Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-26
TROOPERS MURDERED
Fate of Detachment Of Fifth
Cavalry.
CUT DOWN BY ADRONES
WERE GOING TO DECORATE COM
RADES' GRAVES.
Details of the Savage Treachery Given
by Newspapers Just Received
From Manila.

oll inc OotU Oh May ldSI a little ueldCH-
ment of Troop NJ of the 5th Cavalry, con-
sisting of Sergeants Stewards and Spree,
Corporals Black and Finnegan, Trumpeter
Davis and Privates Carr and Crane, left
their station at Morong for Binangonan, a
few miles distant.
Theirs was not an errand of war, but
mission of peace; hey were not seeking
to destroy and no thoughts of impending
evil troubled them. They were bound for
the last resting place of number of their
comrades, who had fallen in defense of
the principles of their country, and their
mission was to place upon the green
mounds, covered with waving grass, where
the tropical breezes softly murmured
though the palms and the bamboo, as a
token of the dear love and regard in which
their fallen comrades We're held, a few
pitiful flowers and a few little flags to
futter for a short day in the breeze until
the winds and the rains should carry them
away The country through which they
passed was supposedly peaceful: the war
had been declared to have terminated and
the blessings of civil government were
shoWered upon the dusky natives, who
clad in white, welcomed the Americans as
friends
Two days later the terribly mutilated
bodies of five of the little band of Amer-
cans lay piled in a heap in a little gorge
about two miles from their destination.
The bodies had been dismenbered and dis
emboWeled, hands, feet, heads were piled
together. The remains were mutilated be-
yond description. How much of the mutila-
ton had taken place before death their
comrades do not like to think Of No
mother will ever be able to place flowers
over the grave of her boy who died in that
savage slaughter. The remains are buried
in one coffin and in one grave.
On the peaceful May morning, when the
>a,i< tl,1t, -
a treacherous and savage band of ladrones
and bandits were returning from a treach-
erous act at Binangonan. They had cap
tured the provincial supervisor, the local
medico, presidente and an American quar-
ryman. The band consisted Of so-called
amigos from Binangonan and nearby
towns. Their grievance was the fact that
the Americans had enforced a strict quar-
antine in an effort to prevent an exceeding
loss Of life from cholera. loss of life
among the very members of the band them
selves and their wives and children. In I'LL
probability they were on their way to muir
der and mutilate their captured prey like
savage beasts Of the jungle, instead of
men and humans. An accidental meeting
with the little detachment Of soldiers gave
their prey an opportunity to escape, but In
return allowed the capture of fresh vic
tins who were as cruelty mutilated and
murdered as would have been the original
captiveS.
The sufferings of the five brave men
for two, Sergeant Spree and Private Crane,
escap ed-before death mercifully ended their
sufferings will never be known. Their COM
rades may only CINE them. 1t is only
to be hoped that death came first and that
the horrible mutiation came afterward-a
mutilation of which decency forbids the
telling.
Discovery of the Atrocity.
From the Manila Times, June II.
The information which led to the discov-
~ tal off, no
men was obtained from a suspect gathered
in by Inspector Keithly as he was return
ing from a hike; the fellow proved to be
member of Felizardo's band, who told the
officer that he had seen the men murdered,
and consented to guide the inspector TO the
spot where the bodies were. Inspector
Keithy Immediately took out fresh de-
tachnent to relieve his tired one, and fol-
lowed the neW-found guide, with the result
that the bodies were discovered.
The men had been killed with bolos and
their bodies so hewed and hacked that in
dividual Identification was possible In the
case of only the sergeant and two corporals,
and it was impossible to tell to which bodies
individual arms and legs belonged. Separate
interment was out Of the question: SO all
five were buried In one coffin. The funeral
took place this morning at Teresa.
The name of the hombre who made the
confession, duplicating nine of his confed-
crates, is unknown. Two of the murderers,
however, are known to have belonged to the
police force of Teresa.
No details of any campaign Of retaliation
were sent in by the officers in the field, but
it is the expressed opinion of those In au-
thority that complete war Of extermtna-
ton will be waged against the ladrones and
that those who live by the sword shall die
by the sword, or, what is more expeditions,
by the rifle. There will be no attempt after
this in Rial now to conciliate the lawless
element, as they have never contemplated
oryy nf hnr han nf rn1n md
plumber, and would not work even If their
misdeeds were overlooked. They will prob
ably all be hunted down and either brought
to bay and killed like wild beasts or else
taken prisoners and sent to the gallows or
garrote
Inspector Keithly's Report.
The following dispatches received at con-
stabulary and military headquarters ex-
plain it all:
MORONG, June Is, 10 am.
Captain Baker.
Constabulary, Manila:
The five soldiers of M troop, 9Th Cavalry,
who were captured by outlaws on May 80,
were murdered by their captors on June
at place called Sitio de Arguas in the jur-
isdiction of Teresa; bodies recovered this
morning. The bodies were found last night
at pm. by First Sergt. Domingo of Rial
Constabulary, acting on information given
me Of the killing. man was brought in
yesterday by presidente Of Teresa. Lieu
tenant Rodney, 9Th Cavalry, and myself
went out and brought in the bodies. They
were badly mutilated and decomposed
Prisoner makes full confession and fur
nishes list Of those who took part in MUIR
der. The following captures Of arms and
| ladrones have been made since last report !:
Two Remington rifles (unserviceable but
easily repaired), one host gun (serviceablel
| and one war bolo; also three members Of
the outlaw band. Rumor has it that Fell
zardo has been operating around Muntin-
lupa since Savage left there. I shall send
Savage to Muntinlupa to investigate and
push aggressive operations. He should be
able to do good work there. This district
is getting to be uncomfortable Place for
ladrones, as the people are at work as well
as the military and constabulary.
(Signed) KEITHI.Y.
| Advices From Capt. Bishop.
The following telegram was received
| from Morong as to the location and iden-
| tity Of the men from Capt. Bishop, 9Th Cav
| airy, the commanding officer at that point:
| Returned last night from the scout
| in the hills and met Inspector Keithly
| of the constabulary. He infomed me that
| one of his prisoners member of the ga no