The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-04-11
VESSEL WRECK.
Did Not Deter Many From
Getting Into Cuba.
Insurgents Ranks SwelIed by Press
ing Laborers Into Service.

PHILADELPHIA, April ii.-some start
nng details of the successful efforts Of the
insurgents 10 get an entrance into the
port Of Baracoa on the north side of Cuba,
and the wreck of the small British
schooner that brought them to the en-
trance Of that place, the shooting OF her
master by the Spanish soldiers and the
imprisonment OF her entire crew was told
by the officers of the Norwegian steamship
Spero which arrived yesterday from that
port.
Excitement runs high at Baracoa, and
the majority OF the residents OF this place
seem to sympethize with the insurgents.
The large number that were landed from
the British schooner, which foundered be-
fore her name could be learned, made
good their escape after hot fight with the
Spanish soldiers, 10 Of whom were dan
gerously wounded and are In the hospital.
This occurred on April l, but until
the time the Spero left, April 5. none Of
them bad been captured, and they are
supposed to be proceeding overland to El
Cobre, outside OF Santiago, the scene Of
most Of the insurrection.
Laborsrs Pressed Into Service.
The condition in Baracoa which Is the
center of nearly all the banana planta-
tions OF northern Cuba, is assuming seri-
Gus shape and nearly all the laborers are
being pressed into the service Of the revo-
lutionists. Over 1000 men gave up work
the day the Spero left and joined the ranks
of the insurgents.
The harbor OF Baracoa is being watched
by the Spanish gunboat Espana, and any
further landing of troops from the insur-
gent forces at this point will probably be
prevented. Those who gained entrance by
the British schooner came, it is thought,
from either Nassau or some of the United
States ports in tho gulf. They were well
armed, and fought their way through the
city and out over the mountains, which
lie to the southwark of the quaint old set
tlement
One Of the Spero's passengers said that
the shooting of the English captain was
an accident as 1t happened while he was
being taken to Jail by the Spanish SOL
diers. He was shot through the head and
instantly killed. No one in Baracoa
seemed TO know his name nor the name
Of the vessel he commanded.
The sailors who were on board have all
been cast into the dungeons at Baracoa
and are being closely guarded. The In
surgents that were on board the schooner
were well ahhcu ailu suppiicu Win iot
OF gold.
The distance overland to Santiago is not
far, but the country Is mountainous in
this locality, and they would not be able
to reinforce the insurgent forces for q
week or 10 days.
On the night Of April Spanish mail
steamship landed at Baracoa 200 troops.
brought up from other sections of Cuba.
The Spero visited Mtaya and Uyumuro
two small towns In Cuba, but all was
quiet there.
The Farm line steamship Moukslaton.
Captain Beazley, arrived from Santiago
in Cuba yesterday, but no news of the
condition Of affairs at this place could be
learned. The management of the Fam
Line Steamship company has issued ,,r-
ders prohibiting any OF the officers OF
these ships to give to the public informa-
tion of any sort regarding the Cuban af-
fairs.
Spanish Troops Defeated.
Late reports from Havana from another
source assert that the steamer Manuelita
has just arrived from Santiago with more
than 300 wounded Spanish soldiers. They
were taken to the hospitals there because
the hospitals at Santiago are crowded.
A letter from Santiago mentions battle
at Trocones, near the Canto river, in
which the Spanish general, Saloede, with
1000 men, engaged a band of revolution
lists under Rabi about March 26. The
Spanish loss was said to be $50, while the
Cubans lost four killed and 30 wounded.
The Spanish troops were mostly boys.
The letter states that in the battle pity
was taken on many who were caught and
their life spared.
Maceo has organized large force In
Santiago province. Since his arrival, 500
soldiers who fought under him in the
former revolution, have joined him. They
are principally from Majaquabo, Maceo's
old home