Evening star., 1904-03-11
PH1L1PP1nE1NcIDzNT.
Anniversary Of an Exciting Day for
United States Troops.

An incident IN the Philippine Islands that
came near precipatating trouble between the
Moros and the United States troops. in
which the Sd Battalion of Engineers, now
stationed at the Washington barracks, and
the 10Th Cavalry now stationed at Fort
Myer, played prominent parts, occurred just
one year ago yesterday.
March 10, 19O3y "a party of Moro laborers,
under the direction off three enlisted men
of the engineer corps of the army, and
guarded by detachment of the 18th Cav
airy, under the command of a corporal was
engaged in blasting and breaking rock for
the pier at .Jolo. The day was fiesta of
some kind. and one of the natives in the
working party told the soldier in charge of
the work that he had better get a strong
guard for the party that morning, as there
might be trouble There were but three
men and corporal detailed for the purpose,
however, and the men were stationed in. a.
half circle about the working party, closely
watching the work. as4 s.s4..,s-5.1
While they were 80 engaged a Moro,
armed with a rifle, came around corner of
the trail that was hidden by some bushes
from the soldiers. The Moro stopped short
IN his path and wished the soldiers good
morning. Before they had time to reply.
however, he brought his gun to his shoulder
and pointed 1t at the foremost soldier, a
man named Dowart. The cartridge in. the
gun rallied to explode when the trigger was
pulled, and the Moro threw it away. Draw
ing his barong or bolo, he dashed at the
soldier. The latter started to run, but fell,
and at the same time the guard and the
Other two engineers fired at the More hit
ting him. The man stumbled and struck
at Dowaft with his knife, cutting him sew
eral times. and the Moros in the working
party rushed to Dowart and attacked him
with their knives
Dowart was mortally wounded. and died
before he could be sent to JolO. The natives
heard of the trouble and flushed to the scene
IN droves. They attempted to approach. the
place where the Moro's body was lying, but
Z the soldiers held them back. The natives
were enraged at the killing of one of their
ntmeer, afthough no one knew who the
dead man was or where he had come from.
The datto in charge of that section of the
country made complaint to Col. William
Wallace, commanding the Island Of Jolo,
and an investigation was held. The troops
on the island were held in readiness at all
times TO restrain any obstreperous natives,
and very anxious day followed. Things
quoted. down. in a short time, however, and
an investigation was made of the affair
ana II was found that the Moro who had
done the killing was religious enthusiast
and had committed the murder as a result
or this enthusiasm. Such people were form
erly very common in Jolo and Mindanao,
ana were known as juramentado. 1t is the
worst type of the new wards of this gov
ernment. and the officials have been en-
deavorfng to suppress them, as they are a
constant menace to the lives Of outsiders,
people not natives They antagOnize Amer
lean supremacy and bring ON conflicts be-
tween the people and the troops
. A" 3uramentado is person who 7has.taken
an oath to exterminate infidels, as persons
of other religions than theirs are called and
who is prepared for the killing by certain
ceremonies and rites. After the ceremonies
the priest or person who has charge of the
service. accompanied by the friends of the
juramentado, walk with him as the newly
made instrument of the church and wish
MN SUCCESS In his Undertaking f1rra
mentado Is supposed to spring into the
largest number of his enemies that can be
found and to kill as many of them as he
No juramentado expects to escape with
mis- life, SO their fighting is always most
desperate.