The times., 1901-03-10
AGUINALDO'O CLOSE CALL
A Soldier Tells How the Chicftain
Narrowly Escaped.

The Rebel Lender Surprised While
in His Mothers Home - Passed
Through the American Lines in the
Disguise ef Young Womnn.
RICHMOND. Va, March "A letter
dated Cavite Viego, Luzon, January -,
has Just been received here. It was writ
ten by John Linck, a private in Company
X. Fourth Infantry, and tells an interest
ing story. hitherto unpublished of Agui-
naldo's narrow escape from capture by
the Americans. Linck writes:
"On the morning of January Il my com
pany and several other companies Of the
Fourth Infantry and three troops Of the
Fourth Cavalry with a detachment of
the native police Cwho had obtained the
information that AEuinaldo was visiting
his mother at her residence in the little
town of Binacaycn. about one and one
half miles from Cavite Niegol. We're or
dered on a secret march. 1t was not until
we had surrounded the little fishing vii
lage. situated on point Of land project
ing out in the bay that we learned of our
mission-that is, TO capture the cunning
chieftain. The native police begged to be
allowed to proceed at once to capture
him
Give US two American soldiers. they
pleaded. and we will go at once to the
house and capture him while we know he
is there The mission was too important
To be left i'm the hands of a few men. At
daybreak thc party advanced, surrounded
the little village. and drove everything
in front Of them. no distinction being
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 Chis mother) was reached the
uproar Of the hunt had already awakened
the household. The invalid mother was
the calmest member of the party, al
though she needed not to be told the OBJ
sect Of the visit, but questions prOpouaded
TO her were received in silence. Nothing
could be learned from the household as
TO the whereabouts Of the object Of so
many fruitless searches.
The inmates of the village men. vo-
men. and children, were driven to Cayite
NiegO. where they were made TO pass
under the gaze Of those who knew them
namely, the native police. Women and
children We're passed rapidly through the
ring with little scrutiny. The men then
were passed under the line. and when
face appeared that had given trouble be
fore he was given TO the guards with
fixed bayonets to be sent to the guard
house.
This was continued down to the Last
man. Among those captured was Col
Candida Rati. eX-iuSurgent of high
standing, who had taken the oath of ale
glance TO the United States and had
since lived at Cavite Niego. who was Sus-
pected of aiding Aguinaldo in his escape.
After several hours of hard work the
guard heard him say that he had held
conference with AgUinaldo at his
mothers residence. In the search at the
house several articles Of clothing indi-
Gated his method of escape-in the g1ise
of n wOman--thoUgh nothing could be
CLEANED as TO the hour Of the escape. 1t
was probably during the hurried sCru-
tiny of he women.
Among those captured was AguinaldOs
muChachO tbOdy servant who was very
rgticent about the escape Of his master
until he was certain he had not b el I ken.
Threats. rewards. persuasion. and prom
ises failed to move him TO tell how his
-uaster escaped. Several days ago under
promises Of secrecy to friend he told
the following story.
For months We have been IN the
midst OF the AMERICANS and they have
not suspected US. MY master has even
spoken with American soldiers. block
heads TO be fooled SO easily, and when
my master was wounded. in September
We wrapped him in mating and noatei
him down the river past the Americans.
Who thought il WAS dead body How
you found out We were TO visit his mother
1 do not know. but some one BETRAYED
as. and he viii be punished.
" Vt midnight we learned OF the Ameri-
cans being upon us and master tried u
reach his boat but failed. He returned
and disguised himself in his m sthers
garments As a bonita senorita fpretty
sirb- When the officers TaiCei the hou So
In1 master represented himself as q SICK
woman and was undisturbed. Ny master
ls now safe with friends in distant
land"