Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-06-27
PATRIOT SUCCESSES.
Two Spanish Strongholds Cap
 tured by Cuban Forces.
PUERTO PRINCIPE IS SURROUNDED.
General Gomez and General Maceo, Each at the Head of a Large Body of Troops, Are Soon to Combine and Capture the City-Some Hot Fighting.


 Are Soon to Combine and Capture the
 City-Some Hot Fighting.
 HAVANA, Juno 27.-Tho most serious news of Spanish disasters received since the outbreak of the rebellion has reached here. The garrisOns of two towns have surrendered, and the places themselves have been burned by Maxine Gomez. Firing was heard constantly around Pu- erto Principe on Tuesday night, and cx- traordinary precautions are being taken to protect that city.
 Owing to the restrictions placed by the government upon the transmission of tel egraphic news concerning the insurrcc- tion, only the most meagcr details of tho disasters to the Spanish arms arc obtain able. It appears certain, however, that the garrison of Fl Mulato, in the province of Puerto Principe, and only about 30 kilOmctcrs from the city of Puerto Prin- cipc, capital of the province, has surren- dered to Maximo Gomez.
 The garrison consisted of about 25 Spanish soldiers under Lieutenant Bcccr- ra Romero, and they were quartCrcd in gIano house, fortified with palisades and pierced with loopholcs for rifles. The place was also PrOvisiOncd and contained quite a stock of ammunition.
 During the unexplained absence of Lieutenant Romero the fort was sur rounded by about 1000 insurgents under the command of MaXimo Gomez. The latter sent messenger to the garrison of Fl Mulato announcing that he gave the soldiers Ia minutes in which to surrender, with the alternative of being fired upon by the full insurgent force if they refused to do so.
 It is added that the soldiers were will ing to fight and were preparing to do so when Lieutenant Romero arrived at the fort, and, his presence being made known to Maximo Gomez the latter sent him q second note saying the insurgents had no desire to shed blood unnecessarily, and therefore the lieutenant was given five minutes moro in which to surrender the fort and its contents to the insurgents. Thcrcupon, it is added, the lieutenant surrendered the garrison against the de- sire of his soldiers, who were most indig nant at being compelled to capitulate without firing a shot
 Burned the Village. When the garrison was in the hands of | the insurgents, Maximo Gomez ordered the village of El Mulato to be burned, and after dcpriving Lieutenant Romero of his arms set him at liberty. The lieu tenant was aftcrward arrested by the au- thoritics of Puerto Principe, and it is thought probable that he will be prompt | ly tried by court martial and shot like Lieutenant Gallcgo, who commanded a garrison which was surprised in a similar | manner while the lieutenant in command was away.
 In addition the town of San Geronimo, situated about 15 kilomctcrs southeast of | Fl Mulato, has met the same fate as the | latter place.
 Il attopEnI Inv fhn mi der Maximn Gomez and was burned to | the ground after its garrison If about 90 | men had surrendcrcd. In this case, how | cvCr it iS stated that the soldiers succeed | cd in burying n great part of their stores l of ammunition before the fort of San Geronimo was captured by the enemy. | Adviccs which have reached here from l Puerto Principe would seem to indicate that the city referred to is invested by tho insurgents. Tuesday night firing was constantly heard around Puerto Principe, and the military governor of that place has issued proclamation forbidding any | one to come into the towns or go out of them after dark, and no more than three persons in the future are to be allowed to | assemble in public. Finally no one is to be allowed on horseback in the city of Puerto Principe after nightfall. It is rumorcd here that Antonio Macco has succeeded in making his way from the province of Santiago dc Cuba into the province of Puerto Principe at the head of a large body of insurgents, and it may he his intention to join his forces with those | oc MaXimo Gomez and make q combined attack upon Puerto Principe.
 It k also rumOrcd here that the rear guard of the insurgent force, commanded by Gomez, has been attacked by the Span ish troops, who killed l2 of tho enemy and captured 19 prisnncrs.
 Although tho authorities here will not admit it. the situation of affairs in tho province of Puerto Principe is looked up- on as heinz most serious. With a large body of insurgents under Maximo Gomez burning towns and capturing forts short distance tO the south of the city of Puerto Principe, and with Antonio Macco at the head of another large body of insurgents reported to be advancing upon Puerto Principe from tho north, further and more serious news may be anticipated shortly.