Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-03-29
Of How He Captured AguinaIdo
in His Stronghold.
Risked His Own Life, Together With
His Faithful Companions.
As Daring Deed as Has Been Performed il
Modern Tim3s.

today, by the representative of The
Associated Press made the following
statement concerning the capture of
the Filipino leader:
The confidential leader of Aguinaldo
arrived, Feb. 2S. at Pantabansan, in
the province of Nueva Ecija. northern
LuZon, with letters dated Jan IL II and
a. These letters We're from Emilio
ASuinaldo. and directed Baldermero
ASuinaldo to take command of the
provinces Of Central Luzon. supplant-
ing Gen. Alejandrino Emilio also or
dered that 400 men be sent him as soon
as possible, saying that the bearer of
the letters would guide these men to
where Aguinaldo was.
Gen. 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 La
cuna, incidentally obtaining Lacuna' s
seal, official papers and a quantity OF
signed correspondence. From this ma
teIial two letters We're constructed, os-
tensibly from Lacuna TO Aguinaldo.
one of these contained information
as to the progress Of the war. The
other asserted that. pursuant to orders
| received from Baldermero Aguinaldo.
l-acuna was sending his best company
10 Pfesidente Emilio Aguinaldo.
His plans completed and approved.
Gen. Funston came to Manila and or
ganiZed his expedition, selecting rs
Macabebes, all of whom spoke Tagalog
tluently. Twenty wore insurgent uni
forms and the others the dress Of Fill
pino laborerS. This Macabebe army.
armed with 80 Mausers. Is Rerning-
tons ana - krag- Jorgensens. was
| commanded by capt. Russell T. Haz-
zard. With him was his brother, Lieut.
Oliver T.. NJ Hazard, both of the 18th
L. s. Cavalry. Capt. Harry ". New
ton, 3ith Inf. was taken because of
his Familiarity with Casiguaran bay.
ana Lieut.. burton j. Mitchell. 10th Inf.
went as Gen. FunSton's aide. These
We're the only Americans accompany
ing the leader Of the expedition.
With the Macabcbes were four ,.x-
insurGcnt officers. one being q Span
lard and the other three Tagalngs.
whom Cen Funston trusted implicitly
Cen. Funston and the American OIL
Gers Wore plain blue shirts and khaki
trousers. They carried each 4 half
blanket, but wore no insignia of rank.
The Macabebes We're carefully in
etructed to obey the orders Of the four
.nsurgcnt officers
on the night of March s the party
embarked on the United States gun
boat Nicksburg. 1t was originally in
tended to take cascoes from the IS
land of Polillo and to drift to the main
land, but q storm arose and three of
the caScOeS We're lost. This plan was
abandoned
At A. NJ. March IA. the Vicksburg
put her lights out and ran in shore.
- miles south of Casiguran, province
Of Principe. The party landed and
marched TO Casiguran. The Americans
had never garrisoned this place and
the inhabitants are strong insurgent
Sympathizers.
Having arrived there the eX-inSllr-
gent officers. ostenSibly commanding
the party. announced that they We're
on the way to join Aguinaldo between
Pantobagall and Baler. that they had
surprised all American surveying par
ty and that they had killed a number.
capturing five. They exhibited Gen.
Funston and the other Americans as
their prisoners.
The insurgent presidents of Casig-
uran believed the story. Two of the
Lucuna letters. previously concocted.
Were forwarded to Aguinaldo at Pal
anan. province of Isabella. Gen. Funs-
ton and the others We're kept impris-
oned for three days surreptitously
giving orders ut night
On the morning of March II. taking
a small quantity of cooked corn. the
party started on Il 90 mile march to
Palanan. The country is rough and
uninha bited, and provisions could
not be secured. The party ate small
shell fish but We're almost starved.
WadinG swift rivers. climbing precipi-
tious mountains and penetrating dense
Junsles, they marched seven days and
nights. and on March % had reached
a point eight miles from Palanan.
They We're now so weak that it was
necessary to send to Aguinaldo's camp
for food. Aguinaldo dispatched supplies
and directed that the American Iris-
oners be kindly treated. but not to be
allowed to enter the town.
On the morning of March % the ad-
met by the staff officers of Agunaldo
and detachment of Aguinaldo's body
guard. which was ordered to take
charge Of the Americans.
While ono Of the eX-insurgent officers
conversed with Aguinaldo's aide. an
other, Spaniard, sent a courier to
warn Gen. Funston and the rest. who.
with IL Macabcbes, We're about an
hour behind. Having received this
warning, Gen. Funston avoided
Aguinaldo'S detachment and joined the
column, avoiding observation. The
tn Salogs went ahead to greet AGGin-
aldo and the column aloWly followed,
finally arriving at PAllnan.
AFuinaldG's hous ehold troops, 20
men in neat uniforms Of blue and
white, and wearing straw hats, lined
up to receive the newcomers.
Gen. Tensions men crossed the river
in small boats, formed on the bank,
and marched to the right and then in
front of the inSurgent Grenadiers. The