The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1901-04-04
FUNSTON TELLS THE STORY
Thrilling Account Of Aguinaldos
Capture by Brave Kansan.

oned for three days, giving orders at
night. On the morning of March 17tb,
taking small quantity of cracked
corr, the party started on ninety
mile march to Palauan. The country
is rough and uninhabitcd, and provi,'
ions could not be secured.
Wading swift rivers, climbing precip'
itous mountains and penetrating dense
iungles, they marched seven days and
nights, and on March 22d had reached
a point eight miles from Pa!anan.
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 supposed
American prisoners be kindly treated,
but not be allowed to enter the town.
On the morning of March 23d the
advance was resumed. The column
was met by the staff officers of Aguin-
aldo and detachment of Aguinaldo's
body guard, which was ordered to take
charge of the Americans.
CAPTURE OF AGU1NAhDo.
While one of the ex-insurgent Off
GERS conversed with Aguinaldo's aid,
another, Spaniard, sent courier to
General Funston and the rest, who,
with about eleven Macabebes, were
about an hour behind. Having re-
ceived this warning, General Funston
avoided Aguinaldo's detachment aud
Joined the column, avoiding obserya-
tion. The Tagalogs went ahead to
greet Aguinaldo and the column slow
~ followed, finally arriving at Pala-
nan.
Aguinaldo's household troops, fifty
men in neat uniforms of blue and
white, and wearing straw hats, lined
up to receive the newcomers. Gener-
al Funston's men crossed the river in
small boats, formed on the bank and
marched to the right and then in trout
of the insurgent grenadiers. The
Tagalogs entered the house where
Aguinaldo was.
Suddenly the Spanish officer, motto
ing that Aguinaldo's aid was watching
the Americans suspiciously, exclaim'
ed:
'sNow, 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 celebrat
ing the arrival of re-enforcements,
ran to the window and shouted:
''Stop that foolishness! Quit wasting
ammunitionr'
Hilario Placido, one of the Tagaloe
officers, and former insurgent major,
who was wounded in the lung by the
fire of the Kansas regiment at the bat
tie of Caloocan, threw his arms around
Aguinaldo, exclaiming:
''You are prisoner of tho Amerl-
cans"
Colonel Simeon Villa, Aguinaldo's
chief of staff; Major Alambra and 9th
ers attacked the men who were hold
ing Aguinaldo. Placido shot Villa in
the shoulder, Alambra jumped out OF
the window and attempted to cross
the river. It is supposed that he was
drowned. Five other insurgent off,
GERS fought for few minutes and then
fed, making their escape.
When the firing began General Fun.
ston assumed command and directed
the attack on the house, personally
assisting in the capture of Aguinaldo.
The insurgent body guard fled, leav-
ing twenty rifles. Santiago Barcelona,
the insurgent treasurer, surrendered
without resistance.
When captured Aguinaldo was tre-
mendeusly excited, but he Gained
down under General Funston's assur-
ance that he would be we'll treated.
General Funston secured all of Ag-
uinaldo's correspondence, showing
that he had kept in close touch with
the sub-chiefs of the insurrection III
all parts of the archipelago.
The expedition rested March Oath,
and then marched sixteen miles the
following day to Palanan bay, where
General Funston found the Vicksburg,
which soon landed the party in Manila.
Commvnder Barry, of the Vicksburg,
rendered General Funston slendid
assistance.
Aguinaldo, who talked freely on
past events, said he supposed General
Trias would proclaim himself dictator,
even not knowing that Trias had sur
rendered. He behaved courteously
and gave no trouble.