Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-17
'WATERCURE'
BY WITNESS
DESCRIBED
THE FAMOUS "WATER-CURE" is
BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE
PHILIPPINE COMMISSION.
EVIDENCE OF WITNESSES.

WASHINGTON. April 1.-THE senate
~orwfttee on the Philippines began the
week with the intention Of making an IN
vestigation Of the charges 70 the enect
that the water cure" so-called Is pIaS-
tlced on the insurgents. and Charles :.
Riley. Of Northampton. Mass, formerly
q sergeant in company u. Twenty-slNth
volunteer infantry was the first witness
called with that intention In view.
Mr. Riley said that he had been IN the
phflfruines from October 8. 1Soe. to March
4 1901. In reply 70 questions by Senator
Rawlins. he said he had witnessed the
water cure al Igboras, IN the province
Of Hello. on November 2. 1900. II was ad-
ninistered 10 the presidente or cnief flli-
rino official OF the town
He said that upon the arrival or his
command at Igboras. the presioente was
asked whether runners had been sent out
notifying the insurgents OF their presence
and that upon MS refusal 10 give the m
formation. he was taken 10 the convent
where the witness was stationed ana
water cure was administered 10 him. This
onicial was. he said, man about ~
years Old
When the witness FIRST saw him he was
standing in the corridor OF the convent.
stripped 70 the waist and his hands tied
behind him with Captain Glenn and Lieu
tenant Conger OF the regular army and
near. while many soldiers stood about.
The man. he said. was then thrown un-
der a water tank. which held about 100
gallons OF water. and his mouth placed
directly under the faucet and held open
90 as TO compel him 10 swallow the water
which was 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 20
be the native equivalent to Confess
When at last the presidente agreed %
tell what he knew he was released and
allowed 10 start away. He was not how
ever. permitted 10 escape, and upon re-
fusing 10 give further information he was
again taken as he was about 20 mount his
horse and the cure administered for the
second time. This time the man was not
stripped. nor was he taken into the build
ing DR.. Lyons said the water could be
brought 70 the spot and given there, ana
when II was brought IN nve-gailon can.
one end OF a syringe was placed In II and
the other in the mans mouth AS ne stii
refused. q second syringe was brought out
and enc end Of Il placed in the prostrate
mans nose. He stiil refused. and handful
OF salt was thrown In the water. This had
the desired effect. and the presloente
agreed 20 answer questions
On cross-exauinafion by Republican
senators the witness said the cure" had
been first res0rted TO to compel the presi-
derte 70 reveal hts own attitude. and that
IL, had been learned from-~his confession
that while he had pr0fesseo 20 be friend
u a the United States. he was IN reality
q captain OF the insurgeut forces. and
that his police were all soldiers As a con-
sequence of this exposure he was arrest
ed and the town burned He said that
the victim struggled dercely while the
sscure" was being administered. and that
- - -
DAY when he saw the man he observed no
III effects OF the dose he had received.
Mr.. Burrow. referring 10 the surgeon IN
Charge. asked:
s.Dfd any one shoot him.
The witness replied IN the negative.
Mr.. Riley also said he had known OF
many cruelties and indignities practiced
upon American soldiers by natives.
Another witness. William Smith, OF
Athol Mass. who was q private in COM
many n Twenty-seventh volunteer infan-
try. corroborated Riley's testimony. say
frr he had also witnessed the torture OF
two policemen OF the town OF Igboras.
smith said the details OF the cure" were
in the hands OF a captain OF the Eigh-
tenth infantry. known as the water
cure detail. He also said that he had
assisted in the burning Of the town OF Ig-
boras and that the natives generally es-
eaped from their houses only with the
clothes they wore.
Mr. Smith expressed the opinion that
Ieboras had a population Of 1000 So far
az ne knew no lives were lost The wit
ness said that the country places in the
vicinity also were burned. All these acts
we're done under the command OF Captain
Glenn. who was. he said. judge advocate
OF the department OF the Viseayas. He
said the water-cure kept running for four
or I'VE minutes and that the doctor In
charge frequently placed his hand upon
the mans heart as II 10 observe its effect
up0h that organ.