The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-18
ALLEGED TORTURE
MORE TESTIMONY CONCERNING THE
TREATMENT OF FILIPINOs.
Treacberous Natives Given n Taste OF
the Water Cure ny Order of
Regular Army Omcer.
TESTIMONY OF E. J. DAVIS
EX-SERGEANT OF THE TWENTY
SIXTH VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
pvsstor RawIins Wants AGuinaIdo to
Assist In Making Democratic
Campaign Material.
TRIAL OF LIEUT.. J. H. DAY
CHARGED WITH EXECUTING sAMAR
NATIVES WITHOUT TRIAL
Says He shot a Spy by Order of Major
waller, who Was III at the Time
-ChaGee and the Dattos.
sssetor RawIins Wants AGuinaIdO to
Assist I'm Making Democratic
Campaign Material.
TRIAL OF LIEUT.. J. H. DAY
CHARGED WITH EXECUTING sAMAR
NATIVES WITHOUT TRIAL
Says He Shot a Spy by Order of Major
waller, who Was III at the Time
-ChaHee and the Dattos.
70 the indianapolis Journal.

Special TO the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE Demo-
cratic members OF the Senate committee
on the Philippines are seeking to make po-
Iitical capital by the manner in which they
are examining witnesses that come before
the committee. No doubt there is basis
for some of the stories of cruelty To Fill
pinos but in every case there probably
was justification. Some of the witnesses
have undoubtedly exaggerated what they
saw or heard, and it is to arrive at the
truth that the President through the sec
retary OF war has ordered General Chaffee
TO make an investigation. Some of the
stories of cruelties which are just now
coming out make fairly unpleasant read
ing for tender-hearted persons, but they
have been common in Washington for
long time. They have been accepted as
some OF the terrible necessities of a war
against half-civilized people The Span
iards have always waged such wars. and
the Filiplnos were used to the cruel pun
ishments. Those familiar with the details
of Indian wars are not surprised at hear
ing of unprintable atrocities This is not
written 10 excuse the acts which seem so
horrible when told about in harsh official
reports when they are made public. lt
merely indicates that after a time even
such deeds in war pass without much notice
when heard frequently from the lips of
officers informally and in a gossippy way.
FORCING CONFESSIONS.
One officer in a cafe was recently explain
ing how native prisoners were forced to
confess. or two or three one was taken
some distance away in high grass. which
came about to the waist. The remaining
prisoner would be urged to tell what he
knew. He refused. II was pointed out to
him that the prisoner in the grass was be-
ing urged TO confess Suddenly the soldier
with the prisoner I'm the grass placed a
revolver at his head He paused moment
and then fired. The bullet went behind the
scared prisoner. At the same instant a
soldier on the ground grabbed the man
and pulled him down into the grass. There
all three remained. and the others were
urged that such would be their fate unless
they confessed. In nearly every instance
they did not lose much time before telling
all they knew These officers tell of the
water cure and of various other punish
ments which are given where IL is consid
cred that the treatment is necessary. The
atrocities practiced by the natives on our
soldiers when taken prisoners are too re-
voting to tell about 1T is easy TO see how
such warfare makes half savages of men.
When the Senate committee met to-day
Edward j. Davis. of Greenfield, Mass. who
was a sergeant in Company NJ. Twenty
sixth Volunteer Infantry was examined He
was present In the convent at Igbaras on
Nov. q. 1900 when the water cure was
administered to the presidente of the town
of Igbaras testified TO by Sergeant Riley
and Private Smith and related the incl
dents connected Herewith He was sworn
before being examined. and was questioned
by Senator Rawlins. He spoke of the ar
rival OF the regulars under command OF
Captain Glenn He said that under orders
Captain Glenn. with squad, had
taken the presdente into custody on Nov
p. and escorted him TO the convent where
administered . 81
the story OF the torture of the presidente
adding some details. The man was. he
said. about forty years of age. When he
was taken into the convent he was asked
TO give information as TO whether runners
had been sent out TO notify the insurgents
Refusing 10 do this the water detail. con-
sistIng OF two priyates Of the Eighteenth
Infantry. was ordered by Captain Glenn
to strip him. The mans clothing was re-
moved above the waist and his hands tied
behind him. when the cure was admins
tered by this detail.
GLENN GAVE THE COMMAND
''He was taken" the witness said. Ito
the water tank and thrown on his back.
and while an interpreter stood over him
stream of water was directed into his
mouth. which was open"
Who gave the command for this treat
ment?''
Captain Glenn"
How was the mans mouth kept open?"
by means of a stick but L could not
see just how II was done"
Continuing. the witness said that when
the victim of the cure was filled with
water the members of the detail would
force II out of him by rolling. their fsts
over his stomach. and that process was
kept UP for about ten minutes
He described the second application of
the cure as previously testified to. and
corroborated Sergeant Riley in the state
ment that the details OF this performance
were under the charge of Contract Surgeon
Lyons. and that Captain Glenn and Lien
teant Conger were both present when il
occurred.
Mr.. Davis said in reply to questions IS
To the physical effect of the process that
were bloOdshot. but that the next dav he
was able 10 mount his horse ard lead the
scouts TO the mountain. Afterwards ne
was. the witness said taken To IlOilo and
placed In prison.
The witness also repeated the statement
that two police officers OF the town Of
Igbaras had been subjected 10 the water
cure There was" he added. "a native
school teacher there who was maltreated
a the same time, but the water cure was
not administered 10 him He was taken
into one Of the back rooms Of the convent
by DR. Lyons, who secured the information
ne wanted from him by placing two Colts
revolvers 10 his head. thus rendering it un-
Necessary to administer the cure.
Did you see thisE
Mr.. Davis also gave the details OF the
burning OF the town OF Igbaras. which ne
sad contained about 10000 people but no
business place. All except q blockhouse
were destroyed. and men. women and
children were forced out indiscriminately
Senator Burrows-Who gave the order TO
burn the town?
The Witness-Cap ptain Glenn
To whom did ne give it?''
TO Lieutenant c0nger. He told the
lieutenant 10 burn the town"
Did you hear him
- did.