Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1909-04-22
GUST ISLAND BANDIT
COL. HaRsoRD TELLS OF WORK
OF ENDING LApRoNisM.
When Americans Took Charge Of FIJI.
Iplno Affairs, Desperate Gangs
Were In control-Thelr Reign
10 Over.
BY COL. HARTFORD.
tActlng Chief OF constabulary)

tStCtlUE liner OF
One OF the most difficult jobs which
the American government took on Its
hands when II began the pacification
OF these islands, was the suppression
Of ladronism. Since remote times this
had been recognized institution. and
even Spain at the height OF Its power
In the islands, had been able to do lit
tie towards exterminating the lawless
bands. II was lucrative calling. and
the native robbers were men OF dar.
ing, lawless character, who lived In
the Businesses and jungles, and who
had colleagues. often directors, or &C
tual chiefs. possibly residing within
town limits. Robbery and pillage was
the business Of these gangs. and cat
tie stealing their principal and most
lucrative occupation. That organized
ladronism could exist so long was due
10 the peaceful and timid disposition
of the average native. Rather than
endanger life and property, informa-
ton In regard to these lawless char
acters was withheld, and little or no
resistance was ever made when towns
or localities were raided.
When civil government was organ
lied in the islands, July 4. 1901, reliev-
ing the then existing military govern
ment of the administration and control
Of the affairs of the archipelago, 1t be-
came necessary to establish an in
sular police force, and the Philippines
constabulary was organized. This
force consisted at first of $500 officers
and men, but was later reduced to
5000 officers and men-the present
strength. AS was to be expected after
a prolonged warfare, in country con-
sisting of numerous islands. diversified
by mountain and jungle, inhabited by
different races and tribes. the transit
ton from war to peace was not abso-
lutte and definite. The organized in.
surrecto forces had been broken up
and dispersed by the American troops,
but guerilla warfare succeeded and a
number of guerilla bands were still
scattered about the islands.
In different parts of the islands
numerous leaders or chiefs sprang up,
backed by some hundred or so Of fol-
lowers, and each claimed to be the
successor Of Aguinaldo, the so.called
president Of the Filipino republic, who
had been captured by Gen. Funston,
after an exciting chase. In Luz0n, par.
ticularly in the provinces of Cavite,
Laguna and Batangas, these lawless
bands committed the most Of their
depredations. There in the mountain
Businesses, Sakay, the self-styled presi-
dent, held forth, and in his immediate
trail were such lieutenants as Monta-
lon, Vihafuerte and some few others
all of whom were either killed or ex-
ecuted later on in Bilibid prison. The
crimes committed by these lawless
bands had for the most part their own
people as the victims. Rapine, and
murder were events OF daily occur
renee, and reign of terror existed In
the provinces surrounding Manila. In
towns where the people showed any
particular friendship for the Ameri-
can, these night raiders were wont to
visit, and their departure was gen.
orally marked by the firing Of the res
licences of the poor peaceful natives,
and the carrying of Of the wives and
daughters of those who were known
as the Americanistas. Hamstringing,
burying alive and gouging out the eyes
were favorite amusements OF these
dastards, and most Of the crimes COM
mitted were indeed Of most fiendish
nature. In the northern part of the
Island of Luzon, band Of ladrones
held forth for some few years, and
gave the constabulary great trouble.
This band was supposed to have been
headed by renegade negro named
Pagan, who had deserted from the
Twenty-fifth infantry, u. s. A. Pagan
was q hard man to kill, but after the
Manila papers had reported his death
IN 20 ulucICuI piaCCc ~ 'Shc cPoCC Va
two years, the constabulary finally sue
ceeded in silencing him. In Bulacan
and Nueva Ecija, other lawless bands
were at work and after much hiking
over mountains and through swamps,
these provinces were cleaned up, and
the ladrones exterminated. For long
time in the provinces Of Albay and the
Camarines, a bandit by the name Of
Ola, a Chinese mestizo, or half caste,
committed countless depredations and
made all the natives pay tribute to
him. Work in the great hemp dis
tricts in this section was at standstill,
and the provinces were fairly ruined.
Col. Bandholtz, now Gen. Bandholtz,
the director OF constabulary, set his
trap for this troublesome fellow and
At last succeeded In getting him in his