Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1901-04-04
A CUNNING STRATEGEn.
Forged Letters Were Used to
Deceive tie Pine Chief.
A MARCH IN THE JUNGLE.
For Seven Days the Party Of Ameri-
can, and Macabebes Tramped 'EO-
ward A@.'s Hiding Place and Nabbed
Him After IA short Struggle.

interviewed Thursday made the fol-
lowing statement concerning the cap
ture of the Filipino leader:
The confidential agent of Aguinaldo
arrived February 20 at Pantabangay,
northern Luzon, with letters dated
January H., II and II. These letters
were from Emilio Aguinaldo, and di-
rected Baldermero Aguinaldo to take
command of the provinces of central
Luzon, supplanting Gen. Alejandrino.
Emilio Aguinaldo also ordered that
400 men be sent him as soon as pos
slble, saying that the bearer of the
letters would guide these men to
where Aguinaldo was.
Funston secured the correSpOn-
dence of Aguinaldo's agent and laid
his plans. Some months previously
he had captured the camp of the in
surgent Gen. Lacuna, obtaining Lacu-
mas seal, official papers and a guam
tity of signed correspondence From
this material two letters were con-
Structed, ostensibly from Lacuna to
Aguinaldo.
One of these contained information
as to the progress Of the war. The
other asserted that. pursuant to Or
ders received from Baldermero Agui-
naldo. Lacuna was sending his best
company to Emilio Aguinaldo.
His plans completed. Funston came
to Manila and organized his eXpedi-
ton. selecting IS Macabebes. all of
whom spoke Tagalo fuently. Twen-
~ wore insurgent uniforms, and the
others the dress of Filipino laborers.
This Macabcbe company, armed with
80 Nausers, IS Remingtons and ten
ng-JorgensenS, was commanded by
'apt. Hazard, of the Eleventh cav
cry. With him was his brother,
Lieut.. Hazard of the same rcgi-
ment. Capt. Newton, Thirty-fourth
infantry, and Lieut. Mitchell, Forti-
eth infantry, went as Funstons
aides. These were the only Amer
leans accompanying the leader of the
expedition.
With the Macabebcs were four in
snrgent officers, one being a Spaniard
and the other three Tagalos, whom
Funston trusted implicitly.
On the night of March the party
embarked on the gunboat Vicksburg
At a. M, March II, the Nicksburg
ran in shore 25 miles south of Cast
guran, province of Principe. The
party landed and marched to Casigu-
ran.
Having arrived there the ex-insur-
gent officers, ostensibly commanding
the party, announced that they were
on the way TO join AguinaIdo. that
they had surprised an American sur
veying party, and that they had killed
number, capturing five. They ex-
IA
as their prisoners.
On the morning of March II, taking
a small quantity of cracked corn, the
party started on a 0O-mile march.
The country is rough and uninhab bit
ed and provisions could not be Sc
cured. The party ate small shell
fish, but were almost starved. Wad-
Ing swift rivers, climbing precipitous
mountains and penetrating dense
jungles, they marched seven days and
nights and on March % reached a
point eight miles from Palanan. They
were now so weak that it was neces-
sary to send to Aguinaldo's camp for
food. Aguinaldo sent supplies and
directed that the American prisoners
be kindly treated.
The Tagalos went ahead to greet
Aguinaldo and the column slowly fol-
lowed, finally arriving at Palanan.
Aguinaldo's household troops, so
men, lined up to receive the new
comers. Funston's men crossed the
river in boats. formed on the bank
and marched in front of the insur-
gent grenadiers. The Tagalos en-
tered the house where Aguinaldo
was.
Suddenly the Spanish officer. MOTTO
ing that Aguinaldo's aide was watch
ing the Americans suspiciously, ex-
claimed: ''Now. Macabebes, go for
them" The Macabebes opened fire,
but their aim was ineffective, and
only three insurgents were killed.
The rebels returned the fire.
Hilaro Placido, one Of the Tagalo
officers, and former isurgent ma
jor, who was wounded by the Kan
sas regiment at the battle of Caloo-
can, threw his arms around Aguinal-
do, eXclaiming, You are a prisoner
of the Americans"
Col. Villa, Aguinaldo's chief of
staff. Mai Alambra and others at
tackled the men who were holding
Aguinaldo. Placidio shot Villa in
the SnOulucf. Aldmbfa jumped out
of tse window and ATTEMPTED to cross
the river. 1t is supposed that he
was drowned. Five other insurgent
officers fought for a few minutes and
then fed.
When the firing began, Funston as.
sumed command and directed the at
tack on the house, personally assist
ing in the capture of Aguinaldo. The
insurgent body fed, leaving 20 rifles
Funston secured all of Aguinaldo's
correspondence, showing that he had
kept in close touch with the sub.
chiefs of the insurrection. 1t was
also discovered that Aguinaldo, Janu.
airy 2S, had proclaimed himself dicta,
tor.