Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-07-13
HOW FUNSTON
GOT ACUINALOO.
Kausan's Report on the Capture Of
the Filipino Leader.
HE USED FORGED LETTERS.
Lacuna's Name Employed as Decoy
Gen. Macarthur Approved Plans
Details of the Expedition.

Washington, July 12-The war de-
partment today made public Brig. Gen.
Funston's report Of the capture Of
Aguinaldo, made on May End. This re-
port presents in detail all the facts
relating to the capture OF Agulnaldo
which was made public at that time.
Gen. Funston shows that his entire
plan of the expedition was submitted
to the commanding general Of the de-
partment of northern Luzon and then
was sent to Gen. Macarthur, by whom
II was approved
Gen. Funston goes into details con-
corning the captured correspondence Of
Agunado and the use he made Of
Cecilo Cegismundu, who had presented
himself to Lieut., j. d. Taylor Of the
Twenty infantry with letters Of
Aguinaldo ne was to deliver TO various
insurgent chiefs. Gen. Funston gives
the following account of the forged
letters which were used to deceive
Aguinaldo.
on October "a. 1900, While scouting in
the vicinity Of Gapan, Nueya Ecija,
had surprised the insugent chief, La
cuna In his camp, and had captured,
among other things, some writing pa
per which bore his headquarters seal,
on this paper two letters were writ
ten to Aguinaldo over the carefully
forged signature of Lacuna.
Ono pf tbaua tatfarg Nyoe Hafa1 Tgh-
ruary a. 1901, at Buac, a place in the
mountains east OF Ranaranda IN IL
Lacuna acknowledged the receipt Of
Agulnaldo's letters OF January 18th
and 18th, and thanked him for the con-
frmation Of his OLacuna's) appoint
appointment as brlgadler- general made
some time previously at Alejandrin0.
1t Will be remembered that the letters
OF Agunaldo referred TO had fallen in
TO our hands. The letter INDUCED in
the usual rhetoric employed by the
insurgent chiefs in their correspond
ence and gave glowing account of
the progress OF the campaign from
the standpoint Of Lacuna.
Another letter, supposedly from the
same place, but dated February 2Sth,
was prepared stating that the writer
had just received a communication
from Baltimore Agulnaldo, ordering
him to send one OF his best companies
under a reliable chief, to Emeio Agui-
naldo in Isabella
In accordance with these orders, he
was sending this force under Lieut.
Col. Hllario Placido. The latter, he
stated, had been captured by the
Americans a year ago, and after his
release he had lived in Jaen but re-
Gently had taken TO the field again
when ordered to do so by Lacuna,
This was included In the letter for fear
that Aguinaldo might have heard that
Placido had been captured by the
Americans and had taken the oath
of allegiance The letter also stated
that Aguinaldo's courier, Cecilio Ce-
gismundo was with Lacuna and
would accompany the column
These two letters were dictated by
me, but We're written by Segovia. We
were in possession of a number OF
samples OF Lacuna's signature, and
had previously succeeded In executing
very neat forgery OF his autograph
at the end Of each one Of the two
sheets.
OF the actual capture, Gen. Funston
says: 1.-THE Macabebes started up into
the town, and we heard a few shots
fired, We crossed the river and run
ming up on the town, found that the
Macabebes were somewhat demoralzed
and firing wildly In every direction.
They We're gotten under control
with some difficulty Aguinaldo's guard
Of about fifty armed and neatly-uni-
formed men had been drawn up to re-
celve the endorsements. and, being
fired into, broke and ran. a few OF
them returning the fire as they retreat
ed. Aguinaldo, with his officers, had
awaited in his quarters
"Placido and Segoyia entered the
house to report their arrival. and, az
ter a short conversation. SegOvia
stepped outside the house and ordered
the Macabebes, who had just come
up from the river bank, to open fire
on the insurgents, who were standing
In line al q distance Of about fifty
yards. The Macabebes were so ex-
cited and nervous that their fire was
very Ineffective. But two OF the in
surgents were killed, the remainder
taking flight, throwing down eighteen
rifles and thousand rounds Of ammu-
milton.
CAS- soon as Segovia had given the
NAh'A w AtAAi AtAAh tllNN AlAf ilVlNf anu
opened fire on the officers surrounding
Arulnaldo. He wounded villa and
Hambra. The latter jumped out Of
the house into the river and was not
seen again. villa on being wounded.
surrendered as dld also Santiago Var
celona, Aguinaldo's treasurer. The
five remaining officers escaped from
the house and swan the river.
"Placido seized Agulnaldo and told
him that he was a prisoner OF the
Americans. AZ this juncture .the
Americans arrived on the scene and
gave their attention 10 getting the
Macahebes under control and protect
ing the prisoners from them. one
Macabebe was slightly wounded by a
gunshot wound in the forehead"
In conclusion. Gen. Funston deals out
praise generously 10 all who had
shared In the expedition. mentioning
Capt. Hazard, Capt Newton, Lieut.
Hazard and Lieut.. Mitchell. while es-
pccially praising Lieut. Taylor for the
discretion he showed after obtaining
the Agunaldo letters. He also speaks
In high praise OF Commander Barry OF
the Vicksburg and the assistance
the navy rendered him