Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-03-29
HOW GENERAL FUNSTON
CAPTURED AGUINALDO.
Details Of the Plans Laid, the Trip to Palanan,
the Engagement With Aguinaldo's Soldiers,
and the Taking Of the Dictator.

Pautobagan and Baler, that they had
surprised an American surveying party
and that they had killed a number,
capturing five. They exhibited General
Funston and the other Americans as
their prisoners.
The insurgent %presidente of Casigur-
an believed the story. Two of the La
cuna letters, previously concocted, were
forwarded to Aguinaldo at Palanan,
province of Isabelle.
Gen. Funston md the Others
were kept imprisoned for three days,
surreptiously giving orders at night.
On the morning of March 18th, taking
a small quantity of cracked corn, the
party started on a ninety mile march
to Palanan.
The country is rought and uninhab-
tied and provisions could not be Sc
cured. The party ate small shell fish,
but were almost starved. Wading
swift rivers, climbing PERCEPTIONS
mountains and penetrating dense
jungles they marched seven days and
nights and on March 22nd, had reach
ed a point eight miles from Palanan.
They were now so weak that it was
necessary to send to Aguinaldo's camp
for food. Aguinaldo dispatched sup
plies and directed that the American
prisoners be kindly treated, but not
be allowed to enter the town.
On the morning of March % the adj
vance was resumed. The column was
met by the staff officers of Aguinaldo
and a detachment OF Aguinaldo's body
guard, which was ordered to take
charge oe the Americans.
While one of the e~x-insurgent Of
ficers conversed with A%guinaldo's aid,
another, a Spaniard. sent a courtier
to warn Gen. Funston and the rest
who, with eleven Macabebe were
about an hour behind. Having re-
ceiyed this warning, Gen. Funston
avoided Aguinaldo's detachment and
Joined the column. avoiding o~bserva-
ton. The Tagalos
Went Ahead to Greet AguinaIdo
and the column slowly followed, final
ly arriving at Palanan.
Agulnaldo's household troops, fifty
men IN neat uniforms of blue and
white and wearing straw hats, lined
up to receive the newcomers. Gen.
Funstons men crossed the river in
small beats, formed on the bank and
marcne1 to the right and then in front
of the insurgent %grenadiers. The
Tagalos entered the house where
A~guinaldo was.
Suddenly the Spanish officer, MOTTO
ing that Aguinaldo's aide was watch
ing the Americans suspiciously, ex-
claimed:
Now, Macabebes, go for Them
The Macabebes opened fire, but
their aim was rather ineffective, and
only three insurgents were killed. The
rebels returned the fire. On hearing
the firing Aguinaldo, who evidently
thought his men were merely cele-
brating tie arrival of reinforcements.
ran to the window and shouted:
Stop that foolishness. Quit vast
ing ammunition"
Hilario Placido, n of the Tagalog
officers and a former i~nsurgent major,
who was wounded in the lung by the
fire of the Kansas regiment at the bat
tie of Caloocan, threw his arms
around A~guinaldo, exclaiming: You
are a prisoner of the Americans"
Col. Simeon Villa, Aguinaldo's chief
of staff, Major Alambra and others
attacked the men who were holding
A%guinaldo Placido shot Villa in the
shoulder. Alambra jumped out of the
window and attempted to cross the
river. 1t is
Supposed That He Was Drowned.
Five other insurgent officers fought
for a few minutes and then fed, max
ing their escape.
When the firing began, Gen. Fun
ston assumed command and directed
the attack on the house, personally
assisting in the capture of Aguinaldo.
The insurgent body guard fed, ieav-
ing twenty rifles. Santiago Barcelona,
the lnsurgent treasurer, surrendered
without resistance.
When captured Aguinaldo was tre-
mendously excited, but he Gained down
under Gen. Funston's assurance that
he would be well treated. Gen. Funs-
ton secured all of Aguinaldo's cores
%pondence. showing that he had kept in
close touch with the sub-chiefs of the
instruction in all parts of the archi-
pelago. 1t was also discovered that
Aguinaldo, January 18th, had proclaim
ed himself dictator. He had been liv-
ing at Palanan for seven months, I'M
disturbed except when a detachment
of the Sixteenth infantry visited the
town. On that occasion the entire pop
ulation took to the mountain and re-
manned there until the troops retired.
A~guinaldo admitted that he had come
! near Ia laofne hoeura hnk hc