BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-03-28
One d lguiila|l6's Narrow
Escapes.
Told of a Soldier of the
Fourth Infantry
UNSUCCESSFUL EFFORT TO
CAPTURE INSURG ENT
LEADER.

A letter written from Cayit6 ell VleJo, |
Luzon by John Linck, a private in Com.
pany X. Fourth Infantry, tells an inter
esting story, hitherto unpublished, of Agui-
naldos narrow escape from capture by the
Americans. Linck writes:
"On the morning OF Jan. IA my company
and several other companies of the Fourth
Infantry and three troops of the Fourth
Cavalry, with detachment of the native
police, who had obtained the information
that Aguinaldo was visiting his mother at
her residence in the little town OF Binadayon,
about one and one-half miles from Cavite
ell Viejo, were ordered on a secret march.
1t was not until we had surrounded the little
fising village, situated on point OF land
projecting out in the bay, that we learned
of our mission-that is, to capture the cum
ming chieftain. The native police begged
to be allowed to proceed at once to capture
him.
"'Give us two American soldiers they
pleaded, land we will 60 at once to the house
and capture him while we know he is
there.o
''The mission was too important to be left
in the hands OF few men. AT daybreak
the party advanced, surrounded the little
village and drove everythingsin front OF them.
no distinction boin- made of age or sex.
Every house was searched and the inmates
were ordered to turn out and join the
roundup.
"When the house occupied by Sonora
Aguinaldo (his mother) was reached the
uproar of the hunt had already awakened
the household. The invalid mother was the
calmest member of the party, although she
needed not to be told the object of the visit
but questions propounded to her were re
ceived in silence. Nothing could be learn
ed from the household as to the whereabouts
of the object of SO many fruitless searches
The inmates of the village, men, womer
and children, were driven to Cavit6 e
Vieio, where they were made to pass unde
the gaze of those who knew them; namely
the native police. Women and children
were passed rapidly through the ring witt
little scrutiny. The men then we're passed
under the line. When face appeared tina
had given trouble before he was gwen to th
guards with fixed bayonets to be sent to th
guardhouse.
"This was continued down to the las
man. Among those captured was Co
Candida Bait, former insurgent of mig
: standing who had taken the oath of allegianc
to the United States and had since lived a
Cavi:e ell Nlejo, who was suspected a
!, aiding Aguinaldo in his escape. Afte
u several hours of hard work the guard hear
II him say that the he had held a confereuc
= with Aguinaldo at his mothers residence.
"In the search at the house several article
of clothing indicated his method of escape
. in the guiSe of woman Though nothln
. could be CLEANED as to the hour of the escape
% it was probably during the hurried scrutin
Of the woman. Among those capture wa
Agulnalao's body servant, acho was wer
reticent about the escape of his master unit
. he was certain he hal not been takel
Threats, rewards, persuasion and promise
:. failed to move him to tell how his mast'
y escaped. Several days ago, under promls'
70 of secrecy to friend, he told the fOll0wlu
- story:
ie "'For months we have been in the mid
: of the Americans and they have not suspectt
le us. Ny master has even spoken with Amer
IS can soldiers blockheads, to be fooled
:, easily and often When my master WI
- wounded in September we wrapped HIM
,, mating ana floated him down the river pa
VI the Americans. who thought it was a des
: body. How you found out ace were to Wis
u his mother do not know, but some one b
;, trayed US, and he will be punished. At mi
al night we learned of the Americans ber
ie upon us, and master tried to reach bis bo
!, but failed He returned and disguised hil
=, self in his mothers garments. When Il
10 officers raded the house my master repr
- sented himself sick woman and was undl
&c &c turbed. My master is now safe with trlen
u in distant land