The Penn's Grove record., 1896-12-18
PLOTTING MAoEo's DEATH.


tain-General Weyler and the Marquis
de Ahumada have for some time been
plotting to lure Maceo to his death.
Repeated efforts we're made to entice
the Cuban leader 10 a ''conferenoe,"
but all failed because Maceo would not
trust Weyler.
In the meantime, however, Weyler
and Ahumada succeeded in C rruptinp
DR.. Zertucha. who was the personal
physician Of Maceo. Zertuchs agreed
to do all he could to further the plane
of Weyler and Ahumada, and how
we'll he succeeded is shown by the fact
that Maceo and every member of his
staff, save Zertucha himself, are dead.
Zertucha, some days ago, informed
Weyler that the latter must appear to
withdraw from the negotiations for a
conference, as Maceo would not trust
the Captain General. Weyler agreed,
and Dor after left on his second cam
psign in Pinar del Rio, leaving the
development Of The murderous plot to
the Marquis di Ahumada, who is Act
ing Captain General when Weyler 10
in the field.
The day after Weyler left Havana
he Marquis di Ahumada dispatched a
note to DR.. Zartucha requesting him
to induce Maceo to agree TO a confer
ence for the purpose of discussing a
plan to bring about a cessation of hos
t~ilities. Ahumada, in the note, in
timated that he had full power to act,
and that any agreement made by him
with Maceo would be upheld by the
Madrid Government.
DR.. Zertucha showed the note to
Maceo and urged the Cuban chief to
agree to meet Ahumada, urging that
he (Zertucha) knew the Marquis per-
sonally and would youch for his hon.
esty and honor.
RELIED ON A LAG OF TRUCE.
After celebrating over the s0itter
Maceo agreed to meet Ahunada under
flag Of truce and q point near Punta
Bravo vas named for the conference,
which was fixed for December 7. The
conditions were that Maceo should be
accompanied by his staff, that Ahu-
NADIA should be similarly accompanied,
and that only side arms should be
worn. =
Ahumada also sent a note to Maceo
guaranteeing him safe conduct across
the trocha. In pursuance of his plan
Ahumada instructed the guards along
the northern portion of the trocha to
allow Maceo and his staff to pass with
out molestation.
The preliminaries settled, the Cuban
leader and his aids began their journey
todesth. On arriving ut the trocha they
crossed without m~olestation. Some of
The spanish soldiers actually saluted
General Maceo.
On December z Maceo and his staff
arrived at the rendezvous, near Punta
Bravo, but they found no Marquis de
Alumads. Instead the Cubans were
quickly surrounded by Q Gordon of
spanish soldiers. Macso Immediately
OWNED that he had been cruelty
trapped, and his suspicious were con-
firmed when Major Cirnjsda. com
manding the Spanish troops, dashed
up and demanded the conditional
surrender OF Maoeo and h. ,tsff.
DIED crying SCUBA LIBREl"
Maceo refused. and hardly had he
uttered the words when Major Cirujeda
orde cd the troops to fire, and yolley
after vo ey was, poured into the little
band Of patriots, who, although out
numbered q hundred to one, fought
desperately and died crying "Cuba
Lbreip'
Or. Zertucha, the letter states, know
ing what was about to happen, ranged
himself on the side of the Spaniards so
as to escape their fire. The letter adds
that the spanisrds searched the corpse,
and took away every note that would
indicate that Ahumada had been a
party to The negotiations that led
Maceo across The trocha.
TRIED TO DlsFIeURE THE BODIES.
The bodies of Maceo and young
Gomez we're then tied to the tails Of
horses and dragged over the field so as
to d~isigure them, as the Spanisrds did
not wish to have them discovered and
identified at first
SIT ia stated that this murder leaked
out through . drunken Spanish soldier