
Of the town.
Details Of the Water Cure.
He said that upon the arrival Of his COM
mand at Igbaras the presidente was asked
whether runners had been sent out notify
ing the insurgents of their presence, and
that upon his refusal to give the informa-
ton he was taken to the convent where
the witness was stationed and the water
cure was administered to him. This Off
cial was, he said, a man about forty years
OF age. When he 0he witness) first saw
him, he was standing in the corridor of the
convent, stripped to the waist and his
hands tied behind him, with Captain Glenn
and Lieutenant Conger of the regular army
and DR.. Lyons, contract surgeon, stand
ing near, while many soldiers stood about.
The man, he said, was then thrown under
a water tank which held about 100 gal
Ions of water and his mouth placed di-
recty under the faucet and held open so
as to compel him to swallow the water
which was allowed to escape from the
tank Over him stood an Interpreter re-
peating one word which the witness said
ne did not understand, but which he be-
leVed to be the native equivalent of con
f6ss When at last the presidente agreed
to tell what he knew he was released and
allowed to start away. He was not, how
ever, permitted to escape, and upon re-
fus1ng to give further information, he was
again taken as he was about to mount his
horse and the cure administered for the
second time. This time the man was not
stripped, nor was he taken Into the build
Ing. DIR. Lyons said the water covld be
brought to the spot and given there and
when 1t was brought in fve-gallon can
one end of syringe was placed in 1t and
the other in the mans mouth. AS he still
refused a second syringe was brought and
one end of it placed in the PROSTATE mans
nose. He still refused and a handful of
salt was thrown into the water. This had
the desired effect and the presidente agreed
to answer questions.
On cross-examination by republican SEN
ators Mr. Riley said the cure had been
first resorted to to compel the presidente to
reveal his own attitude, and that it had
been learned from his confession that while
he professed to be friendly to the United
States he was in reality a captain Of the
1nsurgent forces, and that his police were
all soldiers. AS consequence of this eX-
posure he was arrested and the town
burned. He said that the victim struggled
fiercely while the cure was being admins
tered, and that his eyes were bloodshot,
but that the next day when he saw the
man he observed no i'll effects of the dose
he had received.
Senator Burrows, referring to the surgeon
in charge, asked:
add any one shoot him?"
The witness replied in the negative.
The second administration had been given
to compel the information as to runners
Mr.. Riley also said he had known Of many
cruelties and indignities practiced upon
American soldiers by natives.
What Another Witness Saw.
Another witness; VIM. L. Smith Of Athoi,
Mass, who was a private in Company NJ,
26th Volunteer Infantry, corroborated Ri
ley's testimony, saying he had also wit
messed the torture of two policemen OF the
town of Igbaras. smith said the details of
the cure were in the hands Of a squad Of
the 18th Regular Infantry, known as "the
water cure detail" He also said that he
had assisted in the burning of the town of
1gbaras, and that the natives generally es-
capped from their houses only with the
clothes they wore.
Mr.. Smith expressed the opinion that Ie-
baras had population of 10000. So far as
he knew, no lives were lost. The witness
said that the country places in the vicinity
also were burned. All these acts were done
under the command Of Capt Glenn, who
was, he said. judge advocate of the depart
ment Of the ViScayas. He said the water
was kept running for four or five minutes,
and that the doctor in charge frequently
placed his hand upon the mans heart as
If to observe its effect upon that organ
The committee adjourned to meet tomor-
row at 1890