The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-03-29

pondence OF AguinaIdos agent and laid
his plans accordingly Some months
previously he had captured the camp Of
the insurgent general, Lacuna, incident
ally obtaining Lacunas zeal OF papers
and quantity Of signed correspond
ence. From this material two letters
were constructed 0stensibly from La
cuna to Aguinaldo. One Of these con-
tanned information az to the progress
Of the war. The other asserted that,
pursuant 10 orders received from Bal
dOmero AguinaldO. Lacuna was send
ing his best company to President Emil
His plans completed and approved,
General Funston anne to Manila and
organized his rxpsditon, selecting 7S
Maccabebess. all Of whom spoke Taga-
10 HuentIy. Twenty wore lnsurgent
uniforms and the others the dress Of
Filipino laborers. This Maccabebee
company. armed with fifty Mausers,
eight Remingtons and ten Krag-Jor-
gensens. was commanded by Captain
Russell T. Hazard. Of the Eleventh
T.. S. volunteer cavalry. With him
was his brother. Lieutenant Oliver p.
Hazard. Of the same regiment. Cap
tain Harry W. Newton. OF the Thirty
fourth infantry. was taken because Of
his familiarity with Casiguan bay. and
Lieutenant Barton ]. Mitchell. OF tn.
FortIeth infantry. went as General
Funston's aid. These were the only
Americans accompanying the leader Of
the expedition. With the Macab bees
were four ex-insurgent officers, one being
a spanIard and the other three Tag4los,
whom General Funston trusted impli-
city.
General Funston and tine officers wore
plain blue shirts and khaki trousers.
Each carried half blanket but wore
m insignia Of rank. The Maccabebess
were carefully Instructed to obey the
orders Of the four insurgent officers.
On the night If March the party
embarked on the gunboat Vlcksburg
1t was originally intended 10 take cas-
Goes from the island OF Polillo and drift
to the mainland but storm arose and
three Of the cascoes We're lost. This
plan was abandoned. At a. m. on
March IA. the Vicksburg put her
lights out and ran in shore twenty-five
miles south Of Casiguran. province Of
Principe. The party landed and march
el to Casiguran. Americans had never
garrisonsd this place, and the lnhabl-
tants are strong insurgent sympathiz-
ers.
Having arrived there, the ex-insur-
gent officers. ostenslbly commanding
the party. announced that they were on
the way to Join AguinaIdo; that they
had surprised an American surveying
party and that they had killed num-
ber. capturing five. They exhibited
General Funston and the other Ameri-
cans as their prisoners. The insurgent
president Of Casiguran believed the
story. Two Of Lacuna's letters pre-
viously co1cOcted We're forwarded to
Aguinaldo at Palanan, province of Isa-
bella, General Funston and the others
were kept imprisoned for three days,
surreptitiously giving orders at night.
On he morning Of March II, taking a
small quantity OF cracked corn. the
party started on a ninety-mile march
to Palanan. The country is rough and
and provisions could not
be secured. The party ate small shell
fish, but wera almost starved. Wading
swift rivers. climbing precipltous noun
tains and penetrating dense iungles,
they marched seven days and nights
and on March 22 had reached point
eight miles from Palanan. They were
now so weak that it was necessary TO
send to Aguinaldo's camp for food. Ag-
uinaldo dispatched supplies and di-
rected that the Am erican prisoners be
kindly treated, but not be allowed to
enter the town
On the morning OF March %, the ad-
vanca was resumed. The column was
met by the staff officers of Aguinaldo
and detachment of AguinaldO's body
guard. which was expected to take
charge of the Americans While one Of
the eX-insurgent officers conversed with
Aguinaldo's aide, another, a Spaniard,
sent courier TO warn General Funs-
ton and the rest, who, with eleven Mac
cabebees, We're about an hour behind |
Having received this warning, General |
Funston avoided Aguinal1o's detach-
nent and joined the column. avoiding |
observation. The Fagolos went ahead |
% greet Aguinaldo and the column slow
" followed. arriving finally at Palanan.
Aguinaldo's household troops. fifty men
n neat uniform of blue and white and |
Wearing straw hats, lined up to receive
he new comers.
General FunstOn's men crossed the
liver in small boats formed on the |
,ank and marched to the right and then
n front Of the :nsurgent grenadiers.
The Tagalos entered the house where
Aguinaldo was. Suddenly the Spanish
'ftlcer noticing that Aguinaldo's aide
vas Watching the Americans sus-
,iciously, exclaimed: Now. Maccabe