The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1913-05-15
Anew Method
Of Torture
By ALBERT 7. KENYON

/ Su StdteS llllaliry, stationed on tn0
island Of Luzon, Philippine Islands,
was sent with a detachment of twelve
men to regulate some unruly natives.
| He found larger number than he had
! expected, and, instead Of regulating
| them. they regulated him and his men.
! There were about fifty of them, and
they had good arms and ammunition.
They drove the soldiers into sort of
pocket, where they killed most of them
and put the rest to the sword, except
the lieutenant, whose leadership had
| resulted in the slaughter Of nearly one
| third their number. This and their
| hatred for Americans generally decided
them to put him to death by as fright
TuI means as could be devised.
Being near the seashore, four of their
number were deputed to take the Off
Ger to the beach and bury him to his
chin in the sand, where an incoming
tide would drown him. The four men
were well armed, while WiuWard was
oefenseless. The Filipinos had pos
sesscd themselves Of a demijohn of
whisky and Quinine which the soldiers
had brought with them as a protection
against malaria. This the execution
ers, after giving every man left behind
drink, took with them, but, being
aware of its effect, prudently determin-
ed to abstain from it till they had ac-
complished their purpose.
When they reached the seashore
there was a discussion among them
which Winward, not understanding
their language, could not interpret. but
By their gestures he inferred that some
were in favor of giving him short
time to live by placing him far from
the incoming tide, while others pro-
posed that he should be placed near 1t.
He also believed that the latter wish
ed to make quick work with him in
order to get ut the liquor. He hoped
they would prevail, since the longer
the contemplation of such death pin
ned in the sand the more agonizing it
would be. 4 compromise was made
by placing him at half tide, the waters
receding. This would give him till the
return Of the food tide to live.
A hole was dug in the sand deep
.os:: . Pace IL. = - ,,-,. -, = :; g.
position. When they attempted to put
him in be made a desperate fight hop
ing to force them to shoot him. But,
seeing his intention. they refrained,
and. being powerful men While Win
ward was small and slight, notwith-
standing that horror gave him
strength, they had no great difficulty
in burying him. His arms were placed
against his sides and the sand packed
close about him by the men trampfng
upon it. He was placed with his face
to the ocean in order that he might
suffer the greater mental torture by
seeing it slowly crawl upon him.
No sooner had he been buried than
some Of the Filipinos began to show
signs by their actions that they were
in favor Of taking pull from the demi-
John. Winward could not see how it
could make any difference to him
whether they we're drunk or sober.
Had the desires of those who wished
to drink at once prevailed they would
have had time to get drunk and sober
again before the tide receded and re-
turned to their victim, but there was
one who seemed to be a leader among
them who counseIed delay. Why. the
officer could not understand. At amy
rate he was enabled to keep them from
the lqnor till the tide had turned and
passed half the distance between the
ebb and the man it was to drown.
Then one of the men seized the demi-
John and took drink. That started
Ind; b0 1oaHo~ qnd fhaV
ell got drunk.
When the last one had succumbed
the waters had advanced to within
few feet of the buried man. The ST.
Ience permitted his mind to ccncen-
trate upon the approaching death. His
despair led hiln to make an effort to
free himself. which he knew would be
futile. Slowly came the tide. now and
again wave advancing nearer his
chin, till at last a ripple broke against
his mouth.
Winward was enabled to put off the
evil moment by holding bis breath as
the edge Of the waves rolled past him.
Presently he began to feel that the
pressure Of sand against the front OF
Ills neck had diminished. The water
was washing it away from there and
piling it MP behind. Each wave In
creased this change. A wild hope
spranc within him. Would enough
sand in front Of him be displaced to
enable him to free himself? He could
bend forward slightly. The water had
softened the sand. and by doing so he
found he could assist in the displace-
ment 1t was not long before his
arms were free. Using his hands Wig
orously. he scooped away part OF the
sand, while the waves continued TO
displace the rest. His body was loos'
ened. BY an effort he freed his legs
and was saved.
His first act was to possess hlmseil
Of the arms Of the Filipinos. and. re-
tanning those he could use. he threw
The rest into deep water.
Winward has never told the rest OF
The story, for he was ashamed OF 1t.
The brutality under which he suffered
temporarily made brute OF him. Inc
ocean which was to have drowned hlm
became the burial place Of his would
be executioners. But whether 1t en-
quilted them alive or dead the ofncer
will not say All he admits is that ne