Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1902-03-13
AeUINALDo's kAGALIA.
How Its Present owner Came Into
Possession Of the Famous Fnis
Dino'a snah.


The regalia Of Aguinaldo which he
wore in full uniform Is now In possess
sion of a private soldier of our army,
who is fully aware of its yaluo as a
relic, states the San Francisco Exam
iner.
Once 1t shone IN all its splendor of
silver stars and lace upon the white
dress uniform Of the island leader
now, by the fortunes OF war and flight,
IL Is the property OF Private Richard
IL. Cooper, Santa Paula young man of
troop Il, Eleventh United States vol
unteer cavalry, who returned TO Los
Angeles on June 20 from the Philip
pines.
The Eleventh was the only United
States volunteer cavalry In service
since the civil war, and troop NJ of the
Eleventh distinguished itself by its
famous charge at the battle OF san
Mateo, where Gen. Lawton lost his
life.
Cooper tells an interesting story:
Company G of the Thirty-seventh
United States infantry started out in
pursuit of Aguinaldo in February,
1900, chasing him for ten days or more
up through the mountains Of southern
Luzon. They finally lost track Of him
and went over the swamps into Cana
rines province. But so hot was the
pursuit and so near did itcome at one
point TO capture that some of the
ponies in Aguinaldo's band were shot
and the leader threw away bundles Of
clothing and other stun in his mad de-
sire TO escape his pursuers.
IL was In one of those critical mo-
ments that Corporal Belding, friend
Of Cooper, picked up in the trail amid
the bamboo jungle a small bag of mus
lin which contained this regalia, a
small flag of the province of Vigan,
and wrapped In IL curious dagger
with a point Of needle-like sharpness.
Belding took out the sash FIRST, and,
IL being similar to decoration worn
by priest, thought IL belonged TO one
Of them, but hid the bag hurriedly for
fear the Fourth cavalry, which was
passing, might get IL. When he showed
il to his friend IN the morning Cooper
asked him II he night take IL and show
1t to some one. Belding thereupon
made him a present OF the bag and its
contents.
Cooper showed IL TO Capt. Agnew, of
the Eleventh cavalry, who exclaimed
at once az sight of the red and silver
star; why, man, you've got a prize
therel That regalia is Aguinaldo's
own, for have seen him wear It many
times during dress parade before the
outbreak. ] know that star"
The regalia is heavily embroidered
in solid silver, for which Mr.. Cooper
was offered a goodly sum by the native
silversmiths in Manila. The most in
teresting piece Is the silver embroid-
cred shoulder sash, somewhat stained
by wear, Of yellow satin richly incrust.
ed with silver, nndWhere Il crosses the
breast shines six-pointed silver star
Of openwork upon red satin, the badge
% Aguinaldo's highest rank. A broad
belt of yellow satin and silver, wide
cuffs of blue satin spangled with sill
YER, and decorations in the form
Of silver leaves, which were worn upon
the breast, are also parts of this gilt
tering ipsignia. Here are the great sill
yer star and hatband that decorated
the somhrero ind completed the para
phernalia which rendered Aguina.do
a gorgeous figure when woin over his
white suit az dress parade for he
never wore This reenlla over q khaki
uniform