The central record., 1913-08-22
DAzED THE M0ROS
Sights the SuItan's Suit Saw on
Board the Charleston.
FUN IN FRAMING A TREATY.
General Bates Had a Sort of Circus on
His Hands While Negotiating With
the Filipino Potentate For the Trans
fer of the Islands to Uncle Sam.


His Hands While Negotiating With
the Filipino Potentate For the Trans
fer of the Islands to Uncle Sam.
Few treaties ever were negotiated in
more interesting and ludicrOus circum.
stances than those that attended the
one made in 1899 between General
Bates and the sultan of Moro.
When. after much dillydallying. the
Filipino potentate was finally induced
to come on board the Charleston. the
generals headquarters. every effort
was made to put him in good humor
He and his suit partook freely of
drink, but refused all food as coming
from the hands of Christians. Yet they
were i'm no danger of starving. for
they had been careful to bring with
them enormous sacks of rice.
When the guests were conducted
over the man-Of-war they marveled
at its mechanical mysteries. At the
suggestion of an officer the sultan
touched an electric button. and instant
ly Chinese servant appeared Again
in response to suggestion. he touched
the button twice. and United States
marine stood in the doorway.
From that time every ornament
aboard the ship that in any way sug
by the sultan or by some member ci
his suit An officer conducted hin
into dark room and showed him low
to turn the button that adjusted the
lighting apparatus. The flood Of li"h'
that resulted left him with gaping
mouth and dilated eyes.
His wonderment continued to grow
throughout the afternoon. and when
ever an opportunity afforded he re-
peated the performance of pushing
electric buttons and turning electric
lights on and OFF He even went so
far. when he thought himself unwatch.
ed. to try to appropriate one of the
lighted bulbs.
When ice water was brought in the
lump of ice In the pitcher was imme
diately seized by his royal highness
and as quickly dropped to the floor
As the lump gradually diminished in
size the sultan's party looked at 1t In
suspicion.
Mr. Shuck suggested to the sultan
that he order one of his men alOft and
recall him when he reached the crows
nest The first order was easy to exc
cute, but when return was ordered.
his voice having failed 10 carry. a
megaphOne was brought. and into this
turn under penalty of instant death.
Immediately the thoroughly frightened
Moro dropped to the deck. The ruler
took the dimensions Of the strange
mouthpiece and declared that he would
make one for himself
The most amusing incident occurred
when the sultan upon invitation fired
Colt automatic gun. The explosion of
the first discharge appeared to root
him to the spot. His hands gripped
the trigger, with the result that shells
continued to pepper the surrounding
waters.
Again and again the royal gunner
begged the officers to stop the action of
the Internal machine. not knowing that
the means of doing it lay in his own
hands. So thoroughly frightened was
he that it was impossible to make him
loosen his hold. and an officer ordered
the tape cut. thus stopping the supply
Of ammunition.
The one FOUNDER was next brought
into play. but the sultan refused to go
near one Of the eight inch guns. which
he had been invited to fire.
Meantime the knives of his attend
ants had been taken to the dynamo
room and charged with electricity.
with the result that the suit were Of
the opinion that the evil one himself
was aboard. They begged and implored
to be taken ashore and. quite forgetful
Of their bags Of rice, scurried down
the gang ladder.
At night the searchlight was brought
to bear upon the Moro town of Bus
Bus, and the instant desertiOn of the
town followed. even the dogs leaving
1t. For many weeks thereafter no
amount Of persuasion could induce the
inhabitants to return.
General Bates made his headquarters
In the town of Jolo. and thither the
sultan and his staff came on several
occasions to discuss the treaty. Sub
sequently they made another visit to
the Charleston. This time the mother
of the sultan accompanied the party.
and during the visit phonograph own
ed by one of the officers rendered Sc
lections for the entertainment of the
guests.
The aged dame sat entranced
throughout the performance. and II
was not until the time came for her
son to affix his signature to the treaty
that she awakened. On one condition
only would she permit the sultan to
sign-the phonograph must become hers
at once
For time that phonograph threat
ened to be the means Of upsetting all
General Bates well laid plans for the
amicable taking over of the islands.
but fortunately the owner was prevail
ed upon to part with the machine In
the interests of his government. and