The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-11-08
MASSACRED Blythe MOORS, 5;
TERRIBLE SLAUGHTER OF sPANIARps
AT MELILLA.
Gen. Mo1gallo and Seventy of BIS soldi-
ers Killed and Scores Wounded In .
Fierce Battle with the Arabs,

Fierce Battle with the Arabs,
MADRID, Oct. 29.-.Gen. Margallo
commandments of the Spanish
troops at Melilla, was shot dead yester-
dav while leading sortie against the
Rifflans. Seventy Of his men were killed
and 122 others were wounded.
The sortie was made after the Rlff1ans
had driven back to the citadel the Span.
iards who had been building redoubt
near Fort Cabrerizas. The tribesmen,
although under a heavy artillery fire
from the Spanish forts, did not retire af-
ter abandoning the pursuit of the Span.
ish troops. Eventually they occupied
the trenches which had been dug near
Fort Cabrerizas 10 protect the Spanish
soldiers at their work. To dislodge
them Cen. Margallo led out 1000 infan.
try from the fort. The lsfians in the
trenches held them in check until REIN
forcements, 5000 strong, were brought
up from the main body, about mile
back in the bills. The tribesmen then
had some 1000 warriors. They
stretched out their line, apparently for
the purpose of securing Margallo, and
at one time the fighting extended along
three mile front. Marga!lo tried to
break the centre of their line, and
charged with half bis men, but was re.
pulsed, with heavy losses. s.
Just as the order for retreat was gwen.
Gen. Margallo fell from his horse, shot
through the heart. His body was car.
ried by bis men from the field, and lies
now In the citadel at Melilla.
Under q hot fire from the Riffians, the
Spauiards retired to Fort Cabrerizas.
The Rlfians were checked in their pur-
suit by the guns OF the fort. They an.
swered the fire Internationally throughout
last night from the earthworks formerly
occupied by the Spaniards. At mid
night, Gen. Ortega, upon whom the
command developed after Margallo's
death, went to Fort Cabrerizas, with
1,500 infantry This morning he led
out $1,000 men aud drove the Rifnans
from the trenches which the Spaniards
were occupying when the last dispatches
were received.
The commander o! the Spanish cuiser
Conde de Venadito has telegraphed q
report, in which he said: Tho Arabs
approached 80 near at times that their
bullets reached our deck" The city
of Madrid has been intensely excited by
the news of the battle. The official dis
patches which have been made public
are go meagre that the people believe
the worst has not been told. There
is little doubt anywhere thai the losses
OF the Spandards have been undersrated.
The ministers were summonded In haste
to cabinet meeting Immediately after
the news Of the disaster was received.
Orders have been issued for three regi.
ments OF cavalry and four battalions of
infantry to embark at once for Melilla.
Late this evening more details of the
battle were made public. The Rifians
despite the heavy artillery fire, came
within twenty yards of Fort Cabrerlzas.
They maintained constant fusilade,
and fought throughout the battle with
audaclous bravery. The gums Of the
Conde de Venadito -alone. prevented a
still worse disaster to the Spanish troops
and kept the trlbesmen from attacking
Melilla. When the Riffiaus captured
the redoubt building near the fort they
found two canoons. These they turned
at once against the fort, answering rap
idlv the Spanish fire.
The tribesmen remained in the village
of Maxq aita after the fight. They kept
up desultory fire upon the forts and
the Conde de Veuadlto throughout the
night. The cruiser Alfonso the Twelfth
with twelve guns, will proceed to Me.
lila at once. When Gen. Margrllo was
shot the Rif1ans rushed forward to seize
the body. The estremadura regiment
and the battalion undergoing punishment
for breaches Of military discipline shout.
ed and charged from the tort with bay.
onets, clearing away the en- smy and So"
cured the body of ftheir dead commander.
Three hours after the retreat OF the
Spaniards. Gen. Ortega sent from the
citadel to Fort Cabrerizas strong con-
voY with provisions. For twenty Elk
hours before the convoy arrived the SOL
diers in the fort had not tasted food.
The excitement is TREMENDOUS here.
Great crowds have paraded the streets
since noon, singing, waving banners and
shouting for the determination OF the
Riff aus. Uubounded enthusiasm was
caused by the uews that Gen. Macias,
with five battallions and three batteries,
would reach Melilla bsfore mIdaiSht.
Macias is expected by the government
to await further instructions before at
tacklng the Rlffians.
While the ministers were Ia c)uucu
TODAY, Premier Sagssta presiding, all
were summoned to the palace by Queen
R ,gent Christian, who wished to learn
what measures they would take. The
% nisters informed her that they had de-
clded to call ont the reserves and mobil.
ize several army corps, as the latest
events had shown that more than 2,O0O
men will be ueeded to subius the Bit.
fans. The embarkation OF the second
army will be complete on Tuesday aud
troops are leaving all parts OF the coun.
try to form another corps IN Aadalusla.
A dispatch received from Melilla at
midnlgnL says that the troops and war
ships there are in pressing need Of mora
ammunition. The firing is kept up
night and day. Tue Riff1ans renewed
The attack at daybreak yesterday. Two
thousand troops made sortie from Fort
Cabrerzas. The fighting continued
several hours. The forts have shelled
the village Frejana, and all but a tew
huts were totally destroyed. The
mosque was shattered aad the ruins are
10 flames.