The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-08-07
AN UNLIKELY TALE.
&guinaldo Tells How He Was
Taken Pr!soHsr
BY GENERAL FUNSTON.
What the Little YeIloW 0enaraI
Says About His Capture
in Everybody's Mag"
sZiNe.

UutIS VI USWUOO SNA luaNCuSO r4lA b1S@.
situated on the banks of the river which
bears the same name, and soms slz
miles distant from the seashore. 1t is
in one Of the most isolated places in the
province of Isabella, in Northern Luzo2,
There are no ways of communication
with the outside world except rough
trails or footpaths that lesd over the
mountsins to the west. to Ilagan, OF
south to Casigursn, and its peaceful
population Of some twelve hundred
souls has heard very little Of the tide Of
war which for four years has desolated
our country. Nevertheless when I first
vent there With my companions ard
our little bsld Of folioaers, in the
mouth of September, 1900, I was re,
ceived with enthusiasm by thesa simple,
hospitable people, sid everything that
they had was placed at ny disposal. /
was accompanied BY Dr.. Santiago Bar
celcna and Col Simon Villa, my chief Of
staff. We had some seventeen soldiers,
who had followed US in ali our wander
ines over the mountains ard through
the fcrests Of Northern Luzoa. Bar
racks were furnished for these soldiers,
and house wss set epsrt fer the resi-
dence Of myself and my companions.
We h7sd here quietly for several
weeks, enjoying the few diversions in
the way OF amusemsnt thst the villsge
could offer. There was fsirly capable
band Of music, and or Saturday and
Sunday afternoons il was accustomed to
give concerts in the plsz. io front Of
my house, followed sometimes by 8
dance in the parish house, next 10 the
church, fer the young people Of the
village.
This continued until November %,
when We received word that force Of
about ifty Americans vas in the noun
tairs not far of, apparently coming to
Paianan. We hastily concealed all
documents and papers and other things
which might reveal our rreaeace.in the
toWD, and then left the village aad vent
into the mountains nearby, where we
remained in hiding until the Americsas
vent away, two or three days later.
Then We returned to the village and re-
sumed our tranquil existence. Not long
after this occurrence CT forces were
augmented by the arrival of soma forty
men sent me by command Of Major
Nasario Alhambrs.
During all this time We received the
Msnila newspapers with more or less
regularity, although they were always
considerable de!syed in resching Us.
had the amusing experience Of read
ing on several occasions the reports Of
my OVID death, and subsequently, de-
tailed account of an imaginary ad7en-
ture in Cavite last December in which
was said to have narrowly escaped
being captured.
In January Of this year Col Villa,
who was growing tired Of our peaceful
and uneventful life, asked me to give
him command of forces in the field IN
any province Of Luson, and it was de-
cided between US and DR. Barcelona to
make reouisition on the commanding
officer Of Our forces in Central huzon
for a reinforcement Of four hundred
men. It was my intention to put these
men under the command Of Col Wills
and to confer upon him the command
Of the military district Of the valley Of
the Csgsyan, which included the three
provincss Of Cagsyan, Isabella and
Nae7a Niscsya. At the same time it
was decided to send orders to Brig Gen
Teodoro Sandiko, directing him to come
to Palanan to relieve Col Villa SIS chief
of-staf.
Accordingly, with this in view, l
sent, on January Is, Private Cecilio
Segismundo, a man throughly acQuaiDt-
ed with the country in Central LuzoD,
to deliver several letters addressed to
the officers who were in command Of
our guerilla forces in that territory.
We had no news whatever from our
messenger until March 20, upon which
dste received two sealed packages,
which we're delivered to me by a man
from Cssiguran, town about fifty miles
south Of Palanan. These packages con-
tanned two letters, one from Gen Ur-
bano Lakuna and the Other from Lieut
Col Hilario Tal Plaoido. Gen Lakura
said in his letter, which was addressed
to me, that in accordance with my
orders of January IL he vas sending
me one Of his best guerilla compsnies,
under command Of Lieut. Col HilaTla
Tai Plscedo and Capt Lazsro Ssgovis,
both Of whom he recommended for i'm
mediate promotion in recognition Of the
valiant and very valuable services
which they had rendered.
TIE letter Of Tai placido was dated
in Casiguran on March II. Il i: be
ssid that, while on the march. near the
tou1 Of Pcntabangaa, he mad eAcolnt-
cred parry Of ten Americans e1gagad
n making m:ps and mat il yieH # Ehe
i5ferioY:,y CT the ezemy's force he had
attacked lhom sad h$d succeeded Il
killing and vcunding five oE ,hsG, tax
Jog the other Eve p2is02crs. The dead
aud wounded he had left oa the feld,
put the prisoners were HoE si:h MS
force. The letter went on ic say that
they had exhausted tLeir supplies, and
ne lhcugbt 1t would be aecessarg to
alloy tie ntn to rest a iow days 10
CasigurAn AID tocage for more pro
visions.
Inned;a::ely upon receipt Of this lat-
ter [ directed 20! Villa 10 reply to il,
and 10 say shat in view Of the ciIoun-
stances it would not be Sise to permit
these American prisoners to come luto
Palarau, for the reason thst II the
event thst they were set free or cen
triged TO escape they would be able TO
serve as guides 10 hripg their country
1ne0, dcwn to us. Ii secmcd betysz
sud Uel Tai Pleuido Ess SO direct
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