The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1901-05-24
FUNSTONS'
REPORT
Official Account of Aguinal-
dos Capture
Graphic Description of the
Expedition after the
Rebel Chief
THEY CANE NEAR STARVI ING
Had to Send to AguinaldO's
Camp for Food
Remarka bic Bravery Exhibit
ed Throughout the Affair
by the Americans
THEY CANE NEAR STARV|N
Had to Send to AguinaldO's
Camp for Food

Washington, May %. General
Frederick Funston's official report of
the capture of Aguinaldo has been re-
ceived by the war department.; also
that of Captain Hazard. General
Funstons story is graphic one. 1t
runs:
zone January ID special messen-
ger of Aguinaldo's headquarters at
Palanan, bearing letters to different
generals of his commander and to in
surgent chiefs, asking for reinforce
ments to be sent him, gave himself up
to Lieutenant Taylor. of the Twenty
fourth infantry, who Immediately sent
him to me at San Isidro. He also had
valuable correspondence which gave
up information as to the whereabouts
and the strength of Aguinaldo's band
at tLat time. We found among them
one in which Baldomero Aguinaldo
was ordered to take command of the
provinces of Central LuZon and re-
questing him to send as soon as posi-.
BILE 400 armed men to Aguinaldo's
camp.
''Then and there | conceived the
idea ofarming,and equipping a number
of native troops to pass off as these
expected reinforcements and to make
an endeavor to trap Aguinaldo in his
lair. The expedition was made up of
four Tagalos, who were formerly com
manding officers in Aguinaldo's army,
and who selected seventy Weight men OF
the Maccabebe scouts, all OF whom
could talk the Tagalo. l obtained
number of captured insurgents uni
forms, and the Maccabebes were
equipped with Remington. and Mauser
rifles. .. ...
"We embarked on the gunboat
Vicksburg and landed on March IA at
2 o'clock in the morning. The ex-
petition was non inally placed in
command of Hilario Placido, ex-in-
surgent colonel After marching
twenty miles we reached the town of
Casigurau. We had sent word to the
presidente of the town through native
messengers that achievements for
Aguinaldo were on the way through
his town. The presidente was COM
pletely deceived. My troops had cap
tured some months ago some official
paper of General Lacuna, bearing his
official stamp and seal. In order to
make the deception all the more com
plete we succeedain forging the sigma
ture of Lacuna to letters to Aguinaldo
These letters were sent ahead and We
followed.
"The trip to Aguinaldo's camp was
q most severe one upon the men. Oui
food supply was entirely exhausted
and my men were so weak that wher
we reached within eight miles o
Aguinaldo's camr we could go nj
further. We therefore, sent mess
enger ahead to Aguinaldo's camp, in
forming him of our plight and request
ing that he send us food before W.
could go further. This was supplied
and the disguise and ruse adopted b.
us had been complete. AS we hat
told Aguinaldo that we had American
prisoners he sent word tEat they b.
given their liberty.
GAS the Maccabebos approached tn
town the troops of Aguinaldo's bod,
guard, consisting of fifty men, wer
drawn up in parade to receive the sup
posed reinforcements. The men VIII
posed as officers of our expedition
marched into the camp and paid thei
respects to Aguinaldo, who receive
them in a large house built on tn
band of the Palanan river.
CATER the exchange Of courtesie
the officers excused themselves froI
ARuinaldo and his staff for momen
stepped outside, and ordere thei
Maccabebe troops drawn into line an
commanded them to commence firm
into Aguiualdo's troops. The rout {
the insurgents was complete. The e.
insurgent officers, the five American
and several Maccabebes immediatel
made a rush for the house which wa
used as Aguinaldo's headquarters an
took him prisoner.
"Aguinaldo, when first taken pri'
oner, raved and swore at the dece
ton practiced upon him, but later a
cepted the situation with dignity"
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