Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-04-10
FuNsroN.s OWN STORY.
Tells of How the Elusive Aguinaldo
Was Captured.

Was Captured.
A dispatch from Manila gives Gen.
Funstons account of his capture Of Agui-
naldo. Funston took with him seventy
eight Macabebes, on whom he could de-
pend, and nearly half of whom wore the
insurgent uniform. Ihe Macabebes were
commanded by four ex-insurgent officers,
one being Spaniard. The five Ameri-
cans wore plain blue shirts and khaki
trousers. Arriving in that section where
Aguinaldo was known to be. letters 10
which had been forged the name of Lacu-
ma, an insurgent general, were forwarded
TO Aguninaldo, stating that the Funston
party was company of insurgent troops,
sent at the request of Aguinald9. 1t was
given out that the Americans were a part
of an engineering corps that had been
surprised and captured. Aguinaldo was
highly pleased, and ordered the party TO
come to him. 1t was u lime days march
before the leaders quarters were reach
ed. Aguinaldo's household troops, fifty
in number, were lined up to receive the
visitors. The party marched up, and the
house in which Aguinaldo was staging
was surrounded. Quickly the Spanish
officer gave the order TO the Macabe6es:
Now, Maeabebes, go for them" The
Macabebes opened fire. killing three in
surgents. Aguinaldo, not comprehending
the situation. rushed to the window and
shouted: stop that foolishness; quit
wasting ammunition" Hiiaric Placido,
a Tagalog officer, and former insurgent
major, threw his arms around Aguinaldo,
crying: you areia prisoner of the Amer
icansr' Aguip aldo fought, and others
rushed to his aid. Placido shot Col ST.
neon Villa, Aguinaldo's chief of staff.
Meanwhile the firing outside was hot and
heavy, under the direction of Funston
himself. The insurgents soon fed, leav-
ing Aguinaldo and Santiago Barcelona.
the insurgent treasurer prisoners. Agui-
naldo was at first very much excited,
but soon Gained down. From private pa
pers secured it was discovered Agunaldo
ON Jan. 2S had proclaimed himself dicta-
tor. The party then made q forced
march TO Palanan bay, where they were
taken on board the gunboat Vicksburg.
AguinGldo declared he would never have
been captured except by stratagem, but
admitted he had been hard pressed on
many occasions.
1t is understood hat Gen. Macarthur
has caused the NJ VS. Of Aguinaldo's cap
ture to be sent 20 every point in the Phil
ippine Islands within reach by telegraph
aud mail, and, so far as heard from, it is
having a marked effect on the natives.
Some British newspapers and public
men are inclined to belittle the capture
Of Aguinaldo. The Manchester Guardian,
which has been a bitter opponent of The
Boer war, says in an editorial: There
have been more wicked wars than that
against the liberties Of the Filipiuos, but
there never has been more shabby one.
Had Agunaldo been captured in some
spirited action American interest in the
war might have revived. Instead of that
his capture was effected by piece of
sharp practice thoroughly in keeping
with the Test OF the war"
OF all the list Of Filipino generals left
in the field, given out by Agoneiilo since
the capture of Aguinaldo only two, Fini6
and Alejandrino, have ever been heard
Of by those officers in the War Depart
ment who are supposed to be best inform
ed on Philippine affairs. and the person
mel of the leaders of the iusurrectionary
forces