Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-10-15

being the stronger, robbed them OF
all their rice, carabaos. slaves. etc.
Datu Piang was the leading factor in
the enterprise, aided and abetted by
his friend and ally, Datn Alice. While
the valley Moros were being robbed
and otherwise abused by the up-riyer
Moros, the local p%resideDte OF Cot
tabato, a Filipino. encouraged by the
reports circulated in the infiamma.
tory sheets as to the success Of Agu-
inaldo's forces In the northern ISL
ands. awaited himself OF what author
ity he possessed 10 Cypress the Chin
csc merchants, who. by industry and
sobrlety, hold most Of the wealth and
are the principal merchants Of the
district. The Chinese, primitive as
they are, are vet far above the Fill.
pinos and Moros IA intellect and cum
ming. and they are quick of perception
where their own interests are con.
cefned. 1sieg we're moi slow III real
izsng that their safety lay III coalition
with the Moros; and with remarkable
tact they formed an alliance with
them and set their wits to work ID
obtain the arms and ammunition
which were left BY the Spaniards III
the care of Il guard civil This wns
moi a difficult achievement, Once In
possession Of the two hundred rifles
and the ammunition, the upriYer Mo
ros descended upon Cottabato and At.
tackled the p~residente. killing him
and several 81 his associates who held
Offices of administration at The time.
This was all they wanted. PiaDg
now took possession Of Gottabato, Pa
rang parang. and the naval station
Of POLICE. AS The Moros II and about
these towns were mostly related 70
the Lake Lanao Moros, the latter do
cided 10 organize an attack on Piang
ana his followers In the interests OF
their relatives and descendants, who,
III comparison with the uD.riycr Mo.
ros, were few N number. They all.
glaed Plan, BY courier, to leave Pa
Transporting where he had established
his headquarters. Considering the
strength OF his opponents, fiang de-
cided To act upon this suggestion, and
he therefore removed himself ami his
belongings 10 Polloc, six miles distant
the ltay.
Datu Baqul was sent by the Lake
Ianao Morus 10 occupy parang-pa-
rang; and Amir Amaru. chief Of the
tribe. himself took possession
Of Malabang, arranging TO divide his
warriors into columns and attack ri
mig at Poiloc, Piang received intelli.
sence d Amaru's plans. and, consult
Ing with his old friends, the Chinese
merchants, decided 10 communicate
with Datu Mandl, at Zamboanga. ask.
ny him 10 see the American authori-
les AZ that place AMI get them to
ono AID take possession 81 Mala.
lnug and Cottabato. ms he greatly
he could not keep order much
Forthwith the Americans sent d
company 81 soldiers 70 Cottabato.
Piang chuckled IN selfcongratu
alton for this coup d'etat. which real.
y did gain much prestige for him
lmong the Americans; and TO add to
he show of friendship he had already
made. he organized d police force and
made Gottabato q present Of Il. with
i cousin Of his--one Datu catug al
is captain,
The Americans, desiring TO make
IL the Moros, Il possible. and
make them friends among themselves.
their open and hospitable way sent
word 10 all the Datus requesting them
o pay a visit TO Cottabato and become
acquainted with the commanding OH.
,cr, The principal idea was To get
he different chiefs together and Try
o make them understand that their
interests were identical, believing
hat by SO doing many OF tho tribal
snmities existing among them could
X overcome.
Catug, the Moro police captain.
hc could speak both Spanish
md Moro with equal facility, was
'hosen as the medium through whom
III intercourse between the Amcri.
and Moros was 70 be carried on.
| Is quito apparent that much depend.
% upon Catug's honesty and the In.
expectation he gave TO any messages
him to translate. catug Is
inown as one OF the worst characters
a The valley. and seems Is be the
element among the people,
Jet he Is aud plausible, and Is