New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-15
USE OFTHE "WATER CURE. .
SOLDIERS TELL OF SEEING THAT FORM
OF TORTURE PRACTISED ON
FILIPINOS.

Washington, April 1.-THE Senate Committee
on the Philippines began the week with the
intention OF making an investigation OF charges
that the water cure is practised on insur-
gents and Charles S. Riley. of Northampton,
Mass. formerly sergeant in Company NJ. 18th
Volunteer Infantry. was the first witness caiieo
with that end in view.
Mr. Riley said that he had been in the Pniip-
pines from October 25. 1899 to March 4, 1871
In reply 70 questions from Senator Rawlns, ne
said he had witnessed the water cure at
Igbaras, in the Province of Iloilo. on November
81 1900 1t administered TO the Presidente'
chief Filipino official. of the town. On the
arrival Of his command at Igbaras. he SAID, the
Presidente was asked whether runners had been
sent out to inform the insurgents OF the presence
of the Americans. and that on his refusal 10
give the information he was taken to the COLI
vent where the witness was stationed. and the
water cure" administered to him. Ihis
official was. he said a man about forty years
old. When Riley first him he was stanolns
in the corridor of the convent stripped to the
waist and his hands tied behind him, with Cap
tain Glenn and Lieutenant Conger, OF the regu-
lar army and Dr. Lyons. a contract surgeon
standing near. while many soldiers STOOD aoou'
The man was then thrown under tank winch
held about one hundred gallons Of water. anu
his mouth was placed directly under the Faucet
and held open so to compel him TO sWaHo"
the water which allowed to escape from the
tank. Over him stood an interpreter repeating
one word, which the witness said he did not
understand but which he believed to be 'he
native equivalent of confess" When at last
the Presidente agreed to tell what he knew he
was released and allowed TO start away. He
was not however permitted to escape. and on
refusing 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 ne
taken into the building DR.. Lyons said the
water could be brought to the spot and given
there and when II was brought In fve saiion
can, one end of syringe was placed IN IL ana
the other in the mans mouth. AS he still re-
fused, second syringe was brought ana one
end of 1t placed in the PROSTATE man nose.
He still refused, and a handful OF SAT- was
thrown into the water. This had the desired eI-
Get and the Presidente agreed to answer Ques-
lions.
On cross-examnation by Republican Senators
Riley said the cure" had been first resorted 10
to compel the Presidente to reveal his own attl-
tude and it had been learned from his confession
that. while he professed to be friendly 10 'n ne
United States, he IN reality a captain IN
the insurgent forces. and his police were All
soldiers. AS a consequence of this exposure ne
was arrested and the town was burned ne
said that the victim struggled iercely while the
cure" was being administered. and his eyes
were blOOdshot, but the next day, when ne sa"
the man, he observed no III elIcctS VI Tic oOSS
he had received.
Senator Burrows, referring to the surgeon IN
charge asked: Did any one shoot him.?
The witness replied in the negative
The second administration had been given 10
compel the information as to runners,
Mr.. Riley also said he had known or many
cruelties and ndgnties practised on American
soldiers by natives
Another witness, William L. Smith, OF Atnoi,
Mass. who private in Company NJ. Zoth
Volunteer Infantry COrrOborated Ffleys testl-
mony saving he had witnessed the torture OF
two policemen OF the town of 1gbaras- 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 or
Igbaras and that the natives generally escaped
from their houses only with the clothes they
wore.
Mr. Smith expressed the opinion that lgbaras
had n population OF ten thousand. SO far as he
knew no lives were lost. The witness said that
the country places in the neighborhood also
were burned. All these acts were done under
the command OF Captain Glenn. who was, he
said, Judge advocate of the Department of the
Vieayas He said the water was kept running
for four or five minutes and that the doctor in
charge frequently placed his hand on the man s
heart as II 70 observe the effect on that organ.
The committee adjourned until tomorrow.