The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-27
HOW AGUINALDO WAS CAPTURED
The Filipino Leader Describes How
He Was Taken Prisoner.

After talking with Tai Placido and Sc
govia for fifteen or twenty minutes l gave
orders that the newly arrived men be al
lowed to fall out and go to rest in the
quarters which had been prepared for them,
says Emil Aguinaldo in Everybody's Maya
zine. Captain Segovia Immediately left the
house and returned to the place where his
men were drawn up waiting for him. AS
he came up to them Segovia shouted in
a loud voice an order which we did not
hear distinctly and did not understand.
Instantly his men began to shoot at the
soldiers of my guard. taking them COM
pletely by surprise.
When the firing began, not suspecting
any plan against myself, 1 thought it was a
salute with blank cartridges, ard having
this in mind, 1 ran to the window and cried
out several times. cease firing" But see
ing that the firing continued, and that the
bullets from the rifles of the attacking
party were directed against me as well as
against the soldiers of my guard. 1 for the
first time realized that the newcomers were
enemies. I hurriedly left the window and
ran into another room in the hope of find
ing some means of escape, but saw at once
that the house was already surrounded.
Then l siezed a revolver, intending 10 de-
fend myself, but DR.. Barcelona threw both
arms around me. crying out, Don't sacri-
fee yourself. The country needs your life"
Thus 1 was prevented from carrying out
my intention. Colonel Villa ran from the
house i'm an attempt to break through the
lines OF the enemy and rally our men, but
he was shot three times and finally taken
prisoner.
When the firing commenced Tai PIacido
threw himself down on the floor TO avoid
the bullets, but now he got up and told
US we We're prisoners of the Americans,
VINO, he said, were on the other side OF
the river with four hundred American
soldiers. and would soon be here. Just at
this time several of Tai Placido's soldiers
came into the house shouting. "Hurrah
Tor the Macabebesi' and surrounded BARGE
Iona and myself. a little later five Ameri-
cans, all armed with carbines. came into
the room where We were. They came up
10 US. and one OF them asked, (which
OF you is Aguinaldo?" As soon as | had
been identified by the Americans was
placed. with DR.. Barcelona and Colonel
and guards were posted at all the windows
and doors. under command of one of the
Americans. The other four Americans then
began 70 search the house for whatever
papers and might be there.
We were then informed that our captors
were General Funston, Captains Newton
and Hazard. and Lieutenants Hazard and
The next morning. March "a. I had a
conference with General Funston, in which
1 was told by him that on the next day
there would arrive in the bay of Palanan
a WarShip when WOULD take us 10 Manila.
In the course of the day he informed me
OF the plan which had resulted in our cap
ture-a fate which | had believed would
never befall me. 1t appears that my mes
senger. Private Segismundo. fell into the
hands of General Funston, and the letters
which he carried suggested to the general
the plan which was subsequently, carried
out so brilliantly. The letter which had
received on the 10Th. and which | supposed
had come from General Lakuna was a
ness. II was complete in all it's details.
even bearing the seal Of Lakuna. and there
never occurred TO me the least suspicion of
its authenticity. I had not the slightest
doubt from that time up 20 the instant of
the commencement OF the attack which
| ended In my capture. II was a bold plan
executed with skill and cleverness in the
fac OF difficulties which. TO most men.
Palaran Is a little village of houses built
OF bamboo and matched with nipa. situ-
ated on the banks OF the river which bears
the same name, and some six miles distant