The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-07-13
GIVES THEIR CONTENTS
They Were Written by Segovia at
Funston's Dictation.
PURPORTED TO COME FROM LACUNA
And Notified AguinaIdo That He. Lacuna, Was
Sending Company to the TsgaI Chief
tain al Isabella, Funstons Report
Of AguinaIdo'S Capture.
of AguinaIdo'S Capture.
(By the Associated Press. }

Wy tHS ASSOCldIeu 1TSSS.)
Washington, July 12-The War Depart
ment today made public Brigadier- General
Funston's report of the capture of Agui-
naldo, made under date of May 9th. This
report presents in detail all the facts re-
lating to the capture of Aguinaldo which
were made public at that time. General
Funston shows that his entire plan of
the expedition was approved by General
Macarthur. General Funston gives the
following account of the forged letters
which were used to deceive Aguinaldo.
ION October "a, 1900, while scouting in
the vicinity of Gapan, Nueva Ecija, /
had surprised the insurgent chief, Lacuna,
in his camp, and had captured among
other things, some writing paper which
already bore his headquarters seal On
this paper two letters were written to
Aguinaldo over the carefully forged sig
nature of Lacuna. In one under date
of February "a, Lacuna, acknowledged
the receipt of Agunaldo's letters of jan
uary 18th and 14th, and thanked; him for
the confirmation of his (Lacuna's 81, ap-
pointment as Brigader- General. 1t will
remembered that the letters of Aguinaldo
referred to had fallen into our hands. One
letter INDUCED in the usual rhetoric en-
plCyed by the insurgent chiefs in their
correspondence and gave a glowing ac-
count of the progress of the campaign
from the standpoint of Laeunt. Another
letter dated February 2Sth, was prepared
stating that the writer had just received
a communication from Ballermo, Agui-
naldo ordering him to send one of his
best companies under a reliable chief
to Emilio Aguinaldo in Isabella.
I'm accordance with these orders he
was sending this force under Lieutenant
Colonel Hilario Placido. The latter he
stated. had been captured b ythe Ameri
cans a year ago and after his release
had lived in Jaen, but recently had taken
to the field again when ordered to do so
by Lacuna. This was included in the
letter for fear that Aguinaldo might have
heard that Placido had been captured by
the Americans and had taken the oath of
allegiance. The letter also stated that
Aguinaldo's courier, Cecilio Sissmundo.
was with Lacuna and would accompany
the column. These two letters were die
tated by me but written by Segovia. We
were in possession of a number OF sam
pies of Lacuna's signature and had pre-
viously succeeded in executing very neat
forgery of his autograph at the end of
each of the two Sheets"
OF the actual capture General Funston
says:
THE Macabebes started into the town
and we heard a few shots followed by
scattered firing. We hastily crossed the
river and running up into the town
- 4
demoralized and firing wildly in every d-
rection. They were gotten under control
with some difficulty. Aguinaldo's guard
of about fifty armed and neatly uniformed
men had been drawn up to receive the
reinforcements and on being fired into
broke and ran. A few of them returning
the fire as they retreated. Aguinaldo,
with his officers had awaited in his quart
ers. Plasido and Sogovia entered the
house to report their arrival and after a
short conversation Segovia stepped out
side the house and ordered the Maca-
bebes, who had just come up from the
river bank to open fire on the insurgents,
who were standing in line at a distance
of about fifty yards. The Macabebes
were so excited and nervous that their fire
was very ineffective. But two of the in
surgents were killed, the remainder in
their flight, throwing away Is rifles and
q thousand rounds of ammunition
AS soon as Segovia had given the order
he ran back into the house and opened
fire on the officers surrounding Aguinaldo.
He wounded Villa and Alhambra. The
latter jumped out of the house into the
river and was not seen again Villa, on
being wounded surrendered. as did also
Santiago Barcelona. Aguinaldo's treas
urer.
THE five remaining officers escaped
from the house and swan the river.
Placido seized Aguinaldo and told him
that he was a prisoner of the Americans
AT this juncture the Americans arrived
on the scene and gave their attention to
getting the Macabebes under conrol and
protecting the prisoners from them. One
Macabebe was slightly wounded by
gunshot wound in the forehead"
In conclusion General Funston deals out
praise generously to all who had share
IN the expedition, mentioning Captain
Hazard Captain Newton Lieutenant
Hazard and Lieutenant Mitchell while
especially praissng Lieutenant Taylor for
the discretion be showed after obtaining
the Aguinaldo Ietters. He also speaks in
nigh praise M Commander Barry OF the
Vicksburg, Apd the assistance the navy