Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-08-03
CONCERNING GEN LUNA.
w ho Was Reported ASSaSStnatea by
Order ot AgutnalGo.

AgujuAldo'S guard, Il may be OF inter
est 10 give some details concerning
this noted individual and his tamily,
If which, So far as | am aware. no par
,iruars have YET been presented 20
the American public. am fortunately
IN a position - 90 this, in view or
the intimate relations that have On
tstod between my family and that Of
the luuaS The father OF Gen Luna,
Don Joaquin Luna, was the neNt-door
netGhhor Of my father III Manila, and
has Ions been his personal friend, His
mother was also IN intimate relations
with my mother before the lattcr's
death, | remember that she was eN-
ccdingly fond Of the game OF pauguin-
gut card game which is a tavorite
Of the Flirinos. and the women In
particulars
Some years agn three thieves were
taken In an attempt to enter and rob
Don loaQuin's house, and later were
EaFrotcd by order Of the authorities
in front OF the house, and nearly IN
front Of that of my father This was
in pursuance Of legal rule in the
Philippines, that criminals condemned
to death should he punished rs nearly
as possible in the locality Of their
crime,
Don Joaquin Luna IL n retired mer-
chant OF Manila. mcsti2o, or half
breed, by birth; n man OF intelligence,
alt hough of no special distinction
hicnsolf, hut with the honor OF having
among his children some OF the most
brilliant persons yet known In the
Philippines, In support of this state
mont It may he said that three OF his
sons have had remarkable careers In
as many different fields of human eff
fort. One of these studied mcdicinc
and has won the reputation of being a
surgeon of very unusual skill and
ability, some OF his operations In
abdominal surgery being equal In
daring and success to those Of the ia
NOUS surgeons of Europe and America,
\ second son achieved his reputa-
lion in music. being n pupil Of Sar.
asatc, the well-kuOwn Spanish master
~
artist OF high distinction, SO much 80,
indeed, as to have won the gold medal
for the most excellent painting at m
exhibition at the Madrid academy OF
arts, during the reign OF the late king.
The picture which brought him this
rum Some family trouble so aroused
his violent nature that he shot and
killed his wife and mOther-in law. He
was, as | have said. sentenced to death
for the crime. The result OF this
dreadful business was remarkable. A
large number of the artists Of Spain
and France. and many prominent pa
irons Of ART, Joined in a petition to
King Alroso for his pardon. In view Of
the great loss to art his execution
would he. Doubtless they were also
able TO offer cXtonuatinE crcum-
stances IN mitigation Of the crime
However that may be. at all events
this appeal was successful. and King
Alfonso granted full pardon to the
condemned There Is still another
son of Don joaquin, who attained to
commence as n chemist He became,
and is now, druggist OF note in
Manila
Two OF This brilliant family took
part in the Philippine insurroction
against Spain. and have been proml-
nent in the recent war with the United
States forces. These are Antonio Luna,
~ t.,h 10 ruI1 ~, t,uI
met his death by assassination, and
the painter, who left Sqain nj the out
break OF the insurreCton, and took an
active part In It. The latter was the
Luna who came TO Washington after
Agoncillo's arrival there, probably
envoy Of Aguinaldo. whose purpose. |
believe, was peaceful one. Soon
after reaching there war broke out In
LuZon. and he and his attendants,
with Agoncillo and his staff. took q
hasty departure for Canada. Luna Is
now member OF the Philippine junta
at London, a body whose hostility to
the American cause Is well known
must say something here IN refer
ence to the underlying cause OF these
intrigucs, and OF their fatal termina-
ton in Gen Luna's death. In fact, the
Philippine cause has the misfortune Of
being divided between three hostile
elements. hguinnaldo. though by
title commander-in-ch Of the Philip
pine army. is really in command only
OF section Of this force two other
sections being under the control OF
Gems Luna and Pillar. These three
men are all enemies Of each other, and,
as will be remembered, Gen Luna re-
Gently went so far as TO detain two
ENJOYS sent by Agulnaldo to the
American authorities at Manila, os-
tensibly because they had dared to
set out without his consent, but really
to prevent them from treating for
peace
Emilio Agulnolda Is believed by the
more radical Philippine leaders to be
secretly a friend Of the Americans, and
as anxious TO bring about peace as
soon as II can be done with safety to
himself and without loss OF his inhu-