Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-11-14
DEEDS OF SAVAGE MOROS.
TALES OF AN ATTORNEY BACK
FROM THE PHILIPPINES.

Who Ran Amuck-Efflciency of q
Mindanao notwithstanding of
the Followers of the Rebel Chief
Datto All.
"The Moro constable is one of the
most thoroughly effective officers in
the world in many respects" re-
marked Theodore G. Hinckly, attor-
ney-at-law of Zamboanga, Nindanao
Island, who is home from the Phil
ippines, visiting with his former
classmate in Washington University,
City Attorney William Van Cleve, of
Macon, Mo. He generally has bet
ter idea Of what the datto or petty
ruler wants done than the writ speci-
fies and he follows out his superior's
wishes.
While was laid up in the mill
tary hospital datto suffering from a
bolo wound was brought in and placed
in cot near mine. After his band
ages had been applied he issued a
writ for the arrest of the man who
had attacked him and gave it to one
of his constables to execute.
In a few days thereafter a couple
of strapping big Moros entered the
ward One Of them carried a gunny
sack. Arriving at my neighbor's cot
they united the sack and out rolled
a hideous black head.
"The wounded datto studied the
features sufficiently to recognize
them
You have done we'll he said to
his desperate looking retainers.
Throw this-this thing out to the
hogs
"That was over a year ago. Since
then the Government has stepped in
and put stop to this summary
method of enforcing the law.
Zone of the first cases L'got on the
island was an appointment to defend
a murderer in the Court of First In
stance, a t.ibuanl corresponding to
your Circuit Courts. A Moro, while
laboring under religious frenzy, had
started out with the humane purpose
of killing every Christian within
reach-runnfng amuck, they call it.
"The man was not drunk; he was
simply seeking a short cut to the
happy land, as defined by his creed.
He had carved little girl and sew
eral others in his honest attempt to
prove himself a sincere believer.
Insanity wouldn't do, l knew, and
there were no juries to disagree, be-
cause that system is not employed on
the island. I got an Interpreter and
went into a side room with my client.
"'Ask him. said to the interpre-
ter, if he's got Defense
The interpreter repeated the inter
rogatory, and the prisoner shook his
head violently in the affirmative.
eyes, a good one said the inter-
prefer.
LETS have it.
After voluble interchange of
heather lingo the interpreter blandly
delivered the result:
He had to whack those people
because the moon rose red from Basi-
Ian Strait, and the ROSTERS started
Growing at the sight of it.
Is that ALP l asked.
'Alll' repeated the interpreter, as
if I were extremely unreasonable,
isn't that enough?'
"The fanatic bolo wielder got four
teen years in prison, and 1 was glad
of it. y
when I left the island there was
a formidable insurrection by a re
doubtable chieftain named Ali, who
had some 5000 desperate followers.
He went on the warpath because he
heard that the Sultan of Sulu was
drawing big pension from the Gov
eminent and he was left out.
cali is as cunning as an Indian
Time and again he has ambushed
scouting parties, slain them to the
last man and confscated guns and
ammunition until he and his crowd
were nearly as well armed as our sol
dead or alive.
His camp is supposed to be some
where in the Cottabato Valley. The
grass and other growth is as tall as a
telegraph pole and the greatest eau
ton has to be observed in passing
through it, as the rebels are as silent
and as swift as death
cat one time a well guarded PACK
train was slowly crossing the valley
There was no danger OF attack as
long as the soldiers kept together,
but one of them stepped out of the
path for a moment to gather a piece
of fruit. Inside of two minutes he
was missed and his companions found
him with his throt cut, spear thrus
in his breast and his rifle and cart
ridges gone. Not even a sign OF life
renamed, showing the wonderful ex
petition with which the sinister
enemy had accomplished his work;
not a groan was heard, not even
sigh, as the soldier gave up his life
"Ali's sleuths thus hover around
every troop sent out, and their I'M
wearied vigilance and determination
are telling on the nerves of the sol
diers. If he would meet our men in
fair battle nothing would please them
better. The struggle would be hot
and brief, but against these thuglike
tactics the soldiers find their task an
almost impossible one.
'Ali's ambition is to acquire enough
arms for his own tribe and as many
others as he can induce to Join him
until he has a great army, when he
hopes to sweep the United States sol
diers from the island and proclaim
himself Chief Sultan and lord of. all
Because OF his skulking methods it
must not be thought the Moro is
coward When he attacks the battle
line nothing will stop him but a bullet
which brings death. He won't sur
render. At close range he is ia ter
rible fighter.
THE islanders who have run ND
the black flag against civilization are
merciless, implacable and in deadly
aarnact The SwamDS tho i,7no1oe