The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-06-28
DEADL YMACHETE
wlsided by Cuban insurgents, With
Terrible Results.
DETAILS O. A FIERCE CONFLICT
Between Gomez Force and q
Band of GuerrillaS.

HAVANA June 23.-DetailS have been
received Of desperate fight between a
portion OF the insurgcnt force under Max.
limo Gomez, IN the province of Puerto Prin.
cipe, aud 20 of the auxiliary troops Of the
Spanish government known as guerrillas,
under Captain Aguero.
The engagement took place the day Of
the raid upon san Geronimo, when the
fort mt that place was captured and its
garrison OF 30 men were made prisoners
shortly after tho capture of FL Mulato and
its garrison of 25 men.
The 70 guerrillas were surprised by the
vanguard OF Gomez force commanded
by Nicasio Mirabel, and there was great
slaughter ON both sides the fighting being
mainly with machetes, the deadly wood
ohopping sword used by the Cubans, as
we'll as by tho inhabitants of tho South
and Central American republics.
The guerrillas were out on recon
noitering expedition and unexpectedly
came across the insurgent vanguard,
consisting OF about 400 men. At first the
guerrillas imagined they had only com.
paratively small body of men before them,
and their commander, AguNo, called
upon the Insurgents TO halt, crying out,
''Who goes therey"
"Spanisls forces" was the reply OF the
insurgcnt lssdcr, Nicasio NIirabel, as his
men continued to advance rapidly upon
the government guerrillaS Twice or
three times more did the guerrillas try 10
halt the Insurgents, but tho latter pushed
on quickly until, finally, their leader, Sec
Ing that tho guerrillas were in an awk-
ward position, cried
Guerriiias outwitted.
"At the Macbeth" This cry showed
the government force that they were con-
fronted hy insurgents and not by dc.
tachmont of Spanish gucrrillas IA they
had beon led TO beliCN and tho mask
being thus thrown of sie guerrillas re-
piled to tho then Oft repeated cries Of AT
the macbeth, with volleys from their car
bines rs they commenced To retreat before
tho vastly s---erior force Of insurgents.
In fact from that time on until almost
surrounded tho guerrillas fought while |
retreating
But, eventually the government soldiers
and the insurgcnt troops became mixed
up in u terrible hand to hand combat
which soon became little more than a
massacre OF the unfortunate guerrillas.
The insurgents, In the meanwhile, had
been re-enforced until they are said to
have numbered 1900 men, composing the
main body of mon under command OF
Maxine Conner
The guerrillas fought heroically, shout
Ing, viva Espanaw as they defended
themselves as best they could against tho
enemy, using trees, rocks or anything
available behind which TO shelter Them
selves as they fired as fast as possible at
the insurgents, who pressed forward on ali
sides.
For one hour the fight lasted and moth
Ing could be heard but the cracking OF
carbinos, the shouts of tho combatants
and the clashing OF machetes, and 1t Is
believed that few, II any, Of the guerrillas
escaped being killed or wounded.
Captain Aguero led his men gallantly
until an iDsurgent slashed at his horses
head with machete, and put a terrible
rash In the animal, causing it to fall and
throw the guerrillas leader heavily to the
ground.
The insurgents engaged with Aguero's
yuerrillas are believed to form part of tho
nen which recently burned the body of
owns OF El Mulato and San Geronimo
'fter capturing them.
Cause Fer worrimcnt.
Tho forts and garrisons of those places
md tho news of this fresh disaster has
aused, 10 Is said very uneasy feeling IN
filcial circles. Be that as ID may, there Is
10 doubt that, II the government officials
re willing 10 admit these disasters to the
ipsnish army In Puerto Principe within a
ew days, and not far from the capital of
hat province that the situation of affairs
here must be very grave indeed, and may
rove much more so when Maceo, who is
eportcd to have made his way from the
rovince of Santiago do Cuba into Puerto
'rincipe, joins his forces to those Of
iomex-
That there IL real cause for alarm NAV
Q gathered from the fact that General
o Campos has cabled to the Spanish aoy.
rnment asking for the prompt dispatch
large re'onforcements. of troops from q
pain. 7
Adyices received here from Santiago de
'uba say that an insurgcnt force, number,
,g about 400 men, has made an attack
pom Tiarriba, In the province Of Santiago
e Cuba, and that they were repulscd. are I
ow In Digit and are being pursued by the q
panish troops !
De Campos Asks For More Troopa