The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-08
TALE OF HEARTLESS CRUELTY
RIVALING SPANISH TORTURES
Indians Victims OF Barbarous
Methods Employed by
Rubber Company.
ENSLAvED THROUGH DEBT
Report OF Conditions i'll Putu-
mayo District Made by
Stuart J. Fuller.

STUART ulltl.
Washington. February IA TWEEN
tieth century story of Anglo Saxon ex-
ploitatiOn Of South American Indians,
rivaling as narrative of heartless
cruelty tales which have come down
from the old Spanish captains. was laid
bare to-day in a special State Depart
ment report which President Taft
transmitted TO Congress. The pres
ent day victims OF a medieval sys-
TEN OF barbarous oppression are the
Indian tribes Of the Putumayo dis
trict in Peru. IL is shown In the re-
port that these helpless people have
been driven 10 their death before the
lash welded by the Peruvian Amazon
Company. an English concern which
works the rubber fields in the upper
Amazon country.
Little Hope for Relief.
Little hope for the relief of the long
suffering Indians is held out in the
report. for the Putumayo region is re-
mote from the seat Of Peruvian gov
eminent. and Stuart J. Fuller. Amer
lean consul at IquitOs. Peru. who made
the investigation. finds that the trav-
esty on justice which exists I'm the rub
Der section Is entirely in the hands
Of the rubber companys section
chiefs II is the Putumayo country 5
remoteness from the Peruvian capital.
from all government authority, that
has left the natives entirely at the
mercy of the company, according to
the report.
The Andes form an almost impas-
sable barrier to the westward while.
to reach the outside world through
the Atlantic Ocean. river craft must
traverse almost the entire $500 miles
Of the Amazon. Railroads are un-
known, and no highways exist worthy
Of the name. In this far-away corner
with no means Of appeal or redress.
the Indians were held at the mercy OF
the cOmpany's Oyerseers. When they
failed TO bring in a toll sufficient to
satisfy the demands OF the overseers,
logging. mutilation and sometimes
death followed. IL is asserted. Several
of the oversers are declared TO have
admitted that they had put Indians
and even white laborers In stocks for
minor Offenses. Many of the Indians
whom Mr.. Fuller saw bore scars of
foggings and other naltreatment.
system of Peonage.
Mr.. Fuller found that the labor of
the Indians is secured by a system of
peonage based on advance of mer-
chandise- Although payment is made
for this labor. IL is declared to be moth
ing more or less than forced labor
The temptation to abuse is imminent
and strong, especially since the white
staff is offered a bonus for vigilance
He reaches the conclusion that con-
sidering the remoteness of the country
and the poor quality Of the rubber, it
is unlikely to make the enterprise pay
without hard treatment of the In
dams. Although large numbers of the
Indians have been killed, and some
have escaped into the South American
! jungle, the output of rubber has In
/ creased despite the decrease in ma
tive population. With governmental
machinery absent. Mr.. Fuller is of the
opinion that, should the rubber cor
poration cease its activities, the In
dams would fall to no better lot at the
hands of freebooting expeditions and
slave raiders
Sir. Fuller finds that ancient. deep
rooted attitude OF the white population
Z toward the Indian is a formidable OBJ
stacle TO be overcome in any solution
OF the problem presented. While pro-
fess!ng not 10 approve cruel and in
human treatment, the whites generally
regard the Indian as having been
created by Providence for the use and
oeneft OF the superior race This at
titude OF the people has found con-
crete expressions in the universal sys-
TEN OF peonage, an old institution
which Mr.. Fuller found well estab-
/ Hshed. recognized by law and the
basis upon which the rubber business
almost entirely rests
Fetfered by Debt.
DEBT rs declared to have been the
chain with which the Indian has been
referred BY being encouraged to buy
more imported goods than thew can
ever hope to pay for, they have been
reduced 10 what Consul Fuller found
was virtually slavery. As claims are
transferable. the person of the debtor
being transferred TO the new credi-
tor the Indians and their families
really are bought and sold Families
pass On Indebtedness from genera
tion TO generation While Mr.. Fuller
found evidence that the COMPANY had
mended its ways to some extent. he
saw much unquestionable evidence
that cruelties still are practiced.
All the while that Consul Fuller was
attempting TO get at the facts In the
rubber field situation, il is declared. his
steps were logged by the companv's
agents making il difficult for him 10
OBTAIN any Information but such as il
was desired he should procure Tbe
Indians who were friendly enough and
willing TO talk through an int.rpre-
Ter, are said TO have covered and Ia Ms
ed INTO silence whenever the vi1fJsn,
overseers approached
Nay secure YltiestIop.
Although the company against
which the charges of cri.eIt,- were
laid still IS in control of the Indians
Consul Fuller hopes ultimately for
mitigation OF their suffering through
the efforts OF President BiIliurburst.
v no. since he assumed the leadership
Of the Peruvian government has
shown by acts and utterances that his
policy would be vigorous regarding, the
PutumayO question. lie believes that
before long drastic measures will he
taken TO end forever all forms OF
abuses committed against the defense
less natives Of the Putumayo. whom
he found 10 be not wild and untama
bic. but mild. dociie. fnoffenSive and
chiidlikc. as described by Sir Roger
Easement. British consul-Eenc-ai at
Rio de- JsneirS. who investigated the
situation in 1910
u was the disclosures made In SIR
Rogers report that Influenced the
state department % order the inves-
LEGATION which Consul Fuller now re-
ports.
SIR Roger found that among other