Evening star., 1902-04-24
FATE OF A 5DEsERTER
PARTICULARS OF THE DEATH OF
PRIVATE FAGAN.

Adjutant General Corbin today made pub
lie an interesting report from Lieutenant r.
c. Corliss, Philippine Scouts. dated Bonea-
pong, +. L., December g. 1901 which tells
the sruesome story of the killing of David
fasan, an American negro soldier who de.
serted to the insurgents Fagan was a
private in Company l Of the oath Infantry
regiment. He was, from all accounts, a
rpWdy soldier of the purest type and In con-
llnuai trouble with his superiors. An in
surrecto officer kept horse waiting near
fagans company barracks at San Isidro
NueVa Ecija province, P. l., and on No
Vember II, 1880, while the company was
changing station, Pagan slipped away to
the enemy. He took native wife after
joining the insurgents, and December Of
1901 found him near the Umiray river
which flows into the Pacific ocean south Of
Dingalan bay. Here he met with six Ilo-
canos. headed by Anastaeio, aBartollome,
who We're friendly to the American cause
and who, while eating meal which they
had prepared for Pagan and themselves.
suddenly turned on the American deserter
and his two Nesdito companions and at
tackled them with bolos. Pagan was NOR
tally wounded, and after running about 100
yards dropped dead. The Negritos escaped
badly wounded, and Fagan's native wife
ran for the ocean and drowned herself.
On December 3 one Of the Ilocanos Bar
tollome by name. arrived at Lieut. Corliss'
station at Bongabong bearing the partly
decomposed head of an American negro
which he claimed was that Of Pagan, and
number of other articles which were said
to be taken from the dead mans body,
among them Military Academy class ring,
'97"
Fagan enlisted with the, insurgents as
f1rst lieutenant Of infantry, and appended
to- ,iccic ~
a captaincy granted 'Dewet Pagan" for
merits gained in campaign" and signed
by the famous Filipino chieftain. Alegan-
drino
Report of Lieut.. Corliss.
Lieut.. Corliss' account Of this affair is
especially interesting as showing the pecu-
liarly bloodthirsty nature Of the Filipinos.
1t is as follows:
"Anastacio BartoiIome left Barrio Santor,
Bongabong, Nueva EcdJa, P. T., about No
vember 10. 1901, for umiray river, where
he intended to hunt fish and. buy bijucos
from the Negritos. On his ARRIVAL at Umi-
ray ne met his companions Juan Domingo,
Sinforco Habiendo, Dionicio Domingo, Fe-
liciano Fortuna and Elino Fernandez, who
were nshfng in river. WoKk continued
until December I. 1894, when David Pagan.
/ his native wife and two Negritos arrived
at river. Both Negritos and Fagan were
armed. Through fear and to. keep on good
terms with Pagan, Anaataci zad his party
prepared them q meal. Knwing that
Fagan was an insurgent and lAdrone, they
secretly arranged to kill him..
When the meal was prepaned, about 10
am. and all were eating Anastacio and
his party suddenly turned on Pagan and
his men with boles. Fagan was mortally
wounded and ran about 100 yards and
dropped dead. Both Negrttos escaped.
badly wounded. Fagan,s wife.'ran for the
ocean, jumped in and drowned herself.
Party then cut Fagan's head of to pre-
nj a $tAfr ofn pn1
buried his body on south bank of Umiray
river near Its saouth. The next day they
left for Yrurulong. bringing Fagans head
and effects. Arriving at Yrurulong, Ana
stacio left remainder of party and brought
head and effects here to me. Three Of
party, namely, Ginforco Habiendo. Elmo
5 sFernandez and Feliciano Fortuna, arrived
here on ath instant and eorroborate this
statement