Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-05-02
A TRAIL OF BLOOD.
A NOTORIOUS GANG THAT has BEEN TERROR
lZING CUBA.
The Government Troops Prepare an Ambush and
Succeed In Kidding the Country Of One Of the
Chief Vlllains-Mayors Death and the
Story Of dis Nest Infamous Crime

NEw YORK, April 3O.-Havana CORE
spOndence OF April % says that no one
has yet claimed the $50, 900 reward Of
fered for the capture of Manuel Garcia,
the celebrated Cuban bandit.
ROOberieS, murders and abductiOnS-
al attributed 20 the great chief and his
band-have been frequent of late, and
active measures for his capture have
been forced upon the government.
An ambush was prepared on April 10,
and elaborate plans laid 10 capture the
robbers. The band had recently been
operating In the vicinity Of MatanZas,
and had accumulated considerable booty,
chiefly Spanish gold. II was known
that among the bandits, besides the
leader, were such eminent members Of
the brigand fraternity as Antonio May
oil, Victor, Jose aud Antonio Cruz, Gal
To SoSa aud b. Piazencia.
The troops took up a position on the
Plantation ESDeranza and awaited the
coming OF The robbers, who were known
20 be travelling in that direction. They
had not waited long before nine horse
men came around q curye'Of the road
and entered the plantation. They were
ordered 20 halt but did not reply. The
officer In command was about 10 give
the order 20 shoot when a yOlley of rifle
balls was fired into the midst Ct the
soldiers. The troops replied at once.
The bandits fired again, and then gal
lOped of as fast as their horses could
travel. The troops, being on foot, could
not pursue them, but fired several
times. IL was then found that Antonio
NayOl, one of the bandits, lay dead on
the road A trail of blood was diScOY-
cred leading from the plantation to
rocky hillOck and % small stream,
where it was lost, proving that one of
the bandits was wounded. Or the sol
diers, one was killed and several
wounded seriously.
MayOl's death relieves the residents OF
MantanzaS of the outrages of one Of the
bandits they most feared. BY his death
is also partially avenged the brutal muir
der, on March 81, of DiOnOSiO Menen-
dez' wife The couple lived on the out
skirts of the small village Of santa Rosa.
IL was generally known that they had
considerable money i'm the house, as they
did not trust the banks. On the night
of March 81 Mr.. aud Mrs. Menendez
were aroused by loud rapping on their
back door. Jumping out of bed Menen-
de- inquired who il was. We are the
police. and We must see you n once,
was the reply. Menendez hastily threw
on some clothing and opened the door.
He was confronted by three men, who
al once entered the house. closing the
door after them. ''We want all the
money you have, and be quick about it,
TOO, =" said the one who appeared 10 be
the leader Of the bandits.
Calling 20 his wife to bring down the /
keys, Menendez walked over 10 his /
writing desk, closely followed by the /
leaderOf the br'gandS. Come, be quick |
about 10" said She ruiliau, and he struck /
the old man across the head with his re- I
volvcr, fcl,ug him with gaping wound .
in his head. Az this moment Mrs. Men .
endez came into the room. Tearing the /
keys out OF her hands the rOb4er opened .
and ranSac6cd the writing desk. Moth |
ing was found except mortgages, 20 the |
value OF several thousand dollars and /
500 I'm Spanish gold This angered the /
chief, and turning 90 the old man he /
said. III you don't give me all your /
money iii kill You piece by piece. lie /
then turned 90 one of the men, and, /
pointing TO Mrs. Menendez, said; AT /
tend 90 her" The bandit, whose name /
is Jose Diaz, took hold OF the aged wo- /
man, aad pulling out sharp pointed |
knit, he drew il lightly across her /
throat and said Now, you old bag, |
JUS, give MS that money or iii make /
corpse of You. The poor woman fell
on her knees ana begged piteouSly for
her life, swearing she had 40 more
money than what they had already
taken.
For half au hour the bandit tortured
the aged woman, and then took her out
Tied her 90 tree and beat her with
switches until She tainted. She was
left 90 her fate, and the bandit returned
TO tho house. where his companions
were torturing the old man. At las
Menendez swO0ned, and the robbers
thinking they had killed him, hastil
departed.
Meneudez' negroes the next morning
found Mrs Meuendez covered WITH
blood and dirt. The old man was found
In the house. The neighbOrS were
aroused and the police notified. II was
hours before any of the police authorl-
ties arrived. and then an investigation
was begun. The old lady died, but tho
old man is recovering, though very
slowly. Even if She should live he will
be insane. Great Indignation exists in
Santa Rosa and, i'm fact, over the
Island, at the indifferent way in which
the Spanish Government is trying TO
capture these men.