Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-17
The ASSASSINATION OF MACEO
How the lnsurgent General Met
His Death,
RECITAL OF HORRIBLE BRUTALITY
Was Lured Into Ambush and
Shot.
Accompanied Only by His STAFF the Cuban
Leader Went TO n Rendezvous Little
Dreaming of the Awfut fate That Was
In Store for Him and His Comrades

Jacksonville. Fla, Dec. l2.--This
city was thrown into great excitement
by tho news this afternoon that thu
Cubans had admitted the correctness
OF the report that the brave leader,
Antonio Maceo, had been butchered.
@, NJ. De Huau, chief of the Florida
Cuban Junta, gayo out the following
statement:
"a letter received by prominent
Cuban in this atty gives the detailed
account OF the assassination of Gen.
Marco and the entire staff, with the
exception Of DIR. Zertucha, who was
Macoo's physician.
"The letter came from reliable
source In Havana, but the cores
pondent's name is withheld for the
obvious reason that the writer would
be shot within an hour by the Spanish
authorities IL they know who gave away
the details OF one OF the most horrible
atrocities ever chronicled in modern
warfare.
"From the letter it appears that the
Marquis OF Ahumada, who officiated as
Captain General Of Cuba during Wey-
ler's absence in the field, sent letter
to Con. Maceo inviting the Cuban
leader TO conference Maceo, never
for moment thinking that treachery
was intended, especially as the invita-
tion came from such prominent
| Spauiard as the Marquis of Ahumada,
Immediately returned an answer saying
that he would be glad to meet the
Spanish General.
accompanied only by his staff he
went to the rendezvous little dreaming
| of the awful fate that was In store for
him. On arriving at the trocha the
| Spanish soldiers there, acting under
orders, actually saluted the rebel
| chieftain as be passed, and after reach
4 ing the rendezvous the Cuban leader
was surprised to see, instead Of the
| Marquis OF Ahumada, large body OF
| Spanish soldiery, who seemed to come
from every side.
1.-THE actions Of the Spanish troops
were 80 suspicious that Maceo felt that
they had him cruelty trapped, and his
suspicious were confirmed when por-
emptory ordcr came ON a spendidly
mounted officer to surrender.
I" Never, was the reply. and hardly
had the words been uttered when
polley after volley was poured into the
little band of CubanH, who although
hemmed in on all sides, outnumbered
almost 100 to l, struck spurs to
their horses, and. with cries OF
Cuba Libre = rode CALAMITY to their
death.
"Maceo is reported TO have fallen at
the tirst fire with a bullet through his
head, breaking his jaw. Another hit
him in the abdomen. Both were fatal.
Gomez was the next to fall, and in
a few minutes bloody oorpses, shot
almost beyond recognition, were all
that remained of tho gallant Cubans
who trusted to Spanish honor.
"Only one member of the staff
escaped, and that was DIR. Zertucha.
The latter says the corpses were buried
on the field and every precaution was
taken to keep the details from being
made public
The Spanish Minister at Washington
expresses the hope that the American
people will suspend judgment regarding
the reported assassination OF Macec
until the real facts are known.