Evening star., 1896-12-17
haceo, the Cuban Leader, Reported
to Have Escaped Death.
MSURGENf CHIEFS IN MhfANzhS
Reports Brought by Passengers
From Havana.
MYSTERY STILL UNSOLVED

| last night from Havana reported that An
tonic Maceo was alive and well in the
province of Matanzas. These passengers
say that all of the festivities that were go
Ing on in Havana to celebrate his death had
been ordered stopped since it had become
known that he was alive
In contradiction of this report another
statement has been given out at Havana.
purporting to describe the circumstances
surrounding Maceo.s death. 1t Is an old
story, more carefully edited than the first
report was. The incongruities are explain
ed and plausible narrative is the result
1t is to the effect that after Maceo had
and was waiting for Gen. Sanchez's forces
to join him. Spanish forces led by Major
Cirujeda appeared. They were on a recon-
noitering expedition and were ignorant of
Maceos presence. MiStaking the local
guerriilas who formed the advance and
whose dress was similar to that of the
Cubans. for the expected forces of Sanchez,
Maceo and his staff and few supporters
went forward. when the guerrillas received
them with rife volley. Maceo fell at the
first fire. his men. temporarily disconnected
with the surprise, retiring by the tanks.
Young Gomez. though he had been pre-
viously wounded at the trocha and still had
his arm In sling. assisted, the engage
ment became general. in dragging his chief
to place of temporary safety on the grass.
and remained by his side until, realizing
| that they had been abandoned, Gomez
wrote the note to his parents. which has
been printed I'm The Star. and then COM
mitted suicide by shooting himself with a
revolver.
After the fight the Spanish scout. Santa
Ana, accompanied by bugler. while going
over the field searching the slain. ran upon
the body of Maceo who was still alive.
How Maceo Died.
AS the bugler pulled the ring from the
finger Maceo asked in an agonized tone If
| they were Spaniards or Cubans. Span
| iards, said the bugler and he raised his
| machete as the dying chief said:
Il die for Cuba and independence"
| AS the knife came down, almost severng
the victims head from his body the scout,
interposing, remarked THAT man resem-
| bles Maceo.''
Impossible" responded the bugler.
'.Maceo is in Pinar del Rio"
The scout insisted that at least it was a
chief of some Importance, and tying the
body by the feet to his horses tail, he pro-
ceeded. Meanwhile the insurgents, learning
that their chiefs body was in Spanish
hands. and being evidently reinforced rail-
lied and made a new attack, drove off the
Spanish and succeeded in recovering the
body. The Spanish officers. unaware of its
Importance. cut it loosenas an unnecessary
impediment.
| forces had encountered and killed Maceo
| till after reaching Guatao at nightfall and
reading the documents. etc.
This story Is at wide variance with the
one originally sent out by the Spanish au-
| thorities in which it was said that less
| than 400 Spaniards drove from behind a
/ stone wall 1900 Cuhans.
| According to Havana advices the full
| statements of DR.. Zertucha have not been
| allowed to be telegraphed, even to Madrid
Says He Saw Maceo.
The Havana correspondent of the New
| York Herald says: .....
l. A well-knowE Cuban, just in from Pinar
| del Rio. assures ME that he saw and talked
| with MaceO on December 3, and that Perico
Diaz has not left the province. The man
killed and taken for Maceo is believed 20
| be Antonio Mena MCntes de Oca. also d
| mulatto and greatly resembling Maceo. 1t
| is alleged also that Baldonero Acosta met
| Maceo when he cro ossed the trocha at Ca
pote. All admit, however, that the report
may not be true.
| Insurgents Satisfied With Their Prog
The following letter, dated in October. at
La Campana, in Sancti Spiritus, province
| of Santa Clara, Cuba, was written to a
prominent Senator by Gen. Francisco Car
| rillo of the Cuban army. After some per-
| sonal illusions. the letter says:
/ THE general condition of the revolu ton
cannot be more satisfactory to us. We are
AhOiS pOWSiAu every udy, "hic at every
step and moment the absolute incapacity
| of Spain to vanquish is put in evidence.
| Our forces cover all the island moving
freely from one end to the other, conduct
! ing offensive tactics everywhere. and re-
peatedly striking good blows 10 the enemy s
| character of this war allows and the man
ner In which the Spaniards carry on the
| campaign.
I'VE can say that the country belongs to
us. In the greater part of the island 1t is
| ours absolutely; as it happens in the east,
| Camaguey, Remedies, Sanau Spiritus. Trim
| idad and Pinar del Rio. In these zones the
| Spaniards live completely shut up. almost
| besieged in the seapOrts and towns of i'm
| portance, and in the rest of the island they
! do not command any more territory than
| the one they tread upon when they are op-
Grating.
In the aforementioned regions the enc
my's operations are limited to carrying
conveys every four or five months. The
enemy goes out in large columns of in
fantry, cavalry and artillery, avoid all bat
tie and march rapidly to their objective
points, and they do so after trying by all
means to outwit our forces so that we will
not know when they go out and how they
march. SO that 1t can be said that the nu-
merous soldiers of the enemy constitute a
true army of occupation only.
The Winter Campaign.
For this, the winter campaign, as they
| Gill IL, tHey VIII attempt 10 90 SOmetnlnS
more and for this purpose have brought
some reinforcements. and they announce
more yet, but they will not be sufficient
can assure you, for them to obtain any ad-
vantage. .,--..
In the meantime. We are also preparing
for this winter campaign. and we are pre-
pairing ourselves well, for now we are not
| In need Of war implements; and, moreover,
| we believe that the Spaniaris, with what
they are able to muster, will attempt to
make last and supreme effort to conquer
US.
Our effective army consists of thirty
thousand men fully armed, and more than
double this number are ready to receive
| weapons under the command of the re-
nowned. indefatigable general-in-chief,
Maxine Gomez.
The Revolutionary Government.
"The supreme power of the revolution as
| you will have seen from our constitution,
voted September 49, 1895, by the representa-
| tives of the Cuban people in arms in meet
! ing assembled, Is vested in a government
| council. consisting of a president and four
secretaries of foreign affairs, war, treas
ury and interior.