The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-03-04
The ssAmerican Armenia.
Massacre of Peaceable Citi-
zens by Spanish Soldiers.


Habaoa, Feb. 20, via Key West
FEB. rs Refugees feom the toWos o
Punsx Brara aud Guatao. II mile:
away, have arrived at aabaua, aud
state that reigo Of terror exists 10 their
territory in consequence of troops hav-
ing massacred peaceable citizens at
Guatao on Saturday. the 22d.
The official scvernnen: report, lssned
Sunday. states that fight occurred near
Punta Brara Oh tie previous day be-
tween the troops sen: from Mariana
Naud the iosurgens bands of VilEaneVa
aud Acosts. resulting in glorions vic
tory for Spanish armies. and 20 i"sur-
gents having beee killed aud Is pris-
oners taken. Residents at Gua'o have
identified Is of the dead as pacl6cos
peaceful citizens Two we're iosurserts
and the prisoners are said to be peace
ful. Ooe Of them named Ladislao
Guiotero claims American citizenship
He is wounded by ball 10 the arm
The following names o. the dead
paci6cos have been obsained Jose
Caterna, Pedro Amerdor, Pascual
Chaves, Vidal Pfieto. Francisco Loza.
II. Quisano, NJ Haroaudez Ascsdio
Garcia, Francisco Sades aud Paucho
Chico. It is impossible to obtain the
pames of the others owing to the fright
of the Inhabitants.
A thorough investigation by Ameri
can correspondents despite the tact that
one of their number has been arrested
and lod ged in Moro castle, accused CT
visiting Guatao. has resulted in obtain :
ing sne following facts.
% the morning Of the 22l, band
not exceeding 40 insurgents under Viii
laueuva aud Acosta were attacked 90
highway by troops under Lieutenant
Sugas;i and civil guards also under the
alcade Of Hoyo Colorado, town two
miles west of Pun,a Brara The fight
occurred at the western entrance Of
Puuta Brara, IL miles from Habaua.
1t resulted in the wouodiug Of one
Spanish soldier who was shot in the
head aud died half an hour later The
insurgents withdrew aud the troops
entered Punta Brara and remained two
hours. sending mounted messengers 20
Mariapso, four miles east. asking that
trooos be sent to Pupta Brara. Lieu
tenant Zugassi then moved his de'ach-
ment back to Hoyo Colorado. The
Marquis de Cervera. alcalde Of Mari
aoao, 10 command Of troops there, sent
200 men, ioc!uaiog the battalion Or
der Poblico, ,"-vclunteers, fireman aud
a section of horse artillery, all under
command of Captain Calvo The
troops found group Of about 25 rebels
at stone bridge ou the highway at the
eastern entrance of Puuts Brara at 4
p. m., aud some scattering firing fol-
lowed Both sides aduit no losses oc.
Cured.
The rebels retreated south along the
road leading to Gaatao. a small town
one mile distant, leaving the road be-
fore arriving at the town aud scatter
ing in all directions.
The Spanish column kept the road aud
entered Guatao 6riug right and left
at everybody in sight. A mi!kman
loading wagon in front of bis house,
an eighth of mile outside of town,
was shot aud wounded. He ran aud
concealed himself in the house Some
troops left the line, broke into the
house and shot the man dead in his
room. The people Of Guatao fed 70 the
woods or bid in houses upon the arli-
val Of the troops, who fred indiscrml-
oately. The town contains about 40
houses, many of them ouly thatched
huts Several meu we're shot running
toward the woods aud others 10 places
Of copcealment. Some too old 10 rrD.
One Cid man sick with erysipelas was
killed in bed. TIE troops entered the
. houses aud shot men in the rooms.
One woman, whose husband hid 10 a
bed room. stood in the front door plead
ing for life. was struck by the butt OF
musket aud Knocked intensible. A
soldier broke down the door aud shot
her husband. Ono man 58 years old
was killed. All mentioned were peace.
able citizens.
The three brothers, Cbaves, cigar
makers, working 10 Habana, left work
in this city Saturday noon ADD went to
:. Guatao in the afternoon to visit their
mother. One was shot dead running to
1.-The woods aud two were taken prison
ers. The troops brought the bodies OF
the dead from the houses and fields and
placed them on the groupd iu front ol
the main store
MALTREaTED OR MURDERED.