Evening star., 1901-04-03
Joachim Alejandrino, Who is Men,
toned for the Post.
GLIMPSE OF AGUINALDO'S SUCCESSOR
Encounter of an American Pris-
oner at Vigan.
FILIPINO'S GENEROUS ACTION


has occasionally been made In the cable
| dispatches of the probability that the su-
| preme command of the insurgent forces in
| the field would be vested in General Alejan-
drino who is described as an officer of ex-
ceptional ability and of firm faith in the
nsurrection. An interesting reference to
Alejandrino occurs in the course of Albert
! Sonnichsen's book Ten Months a Captive
Among Filipinos," recently published by
Scribners, New York. Sonnichsen, who
was captured early in the campaign, was
taken, along with the other American pris-
oners, from Malolos northward to Vigan
and thence sent inland to Bangued. Son.
nichsen escaped from Bangued and return
ed to Figan, which is on the coast, hoping
to find means to communicate with one of
the American men-of-war occasionally seen
at sea. His plans miscarried. owing to the
desertion of his companions, formerly Span
ish soldiers, and he was recaptured The
following extract from the book tells of the
prisoners encounter with Aleiandrino who
was then in command at Vigan:
Again the sentry challenged. and this
time ] answered CASTLE advancing toward
the palace gates until within dozen yards
or him, when he comipanded me to halt
SHOW your pass, he ordered, he in turn
approached me- I have none was my re-
ply. Telling me to stay where [ was he
returned to his post and called non-com-
lnissioned officer who came out and COM
mehced questioning me, asking what / was
doing out after taps without a pass L
am an escaped American prisoner from
Bangued,' L answered. For a moment |
thought he would fall down with astonish-
ment Just then an officer appeared, who
demanded to know what it all was about
and to him the non-conmisSioned officer re-
peated my words. We'll, come inside ont
of the rain was his reply for it had com
Hehced TO drlzZle again. The three of us
stepped inside of the spacious entrance of
the palace. The officer was young mes
t1Zo, of about my own age, yet on each
shoulder he wore the golden star of a colo
mel.
Generous Action.
Your name is Alberto is it not?' he
asked, as came into the light of a
hanging lantern. Yes l replied surprised
that he should know me. Where have
you been since the 1Ith?' he continued
and how is it that those fools in Ban
gued did not telegraph of your escape be-
fore this afternoon
Il told him briefly of nv adventures
since leaving Bangnled, of the trim. to
Masngal, and how the three Spaniards had
deserted me. The cowards,' he cried as
finished, to leave a companion like that
But what can you expert from Spaniari?
My God. how wet yoI are. What is the
matter with your leg? Are you woundedq'
L told him of my SWIM across the river
An, 1t was you the sentry fired at some
hours ago. Lucky tor you he is a bow
and can't shoot. Are You hungrv?'
Rather l replied, in order to prevent
further Interrogation on the subject. Leay-
Ing me for few minutes he ran upstairs
returning with a coat and pants. Here
he said, throw off those rags; here is one
OF my own suits, a Filipino uniform With
very little trouble 1 wrggled out of the
cuzadors suit, which the fish traps had
torn into shreds, and when again l emerged
from behind the door l was attired in the
uniform Of an insurgent colonel minus the
stars. B1en, bien,' exclaimed the young
officer Ghus reminding me of Abasilla5,
now you look presentable.' He then or
dered soldier to bandage my leg with
his own handkerchief, which he tore into
strips for the purpose. The pockets of my
new suits he filed with cigarettes and
cigars Leading me out to the gate, he
said: I will now send you to the hospital
with this guard. l am sorry deeply sorry
that you failed. You deserve your liberty
1t is my duty, however. to guard against
your escaping again. but / assure YOU IT
is against my own inclinations. Let us
hope that yonr Imprisonment may not last
much longer, but l am afraid, my friend.
that you have yet to undergo some hard
ships. Would that you could continue un-
der my charge, but I must return YOU to
Bangued. But take this; it will help you on
the road AS he said this he slipped a
silver peso into my hand No. no. he
continued, as I hesitated just for a mo-
ment. I do not ask you to accept this as
charity only as a lean; some day you
may repay me. l would take 1t from you
under similar circumstances; and now
goodbye He reached out his hand, which
l grasped. One thing before we part I
requested, may l know to whom l owe this
more than kind treatment?' MY name ia
joaquin Alejandrino, he answered, and
parted"
Willingly Blind.
Sonnicnsen was to have been taken back