Evening star., 1901-07-13

dHcnOTeu near the west SHOEe dDOul Ten
miles farther up. Boats were lowered and
the expedition put on the beach, rapidly
and quietly. The Decentralization was COM
pleted by 2 a
owing to the fact that for a portion OF the
distance at high tide there was no space
between the water and the mango 1ungles.
we did some five miles of wading In salt
water. At noon we found concealed in the
bushes small canoe, or 'banca." In or
der to send a courier ahead so that the In
habitantS of the town would not be fright
ened away by the approach of body OF
armed men, made Use of this. Hilarlo
Placido wrote a note to the presidente OF
the town stating that he was in command
of a column of Filipino troops bound north
and would reach Casiguran in the evening.
He instructed the presidente to arrange for
quarters and food for the command and to
send guide out of town to meet u.s.
Gregorio Cadhit and Cecilio Sigismundo,
accompanied by two armed Macabebes left
us at noon in the canoe and they were
able to go straight across the head Of the
bay reached the town in two hours.
Mncabebes Acted Part Well.
The Macabebes played their part we'll
and made a pretence of closely guarding
the Americans; and, when in hearing of
the pack bearers, often spoke to them
harshly. 1t was evident that if any one Of
those men suspected a trick he would
hasten on to Palanan and give warning,
that any of US would ever get out of the
country.
Our route after leaving Casiguran was
first east and then northeast for five hours
along a muddy trail through dense woods
until we reached the sea and thence along
the beach in a general northerly direction.
Every effort was made to have the food
hold out as long as possible, but the Maca-
bebes, in spite of all precautions, managed
to eat up all the dried meat In the first
two days. We helped out our rations on
small fish caught by the men in their hands
and with shell fish and snails. The coun-
try is uninhabited except by few savages
who kept out Of our way. At 9 pm. Of
the 22d, after six days hard marching
we reached the spot where the trail for
Palanan leaves the sea and starts inland.
Here we found an old Tagalo in charge Of
several Balugas building a couple of small
sheds which he told were for the Ameri-
can prisoners and their guard. He also had
letter for Placido. from Colonel Simeon
Villa, Aguinaldo's chief Of staff, instruct
Ing him to proceed to Palanan, leaving the
prisoners under a guard of non-cOmmis-
stoned officers and ten soldiers. The prts-
oDers were under no circumstances to be
brought to Palanan least they learn of
Aguinaldo's whereabouts.
Difficult Complication.
This brought about a most difficult COM
plication, which it was absolutely neces-
sary to overcome, but we were encouraged
to know that our ruse was succeeding and
that there was apparently no suspicion as
to our Identity.
The main part of the column under Pla-
edo and Segovia took up the march for
Palanan al am, leaving the Americans
behind with a very intelligent Macabebe
corporal and ten privates. In accordance
with arrangements previously made by us,
In about an hour two of the Macabebess
who had gone on up the Palanan trail
came running back with note in Tagalo
from Segovia to the corporal of the guard
stating that orders had just been received
from Palanan changing his previous in
structions regarding the prisoners, and that
they were to follow the column to the
town. The Macabebe corporal on receiv-
Ing this written order showed it to the
man in charge Of the housebuilding, and
thus completely allayed his suspicion. We
were then ordered to fall in and started out
on the trail toward Palanan.
ARuinaIdo's Capture.
At few moments Of pm. we cautious
ly approached the Palanan river. here
about 100 yards wide. and saw the town on
the other side The last boat load had
crossed, and the Macabebes were forming
on the other bank and, in accordance with
previous arrangement. were sending the
boat back for us. The Macabebes started
up into the town, and we heard a few
shots, followed by scattered firing. We
hastily crossed the river and, running up
into the town, found that the Macabebes
were somewhat demoraliZed and firing
wildly In every direction. They were got
ten under control with some difficulty.
Aguinaldos guard Of about fifty armed and
neatly uniformed men had been drawn up
to receive the reinforcements and, on be-
Ing fired into broke and ran, a few of them
returning the fire as they retreated. Agui-
naldo with his officers had awaited in his
quarters. Placido and Segovia entered the
house to report their arrival and, after a
short conversation, Segovia stepped out
side the house and ordered the Macabebes.
to open fire on the insurgents, who were
standing In line at a distance Of about
fifty yards. The Macabebes were so ex-
cited and nervous that their fire was very
ineffective. But two of the insurgents were
killed, the remainder in their flight throw
ing away eighteen rifles and thousand
rounds Of ammunition
AS soon as Segovia had given the order
he ran back into the house and opened fire
on the officers surrounding Agunaldo. He
wounded Villa and Alhambra. The latter
jumped out of the house into the river and
was not seen again. Villa, on being wound
ed. surrendered. as did also Santiago BARGE
Iona, Aguinaldo's treasurer.
The five remaining officers escaped from
the house and swan the river Placido
seized Aguinaldo and told him that he was
a prisoner of the Americans. At this juno
ture the Americans arrived on the scene
and gave their attention to getting the
Macabebes under control and protecting
the prisoners from them. One Macabebe
was slightly wounded by gunshot wound
in the forehead.
No attempt was made to pursue the flee
ing insurgent soldiers, as such an effort
could have no result, they having scat
tered in all directions through the Jungle.
We at once dressed Villas wounds and
made him as comfortable possible. The
three captured officers were confined in one
of the rooms Of the house. while we Amer
lean officers, with Segovia and the Tagalos
occupied the other two rooms. The pris-
oners were treated with every possible
consideration. although very closely watch
ed. There was constantly in the room with
them an officer and three guards, while
there was a sentry outside of the house un
der each window. The Macabebes were
quartered in the building where the insur-
gent troops had been.
All Inhabitants Fled,
All the inhabitants bf the town fed i'm
mediately after the firing began and not
one was seen during the remainder of our
STAY.
AS stated in another part Of this report.
had arranged with Commander Barry
that the Vicksburg meet us on the 25th at
Palanan bay, six miles northeast of the
town.
Accordingly, on the morning Of that day.
we started marching down the Palanan