The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-06-29
PRAISED BY REBELS
BRAVE DEFENSE OF SAN GERONIMO
BY SPANISH SOLDIERS.
Details of the Burning of the Place
by Maxine Gomez and Surrcn-
der of the Troops

HAVANA, June 2S.-The facts about the
raid and the burning of San Geronimo.
news of which was cabled on Wednesday.
as they are learned in more detail, are
found TO be of Importance. San Geronimo
is the most flOurishing village in the prov
ince of Puerto Principe. About 3 o'clock
in the evening Maxine Gomez appeared
near San Geronimo at the head of 1,5o0
men. He sent to the commander of the
village. saying that he must surrender or
run the risk OF being killed. either by bull
let's or fire. The Spanish commander,
Lieutenant Laborda, tore the note to
pieces, replying:
Tell him TO tome at once and do what
he pleases; that a Spaniard will never sur
render"
Throughout the night their men waited to
be attacked. The families of citizens,
aware of GomeZ's presence in the neigh
borhood, left the town. seeking shelter in
the Guajamal hacienda, at a distance Of
three miles. Meanwhile the rain was fall
ing in torrents. The insurgents allowed
the women and children of the families to
pass out of the city. but held the men in
side. AT sunrise Gomez ordered the Mayor
Of the town to tell the Spanish lieutenant
that he had the town surrounded, and that
he must surrender Immediately. After
wards the Mayor returned, saying: I'm
der no circumstances will he surrender"
Gomez then CAV an order for four hum
dred of his cavalry to dismount and at
tack the place. At the same time they
advanced toward the town and ordered
their prisoners to set fire to the nearest
houses. Gomez was heard to say: That
officer is a brave man. He will not surren-
der in spite Of shooting and fire." He
then commanded that the whole town
should be burned. The fire increased rapid
ly through the town, and the fort in which
the garrison was quartered was already
burning.
The troops kept firing until suffocated by
flag and the insurgents bugle gave the
signal to stop firing. Lieutenant Labourda,
the garrison and twenty-five guerrillas came
forward and agreeing with Gomez as TO the
terms of the surrender, delivered their
santa fa1 and MaSimo Gomez embraced
Lieutenant Labourda, saying to him: You
can shout Viva Espana,' because you are
a worthy defender of her." TIL officers
and soldiers with tears in their eyes. re
vealed in their faces the anguish they felt
at their surrender. which they consented
have been a mad enterprise to attempt to
defend themselves against an army twenty
times as numerous as themselves. A Few
hours afterwards nothing was left OF San
Geronimo but smoldering ashes.
1t is given out here that the loss in
the engagement between the insurgents.
commanded by Gomez, and d company OF
guerrillas, commanded by Aguerro, was, on
the part of the Spaniards, fourteen killed
and eight wounded. while of the insurgents
it is said that nineteen were killed and
left on the field. while the band retreated
with their wounded. Thirty-seven of the
guerrillas went to the town of Las Vegas
and twenty-one went to san Geronimo.
News received at Puerto Principe, capital
of the province of that name, from the
%insurSent camp south of that place., shows
that the insurgents acknowledge a loss or
nineteen men killed in the recent attack
upon Alta Gracia, situated about twenty
five kilometers from Puerto Principe on the
railroad between that place and Nuevitas.
Captain Costa, commanding a detachment
of about forty soldiers, has surprised the
insurgent band commanded by Basilio
Guerra at Aguadita near Sahct Espiritu,
province of Santa Clara. At the first vol
ley from the troops the insurgents fled IN
all directions, leaving one man dead anu
four seriously wounded on the field.
Several young men, who had joined the
insurgents and who have surrendered to the
authorities of Santiago, complain OF the
i'll treatment to which they have been SUBJ
jected by the insurgent leaders.
Lieutenant Ruise, with twenty men. has
had an encounter with a band of insurgents
at Seburucal. One insurgent was killed
and on the side Of the troops a sergeant
was wounded.