Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1913-04-11
Story Of the Murder Of Captain
John Watson.
Was SLAIN In Philippines While Asleep
Lieut. Edmunds, His Companion,
B. Who Has Marrow Escape, Says
Spear Cut Spinal Cord.

The first detailed story OF the kill
ing of Capt. John Watson Of the
Eighth cavalry and the serious wound
Ing of Lieut.. Kinzie B. Edmunds by
wild moro at Sier lake on December
Is, has just reached here, writes q
Manila correspondent Of the New YORK
Sun. The news is contained in let
ter from Lieutenant Edmunds him.
self, to his friend. Capt. A. A. King. At
Fort Mckinley.
The letter follows: sd.
Hospital, Jolo, Jan. II.
II suppose you would all like to
hear what happened December ~, the
night poor old Watson was killed, so
III write down exactly what happened
as saw it, and you may pass 1t
around IL you wish.
IF and H troops csmped the night
of December 1919 on the sea beach
at Siet lake. about eighteen miles from
Jolo. l was attached to H troop and
living with Watson. 1t was bright
moonlight night, and we had reason
ably heavy guard on. Everything
looked safe, but evidently there was
a hole that was not corked. Not hav-
ing made camp until three o'clock, we
were tired. After swim, went to PED
at $3.50. Just before turning In Wat
son remarked his head was downhill.
said to put something under the legs
of his bunk to raise it, but he said IT
was easier to turn around, so he slept
with his head at the tent door.
About 1890 woke up to see plain
~ in the entrance a Moro with a
barong. He was jumping about. cut
ting to the right and left right merri-
ly. His position brought him within
easy range of both hunks. | let forth
yell that, aroused the camp, ana
swung my legs in and to the head OF
the cot, ending by sitting on the head
of the cot with my left side toward
the door; then reached for my pistol
and, of course, could not find 1t.
had taken it out of the holster and put
it where could not miss finding H.
but some Of the bed clothes must have
covered it when / moved. and / had
to keep my eyes on the Moro. Instead
of coming into the tent, he stepped
back out OF sight for second. then
reappeared with a spear about ten
feet long, the longest l have seen.
With this he made two lunges at me,
swinging far back on his rear foot,
then driving forward with all his
might He was busy little bee. The
moon light shone on the tent and l
was in the shadow. l managed to
parry each thrust with my left arm,
still trying for my pistol with my
right hand; then he stepped back
again and reappeared coming toward
the tent with his barong,
Two pistol shots sounded outside the
tent (Saxton) he staggered but con-
tinued; then the crash of shotgun
(Wells); he was hurled back; / could
see his legs fly over his head. He
struggled to an elbow. Van Malta
emptied his pistol into him, and he
became a good Moro.
Watson had not moved. called
him twice, then called for light
They brought one. He had slight cuts,
two through the spinal cord. I don't
think he ever woke up; I don't sup
pose the whole business lasted over
thirty seconds.
Cut, right leg. half way between
knee and ankle, six inches long, dag
onal across bone and calf; cut, left
knee, nearly parallel to leg and lit
tie to the left of center through pa
tella and into both bones to joint.
Spear cut, left little finger. length
If finger to bone; spear puncture, left
elbow, slight. Can't account for this.
Thought a parted both lunges to left.
One went through my pillow.
They sent for the launch that night
and got me back to Jolo about three
next day. Everything has healed ex-
cept knee, which was infected. Drain
age tubes, dressing every day, etc.
It's slowly getting well. All but two
Of the tubes have been removed.
There were six. An operation may be
necessary after the wound closes to
restore motion.
Going to come north as soon as
am able to travel