Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-04-09
FUNSTON'S OWN STORY.
Tells of How the Elusive AEuinald
Was CAPTURED. ..-

AelIs OF HOW the Elusive ASuInaluo
Was Captured.
A dispatch from Manila gives Gen.
Funston's account Of his capture of Agui-
naldo. Funston took with him seventy
eight Macabebes, on whom he could de-
pend, and nearly half of whom wore the
insurgent uniform. The Macabebes were
commanded by four ex-insurgent officers,
one being Spaniard. The five Ameri-
cans wore plain blue shirts and khaki
trousers. Arriving in that section where
Aguinaldo was known to be, letters to
which had been forged the name of Lacu-
ma, ain insurgent general, were forwarded
TO Aguninaldo, stating that the F'unsteG
party was a company of insurgent troopA
sent at the request of Aguinaldo. 1t was
given out that the Americans were part
of an engineering corps that had been
surprised and captured. Aguinaldo was
highly pleased, and ordered the party to
come to him. 1t was nine days march
before the leaders quarters were reach
ed. Aguinaldos household troops. fifty
in number, were lined up to receive the
visitors. The party marched up, and the
house in which Aguinaldo was staying
was surrounded Quickly the Spanish
Now, Macabebes, go for them" The
Macabebes opened fire, killing three in
surgents. AguinaldO, not comprehending
the situation, rushed to the window and
shouted: stop that fooishness; quit
wasting ammunition" Hilaric Placido,
a Tagalog officer, and former insurgent
major, threw his arms around Aguinaldo,
crying: you are prisoner of the Amer
icansw Aguinaldo fought, and others
rushed to his aid. Placido shot Col. 81
neon Villa, Agunaldo's chief of staff.
Meanwhile the firing outside was hot and
heavy, under the direction of Funston
himself. The insurgents soon fed, lcav
ing Aguinaldo and Santiago Barcelona,
the insurgent treasurer, prisoners. Agui-
naldo was at first very much excited,
but soon Gained down. From private pa
pers secured it was discovered Aguinaldo
on Jan. % had proclaimed himself dicta-
tor. The party then made a forced
march to Palanan bay, where they were
taken on board the gunboat Vicksburg.
Aguinaldo declared he would never have
been captured except by stratagem, but
admitted be had been hard pressed on
many occasions.
1t is understood that Gen. Macarthur
has caused the news of Aguinaldo's cap
ture to be sent to every point in the Phil
ippine Islands within reach by telegraph
and mail, apd, so far as heard from, it is
having a marked effect on the natives.
Some British newspapers aud public
men are inclined to belittle the capture
of AgHinaldo. The Manchester Guardian,
which has been Il bitter opponent of the
Boer war, says in an EDITORIAL: "rhere
have been more wicked wars than that
against the liberties of the FilipinoS, but
there never has been more shabby one.
Had Aguinaldo been captured in some
spirited action, American interest in the
war might have revived. Instead OF that
his capture was effected by a piece of
sharp practice thoroughly in keeping
with The rest Of the war"
or all the list of Filipino generals left
in the field, given out 10y Agoncillo since
the capture of Aguinaldo, only two, Finio
and Alejandrino, have ever been heard
of by those officers in the War Depart
.ment who are supposed to be best inform
ed on Philippine affairs, and the person
mel of the leaders of the insurrectiouary
forces.