Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-12-17
STORY OF HOW MACEO DIED.
Full Details as Gathered from the Span
iards Who Took Part in the Killing.
Havana via Kev West December 16.

Full Details. as Gathered from the Span
iards Who Took Part in the Killing.
Havana, via Key West, December 16.
Following are the full details as
CLEANED by careful investigation among
those who took part in the affair of the
killing of Antonio Maceo:
After crossing the tracha by land as
has been indicated in previous dis
patches to the Associated Press An
tonic Maceo and staff, it appears, were
encamped in the hills and expecting
the arrival of Cuban reinfOrcements
under Brigadier General Sanchez and
others ordered by Gen. Aguirre to re-
ceive and escort the noted Pinar del
Rio chief to the east.
Major Cirujeda was totally ignorant
of Maceo's presence in the district be-
lieving him TO be still west of the tro-
cha. But learning that a Spanish fort
on the San Pedro had been fired on that
morning by insurgents he started out
on a recOnnOitering tour, at the head
of a remnant of the San Quentin bat
TALON. ACCOMPANIED by a force of guer-
illas under Captain Peral. The latter
men were dressed in a manner very
similar to that OF the insurgent troops
and were marched in the van guard OF
the Spanish column.
Mistaking these for the Sanchez's van
guard challenges having been made and
countersigns given satisfactorily, Maceo
surrounded by the members of his staff
and a handful of followers advanced with
all confidence to meet his friends, when
the guerrillas received them with rifle
volley. Maceo fell az the first fire, his
men. temporarily disconnected with the
surprise retiring by the hanks. Young
Gomez. though he had been previously
wounded at the trocha and still had his
arm in a sling, assisted, as the engage
meut became general, n dragging his chief
to a place of temporary safety on the
grass and remained by his side until. real
izing that they had been abandoned, Co
mez wrote the note to his parents which
has been previously telegraphed to the
Associated Press and then committed sui
eide by shooting himself with a revilver.
After the fight the Spanish scout Santa
Ana, accompanied by the bugler of the
San Quentin battalion, while reconnoiter-
ing the field in quest of documents and
other objects of value, ran upon the body
OF Maceo. who was still alive. As the
bugler pulled the ring from his finger, he
asked in an agonized tone if they were
Spaniards or Cubans. "Spaniards." 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 severing
the victims head from his body, the
scout interposing remarked: THAT man
resembles 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
him by the feet to the horses tail he pro-
ceeded.
Meanwhile the insurgents. learning
that their chiefs body was in Spanish
hands. and being evidently reinforced,
rallied and made a new attack and sue
ceeded IL recovering the body. The Span
ish officers. unaware of its Importance,
cut it loose as unnecessary impediment
The full statements of Dr. Zertucha
have not been allowed to be telegraphed
even to Madrid.