Evening journal., 1896-02-27
THE SPANISH BUTCHERS
Soldiers Shoot Down Peaceful
Citizens In Cold Blood.
wEYLERs CAMPAIGN OF CRUELTY.

spain's Troops Break Into Houses and
XIII People Hiding In Fright who Had
Done No Harm--A Reign of Terror
Prevails In Guatas.
HAVANA, via Key West Feb. 27.-Refu-
gees from the towns of Punta Bravo and
Guatas, 12 miles away, report reign OF
terror in that locality in consequence OF
troops having murdered peaceable citizens.
An official government report issued
Sunday, stated that a fight occurred mean
Punta Bravo the previous day between
troops sent from Marianoa and insurgents
under Vallaneuva and Acosta, resulting
in "a glorious victory for the Spanish
arms, 90 insurgents having been killed
and ; prisoners taken.
Residents of Guatas have identified Is
Of the dead as peaceful citizons. Only two
were insurgents Nearly all the prisoners
are said to be peaceful men. One Of them,
named Ladislao Quintero, claims Ameri-
can citizenship.
An investigation by American corro-
Fpondents, one Of whom was arrested foi
it and imprisoned in Moro castle, resulted
in outlining the following facts:
On the morning of the 22d about 40 in
surgents, under Vallaneuva and Acosta,
were attacked on the highway by force
under Lieutenant Zugastl Of the civil
guards.
The insurgents retreated, and the troops
entered Punta Bravo. They remained two
hours, sending a mounted messenger to
Marianao, four miles east, and asking that
troops be sent to Punta Braya.
DE Cervora's Bloody Work.
The Marquis de Cervera, the alcalde OF
Marianoa, then sent 200 men, including
volunteers, flremen, cavalry and artillery,
all under command OF Captain Calvo.
The troops found about 25 rebels at o
bridge on tho highway east of Punta
Bravo. After brush, with no casualty
on either side the rebels retreated south
toward Guatas, leaving the road before
reaching that town and scattering.
The Spaniards, pursuing, entered Qua
tas, firing right and left at everybody in
sight.
A millSman, loading wagon in front
Of q house an eighth of a mile outside the
town, was wounded. He ran into the
house. Some troops left the line, broke
into the house and shot the man dead In
his room.
The inhabitants of Guatas fled to the
woods OF hid upon the arrival Of the
troops. Several men were shot while run
ming toward the woods, while Others were
killed in their places Of concealment.
The troops entered houses and shot peo-
pie. One man, sick with erysipelas, was
killed in bed. One woman, whose hus
band hid In a bedroom, stood in front of
the door pleading. She was struck with
musket and knocked insensible. Then
soldier broke down the door and shot hei
husband. One man SO years old was kill
ed. All were peaceful citizens
Inofensive Citizen Shot.
Three brothers, Chaves, cigar makers,
working in Havana left this city Satur-
day noon and went to Guatas to visit their
mother One was shot dead running &c
the woods. The other two were made pris-
oners.
The troops took the dead bodies from
tho houses and the fields and placed them
/ in front of the principal store.
Prisoners captured without arms were
i pinioned and compelled to walk to Maria
mao, being bruised and i'll treated on the
way so that they required medical atten-
tion upon arrival. Three physicians of the
Rod Cross society went to Guatas and
found 13 dead but no wounded
Five prisoners were taken TO the out
skirts of Punta Brava and killed.
Among the killed was the town grave.
! digger, making it necessary to obtain ne
| groes to dig graves for the slain.
| Guatas and Punta Bravo are now de-
Serted the residents having fed in fear Of
their lives.
Captain General Weyler has sent tele-
gram of congratulation to tho Marquis de
| Cervera.
The towns of Guatas and Punto Brava
| ara now desertad The residents fled to
Havana in fear Of their lives. OF 1,7l0
people in the latter town only II remain.
The action of the troops so close to Ha-
vnna has created an intense sensation here.
The only official notice taken by the gov
ernment is a telegram Of congratulation
sent to Marquis de Cervera on Sunday.
General Weyler, when asked If ho had in.
vestigated the affair, said there was com
bat and persons were killed with arms in
hand. The prisoners wero also taken with
arms, he said.