The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-10-08
ATTITUDE OF MOROS,
SulIenly Hostile, Says Ex-Sena-
tor ToWne, Who Saw Them.
PHILIPPINE TRIP INCIDENTS.

Nervous Moments on Edge Of Lake
LIanao Amid Circle Of Threatening |
Faess-ordsrs From constantinopIe.
Extraordinary Fanatieism Of q Moro
Younsstsr.
Hostility, suIlen unfriendliness, thin
ly yelled and frequently undisguised, |
Is the dominant impression which / re-
ceived throughout the Moro province"
said ex-senator Charles A. Towne Of
Minnesota in the course OF a descrip-
ton of his tour Of the southern aarchi-
pelago of the Philippines, writes q
Manila correspondent of the New York |
Sun. Together with Senator Joel w. |
Stone of Missouri. Senator Towne re-
Gently spent some three weeks In de-
lightful sailing from port to port Of
the islands of Pinay, Cebu, noilo, Ne
gros, Mlndanao and JOlo, and they had
made an arduous and dangerous over
land journey. While In Mindanao they
were accompanied by soldiers.
The governor general placed at their
disposal his yacht. the Pollilo.
THE Moro is fierce fellow. and he
has no love for u.s." continued Senator
Towne. Centuries Of independent rule
and scores of years Of conflict with the
Spanlards, during the cOurse OF which
their piracy was somewhat suppressed
and their rule was broken up in so far
as the coast line was concerned, to-
gether with an Unborn religious dislike
for the infidels, or whites, have left
an indelible mark on this extraordina-
ry people who have fallen into our
hands under the government of the
Philippines. l understand from OIL
GERS who have been in contact with
the Moros that there are some who
profess friendship, but during my trip
was told on excellent authority Of q
prominent datto who had long sup
pressed his hostile feeling when sud-
denly, without moments warning, he
took to the hills with his retainers and
communicated with the commanding
officer of the district. saying that he
had received word from Constantine
pie, from one OF the principal dignita-
ries Of his church, that any cultivation
of friendly relations with the Ameri-
cans would be received with high dis
pleasure and that, moreover, the sui
tan would soon send a force 10 invade
the United States
He concluded his communication by
informing the American officer that
any one who wanted to see him could
come out into the hills and try to get
him. OF course you have all heard of
the fanatics called Juramentados, who
rush forth determined to die, charge
| into a group of foreigners and kill as
many as possible before receiving the
death stroke, thus earning a high
place in the Moro paradise. and there
have been many examples during the
American occupation, but l was told
of a Moro boy only thirteen years of
| age who, rushing on an American sol
der, grabbed him about the legs and
threw him. at the same time slashing
at him with his bolo. The soldier en-
deavored to defend himself, and several
of his comrades came to his assistance
and commenced firing on the fanatic.
who. despite numerous wounds. kept
on slashing Mt the soldier and cut him
severely. Finally an officer placed his
revolver almost at the boys head and
blew out his brains. There were four
teen wounds on that child's body, and
yet he sustained his fiendsh attack
until the top Of his head was shot of"
Senator Stone told of short halt Mt
the edge OF Lake Llanao while they
were waiting for the boat to be made
| IL
was deserted, but suddenly the Moros
began to appear one by one, apparent
ly springing up out of the brush until
they realized that a complete Gordon
had been quietly established. with only
the lake as an exit
Il saw our little guard of soldiers
looking TO their weapons and carefully
disposing themselves around us IN ad-
vantageous positions. The Moros wore
cloths or shawls. which partly covered
them, and l could see no weapons on
them. Nevertheless after ! looked into
their faces and saw their expression,
together with the attitude OF our own
men. confess that ! moved toward
the lake. though | cannot imagine
what particular advantage could gain
by plunging into the water. There
was absolutely no chance Of swim
ming across the lake, and. while each
one Of us might have accounted for
his man or perhaps his men in the
event of a conflict, yet the Moros were
so numerous that had they desired
they might have overwhelmed us.
was glad when we embarked"
"And more particularly So" remark
ed Senator Towne, when we recall
that Just a short distance up the lake.
within sight was a spot which had
been pointed out TO US as the scene of
a fight with the eonstabulary which
had occurred recently resulting in the
killing and wounding Of some forty
Moros, and after all It required no
very great stretch Of the imagination
to see in the surly circle which had
quietly formed about us some sur