The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-07
CAPTURE OF AN
INSURGENT GENERAL
Described by Captain siviter in a
Letter from the Philippines,
Where He Is Now Serving.

Captain Francis Pierpont Siviter, of
the Forty-first Volunteer infantry, has
written to friends in pittsburg about
General Hizon, one of the mos. dar-
ing of the Philippine insurgent COM
manders. Captain Siviter is we'll
known in this city and about two
years ago was for some time in charge
of a recruiting Office here At that
time he was a lieutenant in the regu-
lar army, but since has been promoted
to be captain of volunteers. His let
Ter follows:
There been a little excitement here at
Mexico the past few days. Lieutenant johnson,
with four mounted men (on private ponies) was
out on a map.making trip in territory.
When entering San Jose de Molina, one Of the
barrios Mexico, he saw a man mount pony
and hastily leave, his actions being suspicious
The lieutenant gave chase. The man increased
his pace, and led the lieutenant and his men
for over a mile along a winding, little used
road, across paddy fields and through bamboo
Jackets Several shots were fired at him by
our men, who fired without dsmountng, but
without effect Finally the fugitiyes horse
turned suddenly in a ravine and threw its rider,
which gave the pursuers opportunity to reach
him. They found him hiding in the bushes in
the ravine. Irvate Wheeler levelled his rifle
at him, when the man threw up his hands and
surrendered.
Lieutenant johnson thought he was General
Hizon from his resemblance to a photograph OF
that officer, which had procured and posted in
our guard )use, with instructions to all my
men to look out for him. The lieutenant asked
him in Spanish Gonna esta listed, general?'
(How are you, generally and the man ac.
knowled;ed that he was General MaXimo Hzon
whom we had been looking for for three months
| His relatives all live here, his former home,
and he has committed a number of acts which
| military law does not countenance, depending for
protection from arrest and punishment upon his
numerous relations.
len his horse threw him the generals
ankle was sprained and his wrist broken by the
| fall His captor brought him to the post and
we put him to bed in my room and sent for a
doctor to set his wrist and ankle. As soon as the
| natives discovered who it was that had been
| captured his numerous relatives came clamor-
| ing to see him. He had been hiding in the
| mountains and they said they had not seen
| him in that time. Some of them had seen him
more recently, however, for learned from con-
fdentill sources that he occasionally came home
| in disguise
| permitted a good many to see him, but al
| ways had in my room the trusty Maccabeebe,
| Gregario, to report any conversation that might
| be of military importance, but there was none.
The general wife and brand new baby boy
| came to see him. The baby boy was born six
weeks ago, and the general had never seen it.
1t was quite interesting to witness the first
| meeting between the two.
On the night Of June IL the insurgents made
an attempt to rescue their general. About mid
night there began a popping that sounded like
| a Fourth of July fire cracker celebration, and
| bullets came Trough the mems barracks ant
the officers quarters. Several sharpshooters re-
| piled at once from the barrack windows firing
| at the flashes which were about three hundred
| yards away. The rest Of the company fell in al
their appointed places. On discovering tht
direction OF the enemy l sent out two
| SQUADS keeping the rest of the men to frustratt
any attempt to the general from any
other direction But the enemy did not wait
for the squads to get within striking distance
but broke and fed in as many directions as there
were msn, disappearing in twinklinS in th'
numerous thickets and cane fields where pursuit
at night is useless