Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1904-05-06

Of the arrival of the vessel of war in the
harbor of Jolo. the sultan promptly de-
parted for NAHUM. In vain representa-
tivcs of Gen. Bates We're sent on shore to
request his royal presence on board. At
last the Charleston sailed for NAHUM.
once more the generals representatives
went on shore to invite the sultan to the
warshp. Most positive was the refusal.
y second invitation was treated I'm like
manner. Weary of diplomacy, Gen. Bates
sent. ordering the sultan to appear and
upon his ignoring the command, the decks
were cleared for action, aim was taken
at the rocks alongshorc. and the first dis
charge not only filled the air with flying
rock, but it also sent the curious Moros
who had crowded to the shore in hun
dreds rushing and screaming. as though
bcreft of their senses into the shade of
the forest beyond 1t convinced the sui
tan. too. that he had better accompany the
officers to the ship; and so. in company
with his many retainers and a great show
of pomp, he boarded one of his own great
war canoes, and was padded to the
Charleston. Each visitor had taken the
prccautiou to supply himself with a great
sack of rice, under the weight Of which
he fairly staggered up the gang ladder
All had evidently come prepared to make
a prOtraCted stay. 1t is safe to say that
the events which happened on board the
Charleston during the next few hours will
| royal guests were conducted over the
man-of-war Food they refused as COM
| ing from the hands of Christians. but
| drink they took freely. Great was their
wondcrment at the things which they
| saw. At the suggestion of an officer the
| sultan touched an electric button; in
stantly a Chinese servant appeared as if
| by magic. Again, under directions. he
| operated the button, this time twice and
| behold United States marine stood in
| the doorway. From that time on. every
| ornament aboard ship that i'm any wise
suggested an electric button pushed
| by the Sultan or some member of his
| suite. He was conducted into a dark
| room. and told to turn the button that
| adjusted the lighting apparatus. The
! flood of light that resulted left him with
| gaping mouth and dilated eyes. His Won
| derment continued to grow apace through
| out the entire afternoon; whenever oppor-
| tunity afforded. the Sultan of Sulu re-
peated the performance of pushing cleo
| trio buttons and turning electric lights on
| and off. He even went so far. when he
| thought himself unmatched, to try to APP
! propriate one of the bulbs agow with
| light. But the funniest Ning of all was
| when the mighty chief upon invitation,
| fired the Colts automatic gun. The eX
| plosion of the first discharge seemed to
| root him to the spot. His hands still
| gripped the trigger, with the result that
| shells continued to pepper the surround
| ing waters. Again and again the royal
| gunner begged that they stop the action
| of the Internal machine. not knowing that
| the medium of cessation lay in his own
| hands; so thoroughly frightened was the
| sultan, it was impossible to make him
| loosen his hold, and an officer ordered the
| cutting of the tape, thus stopping the sup
| ply of ammunition. The one-poundcr was
| next brought into play, and at the first
loud boom the sultan called the ammunition
| display off, refusing to go near one of the
| eight-inch guns, which he had also been
| invited to fire. In the meantime his at
| tendants, whose knives had been mag
| nctiZed, conceived the idea that the EVIL
| One himself was aboard. They begged
| and implored to be taken on shore, and
| quite forgetful of their bags of rice, they
| scurred down the gang ladder At night
| the search-light was brought to bear upon
| the Moro town of Bus Bus; the instant
| desertion of the town followed. even to
| the dogs. and for many weeks thereafter
no amount of persuasion could induce the
| inhabitants to return.
Gen. Bates made his headquarters in the
| town of Jolo, and thither the sultan and
| his staff came on several occasions to dis
| cuss the treaty; subsequently another visit
| was made to the Charleston This time
| the mother of the sultan accompanied the
party. y monograph owned by one of
| the officers rendered very pleasing Sc
| lections for the entertainment of the
| guests { The aged dame sat entranced
throughout the performance. 1t was not
until the time came for her son to affix
his signature to the treaty that she awak-
ened. Under one condition only would she
permit the sultan to sign-the photograph
| must become hers at once. For a time
| that photograph threatened to be the
means of upsettng all of Gen. Bates's
| well-laid plans for the amicable taking
| over of the islands. Fortunately, the own
| er was prevailed upon to part with the