The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-05-20
MOST HORRIBLE YET
BLACK STORY TOLD BY PHILIP.
PINE WITNESS.
OFFICERS VIOLATED WOMEN.
OLD MEN. WOMEN AND CHILDREN
SHOT DOWN.

Ex-CorpOraI O'Brien Paints a Lurid
Picture of His Experiences in phil
ippines-Names Officers Who Were
Guilty OF Gross observation-disclosures
dunn Bullets Used and Women and
Children burned in Their Houses.
Unwritten Orders to Take No Pris-
Oners Were Carried Out-FIag OF
Truce Was No Protection.
Washington, May 19.-During the
Philippine investigation before the
Senate committee to-day letter was
read from Gen. Hughes denying that
he had ever given orders for the water
cure and saying that if such a charge
was made he wanted the fullest in
vestigation of it. Corpl. Richard
O'Brien, formerly of the Twenty-sixth
Volunteer Infantry, testified to seeing
the water cure administered
There was" he said, "a Spanish wo-
man in the town-a woman of educa-
tion-who was violated by the Amerl-
can officers"
This statement was made without
any questioning, and as soon as the
witness had made it, Senator Lodge
asked for the names of the officers.
These the witness said he could not
give, adding that he had not witnessed
the incident, but that the woman's hus-
band was his authority for the state
ment.
Senators Rawlins and Patterson OBJ
jected to the testimony as mere heresay
and urged that it should not go into
the record. The witness was then ask
ed if he could not give further proof of
the correctness of his charge. In re-
disorderly conduct, which he said had
come under his own observation. This
occurred at San Joaquin, the presi-
dente of which place gave a reception
to which a number of native woman
were invited from Iloilo.
They were,' he said, 'above the av-
erage-not peasant women" Among
those present were Capt. Mcdonald,
Lieut. Plummer of Company M and
Mai. Cook The witness said these Off
GERS became intoxicated and while in
that condition threw off all their
clothes, except their undershirts and
their trousers, and catching the women
about the waists insisted upon their
waltzing with them, much to the dis
gust of the women.
Women and Children Burned.
Witness said he was not on good
terms with his captain. He also SAID
that at one place a woman with two
children was burned to death in a
bamboo shack when the troops were
dunn - ~ "
plosive bullets, he said. were issued to
the troops in the regular way and did
horrible execution.
There were unwritten orders to take
no prisoners, which were carried out IN
one campaign. He did not know who
issued the orders, but they were UNI
derstood to be in effect. Upon close
questioning he admitted that he had
seen many prisoners, and they were
treated kindly by the officers and men.
Mr.. OBrien described the capture of
Lanag in Panay. when a soldier fired
at a native boy on a caraboo. He
missed, then all the soldiers fired, him
self included. This was not done by
orders.
This shooting" he proceeded,
brought the people to their doors, and
among those who came out was an old
man, who was shot in the abdomen
and afterward died. Later, while the
firing was in progress two other old
men. between the ages of 80 and 20. l
should say, came out toward us hand
in hand and bearing a white flag. Both
were shot down and the sergeant re-
ported to Capt. Mcdonald that he had
killed two more 'niggers'. Another
case was that of a woman and two
children, one in her arms. who were
killed and then burned up in their
house