The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-11-11
An American Who Was With the
Insurgent Army Talks
of 1t.
Patriots Are Growing Stronger
and Very Well Armed-- How
They Get Them.
Story of the Death of Jose Marti
He Was Killed by a Hired
Assassin.

New YORK, Nov. 1l.-Edward A.
Gilmore of San Antonio, Tex, a ma
chinist and engineer, who went to Cuba
some time ago on business and subse-
uuently enlisted as a lieutenant in the
insurgent army, is in New York, having
escaped from the field with considerable
difficulty in order to visit his home.
Gilmore, in telling of his experiences
threw a great deal of light OF the war
and the source of insurgent supplies. Re-
gently he was sent to the western part
of the island as a scout. 81 found
patriots everywhere he said, "ln
groups numbering from 10 to 300, &C
cOrding to the size of the community.
They all had machetas, and some had
an extra supply of the weapons. Many
had rifles usually the Remington
breech loader-with a considerable sup
ply Of cartridges. The greatest num-
Der found in any one place was 120
rifles and 5000 cartridges. On the
whole, l found between 5000 and 49,
600 rifles in the hands of patriots, and
from GO, 900 to 10000 cartridges"
Spanish Soldiers Sell Ammunition.
Gilmore says the insurgents have no
| difficulty in securing arms and ammu-
milton. They levy OIL the merchants
and sugar planters, requiring of them
so much in money, or, preferably, a
| given number of rifles and cartridges.
Another source is the Spanish army
itself. The Spanish soldiers do not
scruple to sell cartridges to the enemy.
MANY a Cuban woman the Texan
continued, "has given a half starved
Spanish private a cup of coffee in ex-
change for a loaded magazine. But
such trades bring cartridges only
in driblets. l have bought them by the
case-l,O 900 in o box-from Spanish
l]ieutenants. A meeting would be ar.
ranged by a 60 between-not infre.
uuently a woman The lieutenant
J would have from $1,000 to 1900 car
tridges for the use of the troops under
him. and he was very glad to sell a few
cases for cash. We paid So in Spanish
gold for a case. The lieutenant reported
them as used in the usual course of war,
and so got new supplies from head
quarters.
Mauser Rifles Hard to Get.
y "Of course, Mauser cartridges are of
no value in a Remington rifle, so we
had to get Mauser rifles. l never heard
of a Spaniard selling a Mauser. We had
to fight for them. Every time there is
a skirmish the Cubans make a point of
Selling all the Mauser rifles they can
get. Usually in q meeting between,
say. 500 Spanish troops and al equal
number of Cubans, the latter manage to
get about 100 of the rifles. In this way
the insurgent army has become well
equipped. To my W knowledge,
1000 Mausers have been captured in
these sk~irmishes."
story Of Jose Martfs Death.
Gilmore says the true story of the
death of Jose Marti has never been told.
The Sprniards,' he said, tell about
Marti coming out before his troops at
the battle of Dos Rios, and with buster
and brag, inviting the death that over
took him. The ruth is, he was assasSl-
mated by a %traitorious Cuban at the
instance of Colonel Sandobal Of the
Spanish army. This is not the Col
onel Sandoval that was wounded in
a recent battle, but another officer OF
similar name. Colonel Sandobal gave
the traitor 81, 900 gold in advance to
kill the patriot, with a promise OF $4,000
more when the deed was dOn The
traitor went 70 Marti's camp and en-
listed as a guide-a post for which he
was well titted-and for a month he
served we'll. Then Marti started for
aIo o,ocf 20 oCp harG on q vasSal that
awaited him, taking only the traitor
with him. The guide
Shot the General in the Back.
threw the body into the brush and re-
turned to Sandobal with proof Of his
deed. He received, but he did
not long enjoy the gold. Within
a week the patriots had him,
and they made short work of
him, and inside Of two months they
had Sandobal. General Masso gave the
I scoundrel the benefit of q trial. The
I courtmartial found that the assassina.
I ton had been planned by Sandobal and
l he was shot to death"
This Patriot Army Number $4,000.
When Gilmore left Cuba the patriot
armies numbered $4,000 men, ant
a against them were arrayed &c, 900 vel
, armed and well equipped Spanish sol
diers. The Cubans were growing
stronger and the Spaniards weake,
every day, but the friends Of Cubal
freedom have one thing to fear-the in
sidious influence of Spanish gold
Coupled with the fine promises OF Mar
u tinez Compos, the liberal use OF none.
- suggested the possibility that some o
the leaders might be bought off. TIL
" condition Of affairs is frightful, but it i
I the natural result Of the war.
Wants the Treaty Abrogated.
DULUTH, Mimi, Nov. 1l.-Mayc