The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1917-12-07
COMES THE GHOST
OF GREAT EXPLOIT
JULIUS BARNEY OF HELENA
HELPED TO CAPTURE GEN.
AGUINAIDO,
Got Leave of Absence and Slipped
Away With Little Detail Which
Went With Funston When He
Took Filipino Chieftian Captive
and Won Brigadier Generalship.

Julius Barney, of Helena, Lewis
town, and several other Montana
towns keeps thousands of people in
condition next to goodness. That is
to say he is a laundry magnate. But
before he went into this prosaic but
profitable business of soap suds and
dull routine, he participated in the
Great Adventure. He served as
soldier in the old First Montana in
fantry, fighting through the Philip
pine wars
He was good soldier. He partici-
pated in all the engagements the reg
iment fought with Filipino insurrec-
tionists, and while there was no rec
ord of it, was one of the little group
of soldiers who went with General
Fred Funston when the doughty cap
tain captured Aguinaldo, the Filipino
generalissimo, the most astounding
achievement in that insular unpleas-
antness. The exploit, as is we'll
known, won for the Kanasan the star
of brigadier general and made of
him a marked man in the service.
Strong for the Escort.
1t was small force of men who
went into the jungles with Funston
to the stronghold where the Filipino
general lay in fancied security, and
the true story of 1t has never been
told. Those who would belittle Fun
ston's exploit circulated the yarn that
Aguinaldo surrendered because he
was tired of one-sided struggle, and
desired and arranged for his own
surrender in order to save his face
with his people. Barney always
maintained that this version was abo-
lutely untrue, and that the credit of
the capture was due to the valor of
Funston and his escort. He is par
ticularly strong for the escort, he was
one-twentieth thereof.
Barney learned in some manner of
hazardous expedition on which
Funston was going, through some of
the Kansas boys who were picked to
accompany him. He made up his
mind that he would go along. He
stood we'll with his company COM
mander and managed to secure a
leave of absence. So when the
Kansas detail slipped away with Fun
stOn, Barney was part of it. Fun
ston did not notice that he had an
extra man, until the expedition was
we'll on it's way. Then the resource
fulness of the Helena soldier appeal
ed to him, and there was no repri-
mand.
Too Late to Rewrite History.
How the expedition slipped
through the Filipino lines and man.
aged to surprise Aguinaldo is a mat
ter of history, as narrated in the Of
fetal records of the war department.
Barney's version may differ some
what from the story that is generally
accepted, but it is little too late
in the day to change q written page
of history At any rate Funston did
what he undertook to do, brought
back Aguinaldo, covered himself with
imperishable glory, and made a name
for himself that will last for all time
in the annals of the American army.
There were few of Barney's COM
rades who knew something of his
participation in this famous exploit.
There were some irregularities in
connection with it, Irregularities that
might have meant punishment. Bar
ney, faithful soldier, had a good
friend in the commanding officer of
his company. He talked it over with
Barney and the two decided that it
was best for the service to hold that
officially Barney had not participated
in the capture. So this good captain
kept silent, and Barney kept out of
the guard house.
But he had met Glory face to face
and shaken her by the hand. That
was enough.