Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 July 1909 — JIKIRI HAD AID OF TWO WOMEN [ARTICLE]

JIKIRI HAD AID OF TWO WOMEN

Amazons Fought to Death Against Americans. HAND TO HAND CONFLICT Moro Bandit Leaped Upon Sixth Cavalry Lieutenant and Was About to Behead Him When Shot From Revolver of Another Officer Killed the Marauder— Tribesmen Thought the Outlaw Could Not Be Harmed by Lead or Steel. Manila, July 13.—Accounts of the last fight of Jiklrl, the Moro outlaw chieftain who was killed and his band exterminated in a pitched battle on the island of Jolo, have reached Manila. Hunted from place to place by regulars and the constabulary, Jikirl with seven followers, two women and one child took refuge in a cave that pierced the side of the crater of an extinct volcano. Scouts located the party and the troops worked their way around the place until it was entirely invested. Captain George L. Byram of the Sixth Cavalry, who commanded the attacking force, then ordered a white flag displayed and through his interpreter called upon Jikiri to-surrender. The outlaw refused and declined also to accept a safe conduct for the women of his party. The women fought with the men until killed by Krag-Jorgenson bullets. Captain Byram ordered up his guns and a terrific shell fire was opened on the cave. The missiles broke above and around the mountain fort. Storming parties worked their way up the steep slope and, finding footing on the ledge, endeavored to rush the larger entrance to the cave. The fighting for a few minutes was desperate but the outlaws drove their assailants back by a savage spear charge. Jikiri himself singled out Lieutenant Arthur H. Wilson, who commanded one section of the attacking party. Dashing from the cave, the outlaw flung himself upon the American before Wilson could raise his pistol. With one hand gripping the officer’s hair, the bandit slashed at his neck with a heavy native knife endeavoring to behead him. Lieutenant Joseth A. Boer saw his comrade’s peril and dashed to his aid. As Jikiri swung back the knife to strike again, Baer shot him dead and Wilson dropped to the ground. It is feared that Wilson will be incapacitated from further service as the muscles of his neck were severed. Hundreds of friendly Moros saw the fight. Many of them believed that Jikiri bore a charmed life and could not be harmed by knife or bullet. They would not be convinced that he was dead until they saw and felt his body.