Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-01-08
TOLD BY AN EYE WITNESS.
Particulars of Battle Between Cubaas
and SpanlardS.
Very Different from the omciaI n
ports sent ont by the SPAN
ish General.

ST. LOUIS, Jan. s,-The Globe DEM
oorAt OF this morning publishes n letter
from Havana under date Of January
Let, as follows:
Hon. 8. f. Laney, q sugar planter.
whose place is near NaraJas, arrived
here today after the unusual experience
OF i've days with the Insurgents.
Gomsz's army approached his place
aud was about 10 burn his cane when
hs protested ana started to look for
Brig. General Ztyas with whom he
was acquainted. He was promptly
made prisoner aud taken before
MAoeo, who turned him over 10
Gomez. The rebel commander took
him hs . guest but for military reasons
would not let him 40 home at once.
The general Questioned him aud was
Questioned by Dim during tue five days
OF Lsnoy's stay with the Insurgents,
Gomszs army swung In big circle,
first along the line Of the railroad,
passing PedToso, Torriente, Claudio. and
coming around south Of MuIga, They
crossed over TO the east, crossed another
railroad lins north Of Aquadh, and re-
o.sed II on the western arc near
Calimsic. This 10 where the big fight
occurred, but Mr.. Laney gives a very
different account OF II than that pub.
lished. According 10 official reports
the insurgents lost 100 or moro men,
while the losses OF the Spanish were
put down as Is killed aud "a wounued.
~ Jaw Bome OF MaceOs men fall
dead, and there were other ossualties,"
says Mr.. Laney. Shut no more than
-. A. Lad 4 4 "A a
Spanish soldiers ON ths field after the
fight when the SpRhisrds retreatsd.
''Tho battle startled Just as Gomez's
msu were hanging = negro, also OF the
command. He had asbauited u negTess,
and was condemned by court martial.
They were hanging him back OF the
buildings OF a sugar plantation when n
volley was fired aud one OF the exocu-
ton squad was killed. The rebel in.
fantry dropped Into the grass aud
began to Hnswor the IRE with great
effect, while cavalry came around and
charged the SpAniaTds who had
formed In two squares. The frsl
with the Infantry, who, crawling
into II. l heard Gomez order
machete charge on the other
square and under that charge the
square melted away, the soldiers find.
Ing shelter and protection in the cane.
After tho battle when the Insurgents
had mustered up quite n number OF
mnuBers, they came back TO the build.
ings where their wounded were. Later,
As the column moved away, the Span
isrds opened Ore with cannon, but did
little damage. General Navarro came
up with more forces In our rear and
nTed. The insurgents did not iire after
leaving the plantation.
"LElet on in the march the rebel
column was fired on by u train load OF
troOps. Another man was killed and
there was third engagement. This
did little damage. From Calemete
the march WAS northwest. The troops
crossed the railroad Just west OF Baro
and reerossed IL Mt Corralitos. Thence
they marched TO NeyAjss, where 1 was
released near home. There are,
sh ould eatimate, about 8, 900 men with
Gomez AMI MRooo. / understand there
arc n couple OF thousand more TO the
north under LAcTe and perhaps an equal
number n the south under BAndeTa.n
There was n story that Gomez was
going 10 avsngo the execution Of Ca
bacillo Acsbo ON certain prisoners he
had anu OF this Mr.. Laney saiui
"Nothing could be- wider from the
truth. Prisoners are nearly always re-
leased at once"
snow, Mr.. LAney, there are, nc.