The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-03
MoRoS IN THE BLOOD FURY.
DEEDS or URlMENTADOS AND
MEN RUNNING .iNtCk.
Terrible wounds JnHIct Ell with the Barons
NJ INA sulu lsiands-Tenacfty OF lAse
the FAHatics--Fate Of an American
SOltilcr--The Moro Faith 10 Heaven.

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NJ INA suIu Isiands-Tenacfty OF w
tho Faaatics--Fste Of an America
S0idicr--The Moro Faith 10 Heaven
Jolo, Jolo, p. l., March i5-When on
troop OF the Fifteenth Cavalry and thre
companies OF the TwentY-seventh mfan
try, nnder tho command OF Col. W. NJ Wal
lace, landed at this post Jan. 10. 1904, to CON
tinue tho military government OF the island
known az tho Sulu group, IL was the policy
Of the commanding officer TO meet I'M
various chiefs or dsttos In their RESPECTIVE
territorial limits in order to promote
/. friendly intercourse, to rake their follow
ing acquainted with the American soktters
and TO wear out feeling OF distrlst Away
existing between savagcs and civihzsc
nations.
With this end in view, the commanding
officer instituted what arc known among
tho army OF tho Philippines as hiking
expeditions. Subsistence would he fur
Iishsd for sevell-days' hike. Marches
Of from fifteen To twenty miles would be
made daily, and the party would camp
conveniently near tho residence OF the
datto, 50 that friendly visits could be ex-
changed between the commanding officer
u the expedition and the chief, Thus. dur
ing tho seven days more than half Of the
most powerful Moro chiefs would be visited
and friendly conversation obtain
These chiefs range from dattos or dukes,
descending through the grades of pang'i-
mas (generals). p,ahaiajahs, hadits and a
long line of minor officers which would
tickle the hearts of even the Tammany
organization in their number and variety,
The strength Of each one OF these chiefs
Ia measured by the number OF men, wives,
slaves and their families over whom he
has control. Every male member of their
following from the ago Of 0 upward
IL armed principally with barong, Il kliss,
a spear or gun
A barong, or short sword. consists of a
handle, vuriously carved and mounted,
made Of ivory. hard wood, ebony or carabao
horn, and blade Weighing from twelve
to twenty ounces, lnncsolate shaped. the
cutting edge keen as a razor. worn In
scobbsrd OF hard wood. which Is wrapped
with silk thread, tough bark or silver wire.
according to the wealth and fancy of tho
owner.
This barong is worn on the loft side of
the body. thrust under a sash which en-
circles the waist. where 1t .is ever handy for
immediate business. The blades vary
In length from sixteen TO twenty -four
inches, and. az stated, are keen-edged
from hllt to point. Every Moro, male or
female, is skilled in the use of the barong.
Unlike the maohete OF Cuba and Porto
Rico, ii could In no sense be termed an
agricultural implement.
All Amarif,apa uhc hayo xyitnoosaI ,h.,
fearful execution wrought with these
barongs consider them to he formidable
weapons Of war. 1t was on one of theee
hiking expeditions that the writer Rrst ex-
amined the victim of Moro killing and
studied the power OF the barong.
Troop B Fifteenth Cavalry. under COM
mand Of First Lieutenant Wigmore, had
pamped, after a hard days march, near
the bank of stream about o'clock March
;, 1862. At dawn the next morning several
shots were heard about 900 yards from
camp. and they we're supposed to have
come from one of our outpost sentries,
After investigating, il was ascertained
that the shots WERE not fired by any OF
our sentries. A few minutes later Ave
armed Moros entered camp and told our
interpreter that they had killed man not
far away. They said he was bad man
md chicken thief. and was in the act OF
stealing chickens when killed.
Being anxious to investigate the method
Of killing, asked permission OF the COM
officer TO visit the victim. Ac-
by three soldiers, went TO the
spot and found the dead Moro lying under
= large mango tree, covered with some
large banana leaves.
Removing these leaves. the naked BODY
was exposed, and the following conditions
noted: One bullet from .45 calibre VIM
chester entered the left side of the back
at q point corresponding to the middle of
the spine and. ranging backward. ploughed
Its way through the entire body and made
its exit at the right glu,eal fold. The
victim was evidently kneelns, almost
prone, and hiding behind some small guava
bushes In the high grass.
This gunshot wound would have been
mortal to any one but Moro. He rose.
however, and made an attack on his muir
derers, who fired two mora shots, missing
him entirely. Guns were dropped. and
the victim, growing weak from internal
mado feeble resistance
against three Of the savages. who came
rushing AT him with drawn barongs.
The first stroke the victim received
smoto him midway between the point Of
Inc left shoulder aud tho base of the neck.
cutting through. the Glavicle, first, second.
third and fourth ribs In front. and reaching
The spinal column bchind. exposing the
lungs. This wound bled freely and from IL
his life went out. -
Every Moro has a superstition that hui
man blood gives charm to the weapon
stained by II during a combat. Although
this savage wns dead. other barongs had to
be christened. The second wound laid
open the percardium, wounding the heart
and exposing the stomach and liver f-''
The thirt barong christened itself In
the hands Of the third Moro by exposing
\ technical study Of the small intestines.
Several strengthening Mones stood near,
M armed. and watched as the examination
proceeded. s-..t -.- .. .>
Inquiry was made as TO the disposition
Of the body, and they all stated that the
body would not be buried, Through the
firm attitude Of the commanding officer
they decided to give the body burial
The next two cases examined were those
Of Moro jurament ADDS. The juramentados
are distinguished from the savage who
runs amuck by the preparation they must
go through before setting
out on their mission OF slaying.
A juramsntAd0 must. 50 ia speak, take