Evening journal., 1901-03-29
General Funston Exhibited as
an American Prisoner
TO INSURCENT SYMPATHIZERS
Three Rebels Killed and an Officer Of
AguinaIdO'S Staff Believed
TO be Drowned

Manila, March 20. - Gen. Emilio
AguinaldO, who was captured by Gen.
Funston and brought to Manila on the
United States gunboat Vicksburg, was
brought ashore at $40 p. m. yesterday
and taken before Gen. Macarthur at
the Malacanang Palace. He talked
freely, but seemed ignorant concerning
recent events. He appeared to be in
good health and was even cheerful.
He lunched with the officers of Gen.
MacArthurs staff and was then es-
cortod to the Anda street Jail.
Gen. Funston, when interviewed yes
terday by press representative, made
the following statement concerning the
capture OF the Filipino leader:
The confidential agent of Aguinaldo
arrived Feb. % at Pantabangan, in the
province of Neuva Ecija, northern
Luzon, with letters dated Jan. II, 12
and a. These letters were from
Emilio Aguinaldo and directed Balder-
nero Aguinaldo to take command Of
the provinces of central LuzOn. sup
planting Gen. Alejandrino. Emilio
AgninaldO also ordered that 400 men
be sent him as soon as possible. saying
that the bearer OF the letters would
guide these men to where Aguinaldo
was.
Secured Aguinnldo's Correspondence
Gen. Funston secured the corre-
.spondence OF Aguinaldo's agent and
laid his plans accordingly. Some
months previously he had captured the
camp Of the insurgent general Lacuna,
incidentally obtaining Lacunas seal.
official papers and quantity OF signed
correspondence. From this material
two letters were constructed, ostcn-
sibly from Lacuna to Aguinaldo.
One of these contained information
as to the progress of the war. The
other asserted that, pursuant to orders
received from BaldermerO Aguinaldo,
Lacuna was sending his best company
to Presidente Emilio Aguinaldo.
His plans completed and approved,
Gen. Funston came to Manila and or
ganized his expedition, selecting IS
Macabebes, all of whom spoke Taga-
log fiuently. Twenty wore insurgent
uniforms, and the others the dress of
Filipino laborers. This Macabebe
company, fully armed, was command
ed by Capt. Russell T. Hazard, of the
Eleventh United States volunteer cav
Oliver p. M. Hazard Of the same
regiment. Capt. Harry W. Newton,
Thirty-fourth infantry was taken be-
cause Of his familiarity with Casiguran
hay, and Lieut.. Burton J. Mitchell.
Fortieth infantry, went as Gen. Funs-
tons aide. These we're the only Amer
leans accompanying the leader of the
expedition.
lr N.-t.
insurgent officers, one being a Spaniard
and the other three TagalOs, whom
Cen. Funston trusted implicitly.
Gen. Funston and the American Of
flcers wore plain blue shirts and khaki
trousers. They carried each a half
blanket. but wore no insignia of rank.
The Macabebes were carefully instruct
ed to obey the orders of the four ex-
insurgent officers.
On the night Of March the party
embarked on the United States gun
boat Vicksburg. It was originally in
tended to take cascoes from the Island
of Polillo and to drift to the mainland
but storm arose and three of the
cascOes were lost. This plan was
abandoned. At 2 a. m. March IA the
Vicksburg put her lights out and ran
in shore 20 miles south of Casiguran
province OF Principe The party land
cd and marched to Casiguran. The
Americans had never garrlsoned this
place. and the inhabitants are strong
insurgent sympathizers. Having ar
rived there the ex-insurgent officers
ostensibly commanding the party, an
nounced that they were on the way
TO join Aguinaldo between Pantabagar
and Baler, that they had surprised az
American surveying party, and thai
they had killed a number. capturing
five. They exhibited Gen. Funston anC
the other Americans as their prisoners
InsurgeDt Presidente Fooled.
The insurgent presidente of Cast
guran believed the story. Two of tn,
Lacuna letters, previously concocted
were forwarded to Aguinaldo at Pala
nan, province CT Isabella. Gen. Funs
ton and the others we're kept impris
oned for three days, surreputiousl,
giving orders at night. On the morn
ingsof March II, taking a small quan
tity Of cracked corn, the party starte,
on a 90 mile march TO Palanan. Thl
country Is rough and uninhabited, an,
provisions could not be secured. Thl
party ate small shell fish, but were al
most starved. Wading swift rivera
climbing precipitous mountains an,
penetrating dense jungles, they march
ed seven days and nights, and OF
March % had reached a point eigh
miles from Palanan. They were nov
so weak that It was necessary to sem
TO Aguinaldos camp for food. Agui
nsldo dispatched supplies and directel
that the American prisoners be kindl.