Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1896-02-26
VOLUNTEERS
At Jaruco, by Prearrangements,
Surrender to the Rebels.
A Train-Load Of Spanish Soldiers,
Sent From Havana, Attacked.
Latter Routed and Town Burned-Troops
Concentrating in the Territory in Which
Gomez and Maceo Now Operate-A
Decisive battle Imminent

HAVANA, Feb. 90, via Tampa, Fla, Z,
Feb. 25.-The government accounts of
the attack upon Jaruco, railroad
town between Havana and Matanzas
on the 18th are vague and lacking in
many important details. Those CLEAN
ed FROM the residents of the town are
quite different The attack was
made by Aguirre with 400 men.
The volunteers of Jaruco, numbering
$50 men surrendered by preconccrted
arrangement. They joined the insurg-
ents, taking with them 10000 rounds
OF ammunition. They rescued 90 pris-
oners, burned the Jail, the town hall
and many other buildings. The train
load of troops sent from Havana was
attacked upon arrival and driven from
the cars, one of which was arm
ored. Seven soldiers were found
dead in that car. Some of the
soldiers ran and joined the
rebels, being fred at by their COM
rades as they deserted. Others held
together and escaped only after many
were shot. This town, which is an i'm
portant one of over 1000 inhabitants,
is now in ruins. The railroad station
is one of the few buildings that es-
capped. After the burning of
Jaruco series of engagements
with the parties of Gomez and
Maceo followed, lasting two days. The
insurgents, as usual, moved about
from place to place tiring the columns
of Gems. Aldecoa, Linares and Col.
Hernandez and occasionally giving
them a short fight, but moving on
when the troops began artillery fire.
In addition to the forces which have
recently joined Gomez, other bands
are moving west through Santa Clara
and Matanzas provinces.
Government troops are being con-
cent ntrated in tine territory in which
Gomez and Maceo now operate and a
decisive encounter at an early day
seems probable.
Of all the sugar estates in Matanzas,
Havana and Santa Clara provinces the
only one now grinding cane is Con-
stancia, near Cienfuegos. 1t is owned
by an American syndicate, at the
head of which is the firm of Perkins
&c Walsh, New York, which recently
failed.
AS this is the only estate on the en-
tire island outside of Santiago prov
ince which is grinding, something
about the methods followed may be in
teresting. A chain of forts, or block
houses, have been built around the
estate. There are 46 of these forts
In each fort are ten or twelve men
and mounted guerillas ride from
one fort to another and are always
in readiness to move to any point
which is threatened. Eight hundred
and sixty men are employed as guards
and de detachment of 100 Spanish troops
is also stationed on the place The
numerous small bands of insurgents in
the neighborhood make frequent at
tacks and exchanging shots with the
enemy is part of the daily routine.
These encounters seldom result more
seriously than in the wounding OF one
or two guards, and occasionally
the death of an insurgent. The latter
have burned 20 cabins on the estate,
but have not succeeded in burning the
cane or mills A force of about /, 200
men are now at work on the estate
The extra cost of guards is $50, 900
month. The manager of the estate
the Marquis Apetugua, calculates that
the increased price in sugar this year
will make the grinding profita ble.