Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-04-04
THE CAPTURE OF AGUlNALDo.

been received by the War Department.
1t confirms the charge of treason,
treachery and perjury employed in the
task.
In his official report Gen. Funston
says:
1.-The confidential agent Of Gen.
Aguinaldo arrived Feb. 2Sth at Panta-
bangan, in tho province OF Nueva
Eciia, Luzon, with letters dated
January 18th, 18th and 18th. These
letters were from Cen. Aguinaldo and
directed his brother, Baldomero Aguin-
aldo, to take command in the provinces
OF Central Luzon, supplsnting Gen :
Alejandrino. Gen. ARuinaldo also
ordered that 400 men be sent him as
soon as possible, saying that the bearer
Of the letters would guide these men to
where he was,
"T secured the correspondence Of
Aguinaldo's agent and laid my plans
accordingly. Some months previously
| had captured the camp OF the in-
surgent general Lacuna, incidentally
obtaining Lscuna's seal, official papers
and quantity Of signed correspond
ence. From this material two letters
were constructed, ostensibly from
Lacuna to Aguinaldo. Cne OF these
contained information as to the pro-
gress of the war. The other asserted
that, pursuant to orders received from
BaIdomero Aguinaldo, Lacura was
sending his best company to 'Presi-
dente Emilio Aguina.do.
"My plans completed and approved,
came TO Manila and organized my
expedition, selecting rs Macabebes, all
of whom spoke Tagalog tiuently.
Twenty wore insurgent uniforms and
the Others the dress of Filipino laborers.
This Macabebe company, armed with
so Mausers, is Remingtons and 10
Krag j ofgenssns, was commanded by
Capt. Russell L. Hazard. of the
Eleventh United States Volunteer
Cavalry. With him was his brother,
Lieut.. Oliver F. M. Hazard, of the
same regiment. Capt. Harry W. New
ton, of the Thirty-fourth Infantry, was
taken along because of his familiarity
with the locality, and Lieut.. Burton j.
| Mitchell, OF the Fortieth Infantry,
went as my aide. These were the only
Americans accompanying the expedi-
| tion.
with tine Macabebss were four ex-
insurgent officers, one being SpaniRrd
and the other three Tagalos, whom 1
trusted implicitly.
IAN the American officers wore plain
blue shirts and khaki trousers. They
carried each a half Blanket, hut wore
| no insignia of rank. Tho Macabebes
were carefully instructed to obey the
orders of the four ex-insurgent officers.
ION the night of March Sth the
party embarked on the United States
gunboat Vicksburg. 1t was originally
1 s.xN lAl a. aIr t5A ,af NAau
from the Island OF Polillo and drift
to the mainland; but storm arose and
three of the oascoes were lost. This
plan was abandoned.
"At 2 a. m. March 14th the Vioks.
burg put out her lights and ran ashore
90 miles south OF Casiguran, in the
Province Of Principe. The party landed
and marched to Casiguran. The Ameri
cans had never garrisonrd this place
and the inhabitants are strong in.
surgent sympathizers. Having arrived
there, the ex-insurgent officers, oeten
sibly comm anding the party, announced
that they were on the way to ioir
General Aguinaldo between Pautobagar
and Baler, that they had surprised at
American surveying party, and tina
they had killed number, capturing
five. They exhibited the American
as their prisoners.
1.-The insurgent Presidente Of Casl
guran believed the story. Two Of tn,
Lacuna letters, previously conoocted
were forwarded to Agunaldo a
Palanan, Province Of Isabella. W
American officers were kept imprisonet
for three days, surreptitiously givinl
orders at night.
"On the morning of March 18th
taking a small quantity OF cracke,
, corn, the party started on a 9o-mil
, march to Palanan. The country
rough and upinhabited, and provision
could not be secured. Our party at
small shellfish, but were almos
starved. Wading swift rivers, climbin
prscipitous mountains and penetratin
dense jungles, we marched seven day
and nights, and on March 22d ha
reached q point eight miles froI
, Palanap. We we're then so weak tina
! it was neoessaryato send to Aguinaldo
: camp for food. Aguinaldo dispatche
supplies and directed that the America
prisoners De kindly treated, but not {
. allowed to enter the town.
! ION the morning of March 800 th
! advance was resumed. The column WI
met by the staff officers OF Aguinald
= and detachment of Aguinaido's bod,
: guard, which was ordered to take ohare
y of the Americans.
"While one of the ex-insurgei
. officers oonversed with Aguinaldo
aide, another, a SIaniard, sent
!, courier to warn the American officer
Z who, with IL Macebebes, we're abol
an hour behind. Having received tn
warning, l avoided Aguinaldo's d
taohment and joined my own column
y avoiding observation. The Tagal
D. went ahead to greet Aguinaldo aud ii
column slowly followed, finally srrivir
at Palanan.
. "Aguinaldo's household troops,
9 men in neat uniforms of blue al
: white, and wearing straw hats, lin,
y up to receive the newcomers. My mi
y crossed the river in small boats, form,
y on the bank, marched to the right al
D. then in front OF the insurgents. II
3 Tagalos entered the house whe
= Aguina'd do was.
!, "Suddenly the Spanish office
10 noticing that Aguinaldo aide "
u watching the Americans suspiciousl
exclaimed:
70 Now, Macabebes, go for them Y
u 1.-THE Macabebes opened fire, b
their aim was rather Ineffective, o
only two insurgents were killed. I
rebels returned the fire. On heari
l rs the firing Aguinaldo, who evident
~ thought his men we're merely ce
~ brating the arrival of reinforcement
u. ran to the window and shouted:
IN Stop that foo.ishness. Quit wa