SNOW, OCTOBER 13, 1902
Walter H. Snow, 117 North Battery street, Burlington, Vt., late of Company D, Twenty-sixth Volunteer Infantry, having first been duly sworn to testify the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, as to the matter respecting which he was to be examined, did testify as follows:
Q. What is your name?-A. Walter H. Snow.
Q. How old are you?-A. I was 22 years old the 4th of June.
Q. Where do you reside?-A. 117 North Battery street, Burlington, Vt.
Q. When did you enlist and when were you discharged?-A. I enlisted on the 26th of Julv, 1899, and was discharged on May 13, 1901.
Q. Were you a member of Company D, Twenty-sixth Volunteer Infantry?-A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did you serve at Banate?-A. Yes, sir.
Q. Who commanded the company?-A. Captain Brownell while he was there, and while he was not there, Second Lieutenant Worthington.
Q. What character was given you on your discharge?-A. Very good.
Q. Were you stationed at Banate in the Philippine Islands?-A. Yes, sir.
Q. When and for how long?-A. I think it was over a year or more. I should say we went there along towards January, 1900.
Q. While you were in the Philippines did you ever see the water cure administered?-A. Yes, sir.
Q. Tell the occasions.-A. Seen it once given in Anileo [Anilao]. While we were in the town there we went out and got some prisoner and Captain Brownell tried to get some information out of him, and he would not give it. There were three or four men got him and put him down and held him down, took a stick and pried his mouth open. Then we went out and got a bucket of water and kept pouring it into his mouth, but he would not tell. Then they let him up. We then held him down again, poured more in him, and the captain says, "I will fix him." He takes out a rifle-a six-shooter-and he says to one of the lads, to Moran of the same company, "When I fire this pistol you hit him on the head, not very hard, with a stone, a little small stone that just cut his head," and the nigger when he heard the pistol shot thought he was shot, and he told him that if they let him up he would show
them some rifles. Corporal Banye and three or four more started out with him, and they got out I don't known how far from town, when the nigger said he didn't know where they were. Then he came back in town, and we stayed around there for a while. Then we had to go back to Banate.
Q. When was the next time you saw the water cure?-A. That was the only man. I seen the ex-presidente of Santa Ignacio after it had been given to him. A fellow by the name of Robinson helped in that one.
Q. How did he appear after it had been given to him?-A. He looked just as pale as he could be. He was all wet and his clothes were torn some.
Q. Did they get any information from him?-A. No, sir.
Q. Did they give it to him again?-A. I think he got it twice. I would not say for sure.
Q. Who ordered this?-A. Captain Brownell, sir.
Q. Did you see any other prisoners besides this presidente after the water cure had been administered? -A. I saw a priest about a day or so after he had it. I think Padre Augustino. He looked downhearted and pale, sickly looking, and he said if it was given him again he would die.
Q. To whom did he tell this?-A. He told it to me.
Q. Do you understand Spanish?-A. I can speak it a very little. (The witness then said in Spanish what the priest had told him.)
Q. Did he tell you that it had been administered to him?-A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did you see it administered?-A. No, sir; I did not.
Q. What became of this priest?-A. He became missing one morning, and the place where he was was empty.
Q. Do you know what became of him?-A. Only the rumors around the company.
Q. What were the rumors?-A. That he was given the water cure again, and that he died of it; and it was rumored that after he was dying they sent for the doctor to finish him.
Q. Do you know if the doctor went?-A. No, sir; I do not. I was not on guard that night.
Q. What was done with his body?-A. I don't know what became of his body.
Q. Do you know anything more about it?-A. Nothing I saw.
Q. Do you know any of the men that were with him when he was last seen alive?- A. I heard that Joe Campbell and a fellow by the name of George Branch, either from Buffalo or Rochester, were.
Q. Were you ever on guard over the priest?-A. Yes, sir; I was on guard the morning he came in.
Q. How do you know he was a priest?-A. Well, I knew it the minute I seen his face. He had on a first sergeant's uniform of artillery.
Q. Did he look like a dissipated man?-A. At first I thought he was an American soldier, but after he got up and spoke I knew right off that he was not an American. I said he was a Spaniard or a priest the minute he came in.
Q. While you were on guard over him what was he doing?-A. He just spoke a few words.
Q. Did you see him praying?-A. I could not tell if he was praying. I saw him sitting like this, but I did not know if he was praying. (Witness here indicated by raising one knee and clasping it with both hands, the fingers interlocked.)
Q. Was he shaved on the top of his head?-A. I don't remember if he had it shaved or not.
Q. Did you talk with him any further than what you have stated?-A. I asked him what he was doing up here. I can hardly remember what he said.
Q. How was he treated as to food?-A. Well, I thought his food was kinder slim, sometimes.
Q. About the same as the other prisoners?-A. No; he was fed separately, meager fare. He didn't have enough.
Q. Did you see him in tears at any time?-A. Yes, sir; I saw some wetness about the eyes.
Q. Have you always been on good terms with Captain Brownell?-A. I have until he sent me out into the mountains.
Q. When was that?-A. I don't remember the day. We were stationed at Banate.
Q. Why did he send you out?-A. We had some little ponies-eight or nine. Each day, or about every other day, there would be a couple of men go out in the mountains to get grass for the ponies.
Q. You were sent out?-A. Yes, sir.
Q. As punishment?-A. I don't know whether it was punishment or not. I was sent out alone.
Q. Do you know anything more than what you have testified to?-A. Nothing more than that.
Walter H. Snow.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 13th day of October, 1902, at Burlington, Vt.
E. Hunter,
Judge-Advocate, United States Army.