The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-03-30
THRILLING STORY
TOLD BY FUNSTON
Bullets flew When the Trap
Was Sprung.
THEN THE TAGALS FLED
Hillario Placido, Former "Insurg-
emit" Seized Aguinaldo.
FUNsToN's HARD MARCH TO REACH H M
The Party Was Half Starved and Aguinalto
Sent Them Food ard Ordered That the
Supposed American Prisoner be
Kindly Treated.
(By the Associated Press. J

Manila, March 28.-General Fred Fun
ston, who, on March 23rd, captured Emilio
Aguinaldo. when interviewed today by the
representatives of the Associated Press,
made the following statement concerning
the capture of the Filipino leader:
The confidential agent of Aguinaldo
arrived February 2Sth at Pantabangan,
in the Province of Neuva Ecija, Northern
LuZon with letters dated January 18th,
18th and 14th. These letters were from
Emilio Aguinaldo and directed Balder-
nero Aguinaldo to take command of the
Provinces of Central LuZon, supplanting
General Aleiandrino Emilio Aguinaldo
also ordered that four hundred men be
sent as soon as possible saying that the
bearer of the letters would guide these
men to where Aguinaldo was.
General Funston secured the CORE
spondence of Aguinaldo's agent and laid
his plans accordingly. Some months
previously he had captured the camp of
the insurgent General Lacuna, inciden-
tally obtaining Lacunas seal, official pa
pers and a quantity of signed CORE
spondence. From this material two let
tiers were constructed, ostensibly from
Lacuna to Aguinaldo.
One of these contained information as to
the progress of the war The other as
serted that, pursuant to orders received
from Baldermero Aguinaldo, Lacuna was
sending his best company to Presidente
Emilio Aguinaldo.
His plans completed and approved, Cen
eral Funston came to Manila and or
ganized his expedition, selecting seventy
eight Macabebes. all Of whom spoke
Tagalog fluently. Twenty wore insurgent
uniforms, aud the others the dress of
Filipino laborers. This Macabebe COM
pany. armed with fifty Mausers, eighteen
Remingtons and ten Krag- Jorgensens
was commanded by Captain Russell T.
Hazard of the Eleventh United States
volunteer cavalry. With him was his
brother. Lieutenant oliver r. M. Haz-
gard, of the same regiment. Captain
Harry w. Newton, Thirty fourth infantry,
was taken because of his familiarity with
Casiguran Bay, and Lieutenant Burton
J. Mitchell, Fortieth infantry, went as
General Funston's aide. These were the
only Americans accompanying the leader
| of the expedition.
With the Macabebes were four ex-
| insurgent officers, one being a Spaniard
and the other three Tagalos, whom Gen
eral Funston trusted implicitly.
General Funston and the American Off
GERS wore plain blue shirts and khaki
| trousers They carried each a half
blanket, but wore no insignia of rank.
| The Macabebes were carefully instructed
| to obey the orders of the four ex-insur-
gent officers.
| On the night of March Sth the party
embarked on the United States gunboat
vicksburg. 1t was originally intended to
| take cascoes from the Island of Polillo
and to drift to the mainland; but storm
arose and three of the cascoes were lost.
| This plan was abandoned At a. M
| March 14th, the Vicksburg put her lights
out and ran inshore twenty-five miles
south of Casiguran, Province OF Principe
| The party landed and marched to Casig-
uran The Americans had never garrl-
soned this place and the inhabitants are
strong insurgent SympathizerS. Having
arrived there the ex-insurgent officers
ostensibly commanding the party, an
nounced that they were on the way TO
| Join Aguinaldo between Pautobagan ana
Baler, that they had surprised an Amerl-
can surveying party, and that they mad
killed a number, capturing five. They
exhibited General Funston and the other
| Americans as their prisoners.
The insurgent Presidente OF Caslguran
believed the story. Two of the Lacuna
letters, previously concocted were for
| warded to Aguinaldo at Palanan, Province
of Isabella. General Funston and the
others were kept imprisoned for three
days, surreptitiously giving orders at
nf
taking a small quantity of cracked corn,
the party started on ninety mile march
to Palanan. The country is rough and I'M
Inhabited and provisions could not be
secured. The party ate small she'll hsh,
but were almost starved. Wading swift
rivers, climbing precipitous mountains
and penetrating dense 1ungles' .n0S
marched seven days and nlghts, anu on
March 22nd had reached a point elsht
miles from Palanan. They were no" %
weak that it was necessary TO sena 70
Aguinaldo's camp for food. Aguihaluo
dispatched supplies and directed that Vhe
American prisoners be klndiy trea'eu'
but not be allowed to enter the toWh'
On the morning of March 23rd the al
vance was resumed. The column was
met by the staff officers OF Aguinaldo ana
detachment of Aguinaldo's body guard
which was ordered to take charge OF the
Americans.
While one of the lex-lnsurgent ohlcerS
conversed with Agulnaloo alue' anol el
Spaniard, sent courier 70 warn
eral Funston and the rest "no' VIZ
eleven Mac9abebes' were ABOUT ah houi
behind HaSing received this warning,
General FUNSTON avoided Aguinaldo's de-
tacbmant andljoined the column, avoiding
observation Nhe Tagalos went ahead to
greet AeuinaldS and the column slowly
followed finaIlvl arriving at Palanan.
Aou;naIdo,e household troops, fifty men
in neat unifor1ns of blue and white, and
wearing straw hats, lined up to receive
the new conlers. General Funston's men
crossed the river in small boats, formed
ON the hank, and marched to the right