Evening journal., 1901-03-29
SUCCESSFUL FUNSTON TELLS
HOW AGUINALDO WAS TRAPPED
When Captured The Rebel Leader Was Tremendously EX-
cited But Gained Down Under Assurance That
lie Would bO Well Treated

treated, but not be allowed to enter
The town
On the morning OF March % the ad-
vance was resumed. The column was
met by the staff officers Of Aguinaldo
and a detachment or Aguinaldo's body
guard. which was ordered to take
charge of the Americans.
While one Of the ex-insurgent officers
conversed with Aguinaldos aide anoth-
er, Spanlard, sent a courier to warn
Gen. Funston and the rest who, with IL
Macabebes, were about an hour be-
hind. Having received this warning,
Gen. Funston avoided Aguinaldo's de-
tachment and Joined the column,
avoiding observation. The Tagalos
went ahead to greet Aguinaldo and the
column slowly followed, finally arriy-
ing at Palanan.
Aguinaldo's household troops, 80
men in neat uniforms Of blue and
white and wearing straw hats, lined
up to receive the newcomers. Gen.
Funston's men crossed the river in
small boats. formed on the bank, and
marched to the right and then in front
Of the insurgent grenadiers. The
Tagalos entered the house where
Aguinaldo was met. Suddenly the
Spanish officer, noticing that Agui-
naldo's aide was watching the Amer
leans suspiciously, exclaimed NOW,
Macabebes, go for them" The Maca-
bebes opened fire, but their aim was
rather ineffective, and only three in
surgents were killed. The rebels re-
turned the fire. On hearing the firing
Aguinaldo, who evidently thought his
men we're merely celebrating the ar
rival of reinforcements, ran to the
window and shouted: stop that fool
ishness. Quit wasting ammunitionl
AguinaIdO Made Prisoner.
Hilario Placido, one of the Tagalog
officers and a former insurgent major,
who was wounded in the lung by the
fire Of the Kansas regiment at the bat
tie Of CalOocan, threw his arms around
Aguinaldo. exclaimins You are a
prisoner of the Americana"
Col. Simeon Villa, AguinaldO's chief
Of stan, Mai. Alambra and others at
tackled the men who were holding
Asuinaldo. Plaoldo shot Villa in the
shoulder Alambra jumped out Of the
window and attempted 10 cross the
river. II is supposed that he was
drowned. Five other insurgert officers
fought for q few minutes and then fed,
making their escape.
When the firing began Gen. Funston
assumed command and directed the at
tack on the house, personally assist
ing in the capture of Aguinaldo The
insurgent body guard fled. leaving 70
rifles. Santiago Barcelona, the insur-
gent treasurer. surrendered without
resistance.
When captured Aguinaldo was tre-
mendously excited, but he calmed
down under the assurance that he
would be well treated Gen. Funston
secured all of Aguincldo's correspond
ence, showing that he had kept r.
close touch with the sub-chiefs of ;hc
instruction in all parts Of the archi-
pelago. 1t was also discovered that
Aguinaldo, Jan. rs, had proclaimed
himself dictator. He had been living
at Palanan for seven months, uncis-
turbed, except when a detachment of
the Sixteenth infantry visited the
town. On that occasion the entire
| population took to the mountains and
remained there until the troops re-
tired.
Aguinaldo admitted that he had come
near to being captured before, but he
asserted that he had never been
wounded. adding 81 should never
have been taken except by a strate-
gem. l was completely deceived by
Lacunas forged signature" He feared
that he might be sent to Gnam, aid
he was quite glad to come to Manila
Palanan was guarded by numerous
/ outposts and signal stations. During
the fight none of the Macabebes were
wounded.
The expedition rested March "a anl
then marched 16 miles the following
day to Palanan bay, where Gen. Funs.
ton found the Vicksburg, which
brought him to Manila. Commando,
Berry, of the Vicksburg, rendered Gen
Funston SPLENDID assistance.
| AguinaldO, who talked freely Of past
events, said he supposed Con- Tiras
would proclaim himself dictator, moi
| knowing that Tiras had surrendered
He behaved courteously and gave NJ
trouble.
Gen. Funston says Aguinaldo /.
above the average in Intelligence ant
has prepossessing manners.