Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-30
FERDINAND KEITHLEY
A HERO OF THE AMERICAN ARMY
IN THE PHILIPPINES.
Record of the Soldier Buried Today at
Arlington With
Honors.

To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
A few weeks ago I returned to my home
here in Washington after a tour of two
years duty in the Philippines with the 2sth
United States Infantry. The other night,
on picking up the paper, I saw news
paragraph in regard to the arrival of the
transport fitzpatrick at New York, and the
fact that aboard of her was the body of
Ferdinand Keithley, late of H Company,
2Sth United States Infantry, who was killed
while on picket duty at Lake Lanao, one
mile from Camp Marahui. At that time l
was with General Wood at Jolo. but the
incident was wildly described to me, and
was so interesting that I noted 1t in my
diary and believing it may interest your
readers at this time, 1 will quote the incl
dent as have 1t:
At Lake Lanao were kept large num-
Der of boats for the of the soldiers in
trips across the lake to Camp Vicas for
supplies, and for use in the Taroca eXpedi-
ton. This point was about mile from
camp, and an outpost, consisting of one
non-commiSsioned officer and three pri-
Yates. was maintained there to watch the
boats On the night of November 13, 1903,
while Private Kelthley was guard, he
was suddenly attacked by fifteen or twenty
Moros, while at the same time about the
same number attacked the other three
members of the outpost, who were asleep
in the small "a wall tent which they
used. Keithley fought as only an Ameri-
can soldier can fight when brought to bay,
killing six of the Moros and giving the
alarm. The Moros threw their spears
through all parts of the tent where tho
others were sleeping, pinning two of the
men, Sergeant Stevens and Private Burke
through the body to the ground as they
lay in their hunks. Private Bowser, while
wounded. was not hit in vital part and
"A On x oft fC
but as he sprang out of the tent his body
was nearly cut in two by camplian in the
hands of Moro warrior.
Private Keithley, with eleven spear
wounds In his body, succeeded in holding
the attacking force of Moros at bay and
crawled that mile to the camp, warning his
Moros
This gallantry on the part of KeithIev
saved G and H companies of the 23th from
massacre. as 1t was undoubtedly the plan
OF the Moros. who were aware of the fact
that only two companies of the regiment
were left in camp, after killing the outpost.
10 sWoop down on the camp and massacre
the little force left behind there
everything that medical skill could do
was done to save Keithley, but one of the
spear wounds through the intestines nroved
fatal, and he died the next morning. not.
however, until his three comrades had been
brought In and buried When told of that
fact he remarked that he would be the nayt
TO go. as he realized that his wounds were
fatal "oi0
There is little that can be done to honor
I'M, hniS brave young American now, but that
little Is done today when his BODY brought
half around the world, is laid at rest with
an military honors in the National ceme-
terry at Arlington, and not only his imme
aiate family, but the whole American peo-
pie can feel proud of this martyred son
whose bravery and devotion probably saved
the lives of about 800 comrades: for nm the
loiiowlng morning the place of rendezvous
oi me Moros was discovered and there
were indications that fully . 900 were there
ana had the warning not been siven 49,,
massacred nave peen
This group of Moros. also. are the ones
who recently killed seventeen more Amer
lean soldiers. Capt. Pershing. whose ahi,-
aties and knowledge of the Philipnines arc
now being utilized at an obscure most IN
i il, territory, gave them severe pun
ishment and 1t was hoped that thev utouIa
remain quiet. But evidently the s,1hseonart
inuulgent methods have been lost ,rnon
them, and there is no doubt in nv viii
tnal the only thing to do is to allow Gen
WOOD to make such show of force ara
administer such punishment that tbev nil
De eIectually disciplined. And that is exact
~ what Gen. Leonard Wood will do ~ not
Mlterlered with by sentimentalists in the
United States. Soldiers who have car,,nd
under Gen. Wood and who are tha sayarast
critics as TO real capacity, believe that he
stands pre-eminent today as a commanding
ofileer. having all that initiative and eHc,..
utlve grasp that compasses any situ,t;,,
He may call for extraordinary effort fo,. -
emergency, but the men know that evsrv
detail looking to their welfare has been
considered and that they are safe in bis
hands. Knowing this. he can count on
absolute allegiance and good feeling -
his expedition of November to % win q
column consisting of seven companies az
the 18th. four of the 18th and four of tin
I'D Infantry. four troops of the 18th cav
nf GaIl
lighting every day, there was only one man
Killed and one man wounded, such was tie
care and ability exercised
The ability to choose the right man I'm the
right place is another gift possessed by
Gen Wood, and exercised most sucoass
fully when he awaited himself of the sery
Ices of Maj Robert l.. Billiard, 2Stb In
fantry. now on detached service with head
quarters Maj. Billiard not only un1er
stood and spoke the Moro language. but
what was more to the point, he understood
the Moro character. Our difficulties In the
Philippines is largely the inability of Amer
leans to understand the type of mind found
there and ability to appreciate or grasp
their ideas or ideals. Their enmity is
physical. mental and inherent Like all
orientals. death has no terrors for them
In fact, Ii means bliss eternal If they only
die killing the unbelieving Christian dogs
Hence. 1t Is of prime Importance to a COM
handing officer to have men under him who
understand these facts and who can under
stand the psychology of the situation This
is one feature of the situation there where
Maj. Billiards. services are invaluable
But a discussion of the problems Of our
occupation of the Philippines is too large
a subject to be entered into In this paper,
which was only intended to pay slight
tribute to brave comrade who gave his
life for his fellows and who Is 70 rest at
Arlington. SOTHORON j. SCOTT,
Late of Company X. 18th u s. Infantry
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