The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-03-29
believed at the war department to
mean conferences with other insurgent
leaders by army officials or by the Taft
commission.
STORY TOLD BY FUNSTON.

STORY TOLD BY FUNSTON.
Former Major of Insurgents Lays First
Hands On His Late Chief.
Manila, March 2S-General Fun
ston who, March %, captured General
Emilio Auginaldo, when interviewed
today by representative of the Asso-
ciated Press made the following state
ment concerning the Filipino leader:
The confidential agent of Aguinaldo
arrived February % at Pantabangan
in the province Of Nueva Ecija. north
ern Luzon, with letters dated January
II, 12 and IA. These letters were
from Emilio Aguinaldo and directed
Baldemer Aguinaldo to take command
of the provinces Of central Luzon, sup.
planting General Alejandirno. Emilio
Aguinaldo also ordered that 400 men
be sent to him as soon as possible, say
ing that the bearer of the letters
would guide the men to where Agui-
naldo was.
General Funston secured the corre-
spondence of Aguinaldo's agent and
laid plans accordingly. Some months
previously he had captured camp of
the insurgeut General Lacuna, acci-
dentally obtaining Lacuna' IS seal, corre-
spondence and a number of official ga
pers. From this seizure correspond
ence was instituted ostensibly from La
cuna to Aguinaldo. One of these docu-
ments purported to report the status
of the war. Another reported to
Baldemer Aguinaldo that Lacuna was
sending deputation to Eimlio Agui-
naldc.
His plans completed and approved,
General Funston came to Manila and
organized his expedition. selecting 78
native Macabebes. Twenty wore in
surgent uniforms and the others the
dress of Filipino laborers.
This Macabebe company, armed
with SO Mausers. 18 Remingtons and
10 Krag- -Jorgensens, was commanded
by Catpain Russell T. Hazard of the
Eleventh United States volunteer cav
airy. With him was his brother, Lieu
tenant Oliver P. Hazard, of the same
regiment. Captain Harry W. Newton
of the Thirty fourth infantry was
taken because of his familiarity with
Laguna Gle Bay and Lieutenant Buron
J. Mitchell of the Fortieth infantry,
went as General Fuustons aide.
These were the only Americans ac-
companying the leader in the expedi-
tion. With the Macabebes were four
ex- -insurgent officers, one being a Span
lard and the other three Tagals,
whom General Funston trusted i'm.
plicitly.
General Funston and the officers
wore plain blue shirts and khaki trous-
ers. They each carried 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 S the party
embarked Oh the United States gun
boat Vicksburg. 1t was originally
intended to take cascOes from the
Island of Polillo and to drift to the
mainland, but storm arose and three
cascoes were lost. This plan was
abandoned. At 2 a. m., March IA,
the Vicksburg put her lights out and
ran inshore, 25 miles south of
Criguan, province of Principe. The
party landed and marched to Cariguan.
The Americans had never garrisoned
this place and the inhabitants are
strong insurgent sympathizers. Hav-
ing arrived there the ex-insurgent Off
GERS, ostensibly commanding the party,
announced that they were on the way
to join Aguinaldo between Pautobang
and Balo; that they had surprised an
American surveying party and that
they had killed number, capturing
five. They exhibited General Funston
and the other Americans as their pris-
oners.
The insurgent president of Cariguan
believed the story. Two Of the Lacuna
letters previously concocted were for
wardeu to Aguinaldo at Palana, prov
ince of Isabella. General Funston and
the others were kept imprisoned for
three days, surreptitiously giving ord
ers at night.
On the morning Of March II, taking
a quantity of cracked corn, the party
started on 80 mile march to Palana.
The country is rough and uninhabited
and provisions could not be procured.
The party caught some small fish, but
almost starved. Wading swift streams,
climbing precipitous mountains and
penetrating dense jungles they
marched five days and nights and
March % had reached point eight
miles from Palana. They were now
SO weak that it was necessary to send
to Aguinaldo's camp for food. Agui-
naldo dispatched supplies, directing
that the American prisoners be kindly
treated, but not to be allowed to enter
the town.
On the morning of March % the ad.
vance was resumed. The column was