The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-14
w ATER CUR"
Two Witnesses Describe In
stances in the Phil
ippi11es.

Washington, April 14.-The senate COM
mittee on the Philippines began investi-
eating the charges that the water cure"
is practiced on the insurgents, and Charles
S. Riley of Northampton, Mass, formerly
a sergeant in Company M, Twenty-sixth
volunteer, was the first witness called
with that end in view:
Mr.. Riley said he had been in the
Philippines from Oct. rs, 1899, to March 4,
1901 In reply to questions by Senator
Rawlins, he said he had witnessed the
"water-cure' at Igboras in the province
of Iloilo on Nov. IL, 1900. 1t was admin
istered to the president or chief Filipino
official of the town. The man was thrown
under water tank which held about 100
gallons of water and his mouth placed di-
rectly under the faucet and held open
so as to compel him to swallow water
which was allowed to escape from the
tank. Over him stood an interpreter, re-
peating one word, which the witness be-
lieyed to be the native equivalent OF
Confess" When at last the president
agreed to tell what he knew, he was
released and started away. He was not,
however, permitted to escape, and upon
refusing to give further information he
was again taken as he was about to
mount his horse and the cure admins
tered for the second time.
DR.. Lyons said the water was brought
| in five-gallon can, one end Of syringe
| was placed in it and the other IN the
| mans mouth. AS he still refused, sec
| ond 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
senator's, Mr.. Riley said the "cure" hao
been first resorted to to compel the presi-
! dente to reveal his own attitude and thai
| it had been learned from his confession
| that while he professed to be friendly tt
the United States he was in reality cap
| tain of the insurgent forces and that his
! police were all soldiers. AS conse.
! uuence Of this exposure he was arrested
! and the town burned.
! The next day when he saw the man hi
observed no i'll effects of the dose" HI
had received.
1 Mr. Riley said he had known of man!
cruelties and indignities practiced upol
American soldiers by natives.
! Another witness, William NJ Smith 0
/ Athol, Mass, private in Company M
Twenty sixth volunteer infantry. cor
1 roborated Riley's testimony, saying h
/ had also witnessed the torture Of tw'
/ policemen Of the town Of Igboras. Smitl
4 said the details of the "cure" were in tn
hands of squad Of the Eighteenth reg
ular infantry. known as "the water cur
! detail" He alsov said that he had as
4 sisted in the burning Of the town of Ig
4 boras and that the natives general.
/ escaped from their houses only with tn
clothes they wore.
i So far as he knew, no lives were lost
The country places in the vicinity als'
1 were burned. All these acts were dom
4 under the command of Captain Glenn
i Judge advocate Of the department of tn
! Viscayas. The water was kept runnin;
for four or five minutes, and the doc
tor in charge frequently placed his ham
upon the mans heart as if to observe it
affect upon that organ.