Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-08-21
HOW AcUINALDO WAS CAPTURED.
Gen. Funston Tells the Story in His OF
fetal Report just Received.

Gen. Funston Tells the Story in His OF
fetal Report just Received.
A description by Gen. Funston and
Capt Hazard Of the capture of Agui-
naldo was received recently at the
war department in the mail from Ma
nila- Gen. Funston says:
"On Jan. IA special messenger Of
Aguinaldos headquarters at Palanan,
bearing letters to different generals
of his command and to insurgent
chiefs, asking for reinforcements to
be sent him, gave himself up to Lieut..
Taylor of the oath infantry, who i'm
dro. He also had valuable correspond
ence which gave us information as
to the whereabouts and the strength
Of Aguinaldos band at that time We
found among them one in which Bal
domero Aguinaldo was ordered to take
command of the provinces Of central
Luzon and requesting him to send as
soon as possible 400 armed men to
Aguinaldos camp.
Then and there l conceived the
idea Of arming and equipping a num-
Der 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 rs men Of the Macca-
bebe scouts, all of whom could talk
the Tagalo. l obtained number Of
captured insurgents uniforms and 10
Maccabebes were equipped with Rem
ington and Mauser rifles
I'VE embarked on the gunboat Vicks-
burg and landed on March IA at 2
O'Clock In the morning. The expedi-
tion was nominally placed in COM
mand of Hilario Placido. ex-insurgent
colonel. After marching 20 miles We
reached the town of Casiguran. We
had sent word to the presidente Of the
town through native messengers that
reinforcements for Aguinaldo were on
the way through his town. The presi-
dente was completely deceived. My
troops had captured some months ago
some official paper Of Gen. Luciano,
beraing his official stamp and seal.
In order to make the deception all the
more complete we succeeded in forg-
ing the signature of Lacuna to letters
to Aguinaldo. These letters were sent
ahead and we followed.
"The trip to Aguinaldo's camp was
a most severe one upon the men. Our
food supply was entirely exhausted
and my men were so weak that when
we reached within eight miles of Agui-
naldos camp we could go no further.
We therefore sent a messenger ahead
to Aguinaldos camp informing him of
our plight and requesting that he send
us food before we could go further.
This was supplied, and the disguise
and ruse adopted by us had been COM
plete. AS we had told Aguinaldo that
we had American prisoners he sent
word that they be given their liberty.
"As the Macabebes approached the
town the troops of Aguinaldo's body
guard, consisting Of so men, were
drawn up in parade to receive the sup
posed reinforcements. The men who
posed as officers of our expedition
marched into the camp and paid their
respects to Aguinaldo, who received
them in a large house built ON the
bank of the Palanan river.
After the exchange Of courtesiee
the officers excused themselves from
Aguinaldo and his staff for a mo-
ment, stepped outside, and ordered
their Maccabebe troops drawn up into
line and commanded them to COM
mence firing into Aguinaldo's troops.
The rout of the insurgents was COM
plete. The ex-insurgent officers, the
five Americans and several Maccabebe
scouts Immediately made rush for
the house which was used as Aguinal-
dos headquarters, and took him pris-
oner.
"Aguinaldo, when first taken pris-
more, raved and swore at the decep-
tion practised upon him. but later ao-
cepted the situation with dignity"