Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1901-04-03
Gen. Fred Funston Narrates How
His Little Band Made the Fill
ipino Leader Prisoner.
The General. in Organizing His Expe-
dition. Selected 78 Macabebe., 20
Wearing Insurgent Uniforms.
Owing to the Treachery of These
Men Aguins1do Was Entrapped
and After . Sharp Fight Was
Made y Prisoner.

made the following statements con
corning the capture of the Filipino
leaders.
The confidential agent of Aguinaldo
arrived February IS at Pantabangan.
IN the province of Neuva Eciia. north
crn buzon, with letters dated january
II, Il and Il. These letters were from
Emilio Aguinaldo and directed Balde-
mere Aguinaldo TO take command %
the provinces of central Luzon, sup
planting Gen. Alejandrino. Emilio
Aguinaido Also ordered that 400 men
he sent hun as soon as possible, say
sng that the bearer of the letters
would guide these men to where
Aguinaldo was.
Gen. Funston secured the corre-
spondence OF Aguinaldo's agent and
laid his plans accordingly Some
months previously he had captured
the camp of the insurgent general.
Lacuna, incidentally obtaining La
cuna's seal, official papers and u uuan-
uty of signed correspondence. From
this material two letters were con-
structed, ostensibly from Lacuna to
Aguinaldo.
One OF these contained information
~ 10 the progress of the war. Tie
other asserted chat, pursuant to or
deTs received from Baldemcro Ar,i-
naldo. Iacuua was sending his best
company to Presidente Emilio Ar,ii-
naldo.
HIS plans completed and approved
Gen. Funston came to Manila and
organized his expedition. selecting rs
Macabehes. all OF whom spoke Taga-
log tiuently. Twenty wore the in
surgent uniforms and the others the
dress of Filipino laborers. This Mac
abebe company armed with 80 MaIs-
ers, Is Remingtons and 10 Krag-,Jer-
eensens. was commanded by Capt.
Russell L. Hazard, of the 18th vol
unteer cavalry. With him was his
brother. Lieut.. Oliver 7. NJ Hazard.
OF the same regiment. Capt. Harry
w. Newton, 34th infantry. was taken
because of his familiarity with Ca
siguran bay, and Lieut.. b. J. Mitchell
FOth infantry, went as Gen. Funstou's
AIDE. These were the only Americans
accompanying the leader of the ex-
pedition.
With the Macabebes were four ex-
insurgent officers, one being Span
lard and the other three TaoaIos
whom Gen. Funston trusted implic-
lily.
Gen. Funston and the officers wore
plain blue shirts and khaki trousers.
Ihey carried each a half blanket
but wore no insignia of rank. The
Macabebes were carefully instructed
70 obey the orders OF the four OK
insurgent officers.
On the night of March the marty
embarked on the United States gum
boat Nicksburg. 1t was originally
attended to take canoes from the ia
iand OF Po1ilio and to drift TO the
mainland, but storm arose and
three Of the canoes were lost. This
plan was abandoned At q. m
March ~. the Vicksburg put her
hghts out and ran inshore 25 miles
south of Casiguran, prsvincc of Prin.
cipe.
The party landed and marched to
Casiguran- The Americans had never
Earrisoued this place and the inbnb.
itants arc strong insurgent svrnpa.
thizers. Having arrived there. the
eX-insurgeut officers ostensibIv com
manding the party announced that
they were on the way to join Apui-
naldo between Pautobang and Baler.
That they bad surprised an American
surveying party, and that they had
killed number, capturing five. They
exhibited Gen. Funston and tbc otbcr
Americans as their prisoners.
Tho inc
Wan believed the story. Two Of the
Lacuna letters. previously concoctcd
we're forwarded to Aguiualdo at Pal
anan, province Of Isabella. Cen. Fun
ston and the others were kept inn.
prisoned for three days surrcptitions-
~ giving orders at night.
On the morning OF March II. taking
small quantity of cracked corn. the
party started on a 0O-miIe march to
Palanan- Tho country is rough and
uninhabited. and provisions could
not be secured The party was al
most starved. Wading swift rivers.
climbing Precipitous mountains and
penetrating dense iungics, they
marched seven days and nights. and
on March ~ had reached a point
eight miles from Palanan. They were
now SO weak that il was necessary
20 send 20 Aguinaldo's camp for food.
AguinaldO dispatched supplies and
directed that the American prisoners
he kindly treated, but not be al
flowed to enter the town.
On the morning of March % the
advance was resumed. The column
was met 10y the staff officers Of Agui-
raldo and detachment of Aguiual-
dos body guard, which WINS ordered
90 take charge Of the Americans
While ono Of the eX-insurgcut OIL
GERS cOnyersed with Aguinaldo's aide,