Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1903-02-12
CAPT. eRowNELL's STORY.
Why the Filipino Priest Was Tortured
by the Water Cure.

| bionnch ol burlington. VINO put
Filipino priest to the water cure
torture in the Philippines during the
recent rebellion there, from the effects
of which be is said to have died, has
naturally aroused a great deal Of in
terest among Nermonters.
The captains story of the death OF
Father Augustine is in part as fol-
| lows -
Upon my return to my station at
Banate after a brief absence | discov-
cred that while | was away the insur-
gent leaders of the district had held a
meeting within the town and the pres
| idente had undertaken to organize a
bolO company with which TO massacre
the garrison in the near future. the
plan being to have several parties
arranged tor the men on a particular
night in order that the garrison might
be as much divided as possible and at
a certain signal, to be given by the
lpresidente. each house was to be sur
grounded and the soldiers dispatched.
The natives implicated were arrested.
The padre at Banate, Raphael
Murillo, fled and | discovered that he
had been warned by one Augustine
de la Pena, priest OF Molo, and had
been directed to escape TO the lines OF
the enemy in the field. This padre,
Augustine, was held to be the acting
head of the church on the island and a
relative OF the insurgent chief, Quin-
tin Salas, who operated in the region
of my district.
''lt was well known that he was a
war traitor and that if papers and
funds in his possession belonging to
the insurgent army could be procured
the instruction could be readily
crushed. This man was delivered
into my hands on board the gunboat
Paraguay on November %, 1900. /
held daily conversation with him for a
period Of three or four days, endeav-
oring in every possible way to inhu-
ence him TO surrender the papers and
money in his possession without COM
pulsion, promising him fair treatment
on the part OF the government. The
time given him having expired with
out result he was brought into my
presence and that OF other officers and
enlisted men and told that he would be
blindtolded and the water cure adj
ministered until he acecded to my
request.
''lle again. and more insolently
than ever, denied that he had any
knowledge OF the matters of which |
spoke. aud the water cure was admin
istered for a short time In three or
four minutes he said the money be-
l0nged TO the pope at Rome. This
being false, of course, the cure was
continued. In few moments he be-
came convinced that was in positive
possession OF the evidence | claimed,
and again asked TO be allowed TO sit
up. His request was granted and he
agreed TO sign orders for the money
in his possession. | allowed him, as
he was in a very excited and desperate
mental condition and was man OF
low vitality, large and tat, to retire to
his quarters and rest.
AFTER he had rested at some length,
/ sent for him and asked him to sign
the orders, and he. in the presence OF
officers and a few enlisted men, de-
clined. saying that he had no money
and that what he said before he now
retracted. As preparations were be-
inc made for a renewal of his treat
ment he signed the orders.
IL was ordered TO ascertain from the
prisoner the whereabouts OF one Quin- !
tin Salas, colonel in command of a
subdivision of the insurgent army. /
gave the padre until certain hour to
whether he would disclose
this hiding place or not. and eX-
planned to him how knew he was In
of this information. At the
expiration OF this time he declined to
disclose Salas' whereabouts.
''Exhaustiug every resource in my en-
deavor to influence him by argument
into giving me the information desired,
| threatened him again with the water
cure. and he promptly told me that he
would welcome it. as he did not want
TO live. and was completely and |
discouraged. | hoped up |
to the last moment that be would
weaken before it became necessary to
nse any force whatever, but continued
the preparations, and finally ordered |
that the cure be again administered TO
him, and stepped into an adjoining
room for a minute with instructions
that the cure should be given, but the
moment he would disclose the name OF
the town only it should be stopped. In
A very short time. probably not to eX-
ceed a minute and half, | was warned |
bv disturbance in the room where the |
prisoner was that something was
wrong, and upon entering the room the
man was dead.
Il Immediately sent for the post sur
geon, and within five minutes-the ex-
act time | cannot give-the post sur
geon arrived and notified me that the
man was dead, but not drowned, rs he
had not died from the effects OF the
cure, but from fatty degeneration OF
the heart, and from complete collapse
and mental anguish over the exposure
of his criminal life
ApnIINn THE CAMPFIRE.