Notoriety
Due to the 
black defector’s incorrect campaign so you’re able to general, guerilla fighters now handled him since “Heneral” Fagen. On the following the weeks, accounts towards the challenging Western proliferated. A keen unsubstantiated story portrayed Fagen once the a cool-blooded executioner. But numerous put out POWs after confronted such as characterizations and you can affirmed so you can Fagen’s generosity while they was within his custody.
This new U.S. Army’s renowned “guerilla catcher,” Col. Frederick Funston, became enthusiastic about the new bring of one’s renegade and you will decried good overlooked options: “I got a pretty an effective look at the well known Fagen at the a radius of a hundred meters, regrettably, had currently emptied my carbine. That it wretched son had into a few era created me personally impudent and you can poorly spelled characters. Fagen was ‘entitled to an equivalent therapy while the a crazy dog’.”
Funston seized Aguinaldo as an alternative-as a consequence of a complicated tactic-to the March 23. 14 days afterwards, brand new Filipino leader swore allegiance into the United states and you will purchased his forces so you’re able to give-up quickly. Into the Nueva Ecija, General Lacuna or other guerilla leadership obeyed their leader. Lacuna, however, would not call it quits Fagen, and you may came off on slopes with his officers just after introducing the new Western off his order. Funston today embarked to your an all-aside look for “your head of your own American Negro.”
Towards the day from December six, 1901, it appeared that the wily Funston in the long run bagged their quarry. Anastacio Bartolome, a former guerilla, exactly who today earned a full time income as the good deer huntsman, joined brand new Army barracks during the Bongabong, Nueva Ecija, around Lt. Roentgen.C. Corliss. He applied a fabric sack on to the floor and you can recited specific occurrences of earlier in the day weeks, that your American officer submitted as the an affidavit.
The hunter stated he was angling having a couple of friends from the Umiray River one to morning, when Fagen showed up that have a few Negrito family along with his indigenous wife. The guy anticipate Fagen along with his party to share with you a supper regarding seafood and you will grain. The newest affidavit reads: “When you find yourself the had been eating, Anastacio and his people instantly fired up Fagen and his people that have bolos. Fagen was mortally injured and you will ran about a hundred meters and you will dropped inactive. The 2 Negritos escaped defectively injured. Fagen’s wife went on the water, jumped during the and you may sunken herself.”
Bartolome told you he tucked Fagen’s human anatomy into the riverbank, just after cutting off his direct. He established his sack to reveal the data, a great “defectively decomposed head, that have Negroid services.” Since the after that facts, Bartolome submitted a worn pic out of Urbano Lacuna included in Fagen’s breast wallet and you can Lt. Alstaetter’s West Part group band. The new U.S. Army signed the publication towards the Pvt. David Fagen.
Veracity Expected
While this has stayed the official membership, historians Michael Robinson and you will David Schubert blogged in the 1974 a blog post questioning their veracity. Inside the a battle in which most of the cent, nickel and mule is actually carefully taken into account from the You.S. Army, around stays no list out-of an effective $600 bounty granted in order to Bartolome. The newest historians in addition to receive several legitimate advertised sightings out of Fagen because of the Armed forces soldiers months shortly after their reported dying.
You’ll the new deer hunter’s membership was in fact a well-designed plot hatched because of the Lacuna and you will Bartolome to save the newest black colored defector real time? You will he keeps lived in brand new jungles off Luzon free from Jim-crow and you can Frederick Funston, long after the new cessation out-of hostilities?
Are you aware that remainder of Fagen’s comrades which stayed dedicated so you’re able to brand new Western banner, over 1000 opted to remain in the hawaiian islands upon their release on war’s certified end on July cuatro, 1902. Citing its “racial affinity” on the neighbors, of many intermarried with Filipino lady and you can settled everywhere Main Luzon. They became clerks, coaches, small growers and you may storeowners.
Chief Frank Steward turned into the newest provost court away from San Pablo, Laguna, if you are W. Nearly a century after, their Dark colored descendants can be found all over this new Philippine diaspora, out of Pangsinan in order to Pennsylvania-and you may Bay area, where they first started the historical trip and you can where an earlier black kid sailed towards the their novel invest Philippine records.