The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-04-01
lNs.pgMT.
Anniversary Of an Exciting Day for
ti.ii.J ek1A.. Troar

&NHjVof1acy Cy All E4CtIlEfE lay t0F
United States Troops.
Washington Star: An Incident in the
Philippine Islands that came near preelp.-
tating trouble between the Moros and the
United States troops. in which the Third
battalion Of engineers. now stationed at
the Washington barracks, and the Fiji
teenth cavalry. now stationed at Fort
Myer. played prominent parts. occurred,
. year ago.
March 10. 1903, a party of Moro lahorers.
under the direction OF three enlisted men
Of the engineer corps OF the army, and
guarded by q detachment of the Fifteenth
cavalry. under the command of a cor
poral. was engaged In blasting and break
Ing rock for the pier at Jolo. The day
was a fiesta OF some kind, and one of the
natives in the working party told the SOL
der in charge OF the work tha he had
better get q strong guard for the party
that morning. az there might be trouble.
There were but three men and q corporal
detailed for the purpose. however. aud tho
men were staionad in a half circle about
the working party. closely watching the
work. o
While they were SO engaged a Moro
armed with q rife. came around a corner
Of the trail that was hidden by some
bushes from the soldiers. The Moro
stopped short III his path and wished tho
soldiers good morning. Before they had
tlulo 10 reply no Drought Ills gun 10 lie
shoulder and pointed 1t at the foremost
soldier, a man named Dowart. The car
fridge IN the gun failed to explode when
the trigger was pulled, and the Moro
threw 1t away Drawing 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 en-
ginee1s fred at the Moro, hitting him.
The man stumbled and struck at Dowart
with his knife, cutting him several times.
and the Moros in the working party
rushed to Dowart and attcked him with
their knives.
Dowart was mortality wounded, and died
before he could be sent to Jolo. The ma
dves heard of the trouble and rushed to
the scene in droves. They attempted to
approach. the place whore the Moro's
body was lying, but the soldier held them
back. The natives were eOaged at the
killing OF one of their number, although
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 Colonel
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 n very anxious
day followed. Things quieted down in a
short time, however, and an Investigation
was made of the affair. and it was found
that the Moro who had lone the killing
was a religious enthusiast. and had COM
mttted the murder as a result of this en-
thusiasm. Such people were formerly
very common In Jolo and Mindanao, and
We're known as juramentado. 1t is the
worst type of the new wards of his gov
ornment. and the officials have been en-
deavoring to suppress them. as they are
n constant menace to the lives of OUT
siders, people not natives. They antago-
nize American supremacy and gring on
conflicts between the people and the
troops.
A juramentado is a person who has
taken an oath to exterrninate infidels, as
persons of other religions than theirs are
called. and who is prepared for the kill
ing 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 him success in his
undertaking. The juramentado is sup
posed to spring into the largest number OF
his enemies that can be found and to kill
as many of them as he can before they
can kill him.
No juramentado expects to escape with
his life, SO their fighting is always most
desperate.