Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-17
ISCIO THE POPE OF NECROS
One Subject Of the United States Who Has
Never Been Paoifed.
HEAD OF ANEw-MADE CHURCH AND STATE
Power Both Temporal and Spiritual
Claimed by Him and Implicitly
Acknowledged by His De-
voted Followers.

Army officers returning from the Philip
pines tell stories Of the country which,
sometimes reported to the War depart
ment, are Of such little pressing i'm
portsnce or Of such a character as to at
tract little attention from the news gath
erers at the national capital. Among
these Is the story Of "Pape" Iscio Of the
island Of Negros, a native who, since the
occupation of that island by the United
States forces. has established a new relig-
ion and lays claim to temporal and spirit
ual authority over that island.
AS told by an officer who has had several
years service on the island, the character
Of "Pape" 1scio is one which in time may
come to fill a place with the writer of &C.
ton at present occupied by Robin Hood or
other ~semi-mythical characters. Pape Iscio
at the time of the Spanish war was a resi-
dent Of the island Of Negroes, where he
conducted a small sugar plantation and
was esteemed as one Of the best citizens
Of the small community in which he lived.
He was something Of a recluse and much
given to contemplation. The padre" at
the village looked upon him AZ a devout
man and a sturdy follower Of the mother
church, but there was in him something
which led the priest to caution him against
unlicensed reading and studies too deep
for the Filipino nature. When the war
broke out with the insurgents "Pape Isoio"
was one Of the FIRST to take the side Of
the natives, and because of his superior
knowledge was chosen as one Of the leaders
OF a band Of "'insurrectos." In his posi-
tion he served but a short time and then
withdrew from the army OF Aguinaldo and
FAliEAn IN the foafnnad ~ NkA ,~,,-ka
From time to time word came to his
former %neighbors of the peculiar action of
their whilom associate, and from these re-
ports 1t was decided by them in emulation
Of the early Christian centuries he had re-
tired forever from the world.
Declares Himself Pope.
One day the community was startled by
the temperance Of "Pape Iscio' at his
home. He came not as q hermit nor as
celtic, but as a king comes to his own. He
was proclaimed by a stranger who accom-
panied him as the leader of a new DISPENSE
tion-the pope Of Negros and the king of
the island. With the few who accompanied
him from his mountain grotto he began 10
preach the doctrines of a new religion.
This religion closely followed hat of the
Catholic church and the observances were
much alike, but instead Of the sovereignty
being with the pope Of Rome It was with
the pope Of Negroes. He proclaimed peace
to all who would follow him, and foretold
death and disaster to those who would not
acknowledge his claims. He had ACQUIRED
knowledge Of the forces Of nature On I'D
vance Of the people of the island and per-
miracles" which added many Ia
his church.
About this time the United States troops
arrived at Negroes, and this was one of the
Islands upon which the insurrection was
not active. The people submitted. Not so
with Pape 1scio and his followers. They
into the mountains, where they
bid defiance to the United States and to
all powers and potentates other than their
leader. The band was not as hostile as
others, and it's depredations were not so
but from time to time the forces
OF the government came into contact with
them and they fought as hard as any.
Many attempts were made to capture the
head Of the religious ~zealots. Promises of
amnesty to him and his followers have been
sent to him by Trustworthy natives, but
threat nor promise has won from
him an acknowledgment Of the sovereignty
Of the United States, nor has any effort
been sufficient to obtain from the
natives information which would lead to
his capture. Member Of his band have
been taken. Upon them every art has been
tried to secure Information. They will talk
any subject, reveal the hiding place
Of arms. but will say nothing which will
assist the government In capturing "Pape
Iscio."