St. Paul daily globe., 1896-01-16
FOUGHT FIVE HOURS
SEVERE ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN
INSURGENTS AND SPANISH
TROOPS.
GEN. GOMEZ LED AN ATTACK.
REFUSED AFTER HEAVY LOSS
AND PURSUED BY THE SOL
DIERS.
CAMPOs CALLS FOR CAVALRY.
RumOrs of Negotiations With the
Rebels-MaceO Marching Toward
Pinar del Rio.
GEN. GOMEZ LED AN ATTACK.
cAMros CALLS FOR CAVALRY.

HAVANA, Jan. 15.-The cause or
heavy artillery fire heard yesterday in
the direction of Bejucal, south of this
city, remained q mystery until noon
today. 1t appears that Gen. Linares,
commanding a strong force of Spanish
troops, moved from the vicinity Of
Hanagua, Santisko. Rincon and Salud
upon Bejucal, on learning that CO.
mez's forces had attacked Bejucal, and
been repulsed after five hours lighting.
Not satisfied with this repulse the in
surgents prepared to make a second at
tack yesterday. At that time the gar
fison had not only been strongly rein
forced, but the Spanish troops COM
manded by Lineres had taken up well
CHOSEN and concealed positions in the
VICINITY The insurgents were allowed
TO get within a short distance of Be-
Jucal ana then the garrison opened
1lre. This was the signal for the Span
ish force to open its batteries. and a
heavy artillery and rifle fire was poured
INTO the, insurgent ranks. The enemy
was taken completely by surprise, came
to halt, finally returned the fire of
the Spaniards, then reversed, broke
and fled. The insurgents were COM
manded by Maxine Gomez. The loss
or the insurgents is reported to have
been heavy. This version of the affair
is semi-official. Gen. Linares started in
pursuit of Gomez with all the troops
available
1t became known today that Gomez
had narrow escape from being cap
tured shortly after he executed his
countermarch in Pinar del Rio and
made once more for the borders of
the province of Havana He was in
the neighborhood of Las Mangas, at
| the head of a small band Of cavalry
men, when he suddenly came upon a
Spanish bivouac. Before the insurgent
leader had recovered from his surprise
he was almost surrounded by Spanish
infantrymen with fixed bayonets, who
pressed forward on the general and
his companions Gomez was equal to
the emergency. Squirting his horse for
ward, he enptied his revolver right and
left, >and then. drawing his machete.
literally cut his way through the circle
or Spanish soldiers, killing five men
with ms own hand and getting away,
with his escort, without q scratch
ENORMOUS DEVASTATION.
The damage done by the rebels in the.
| province or Pinar del Rio is described
| as enormous. They DESTROYED all tba
railroad bridges and all the culyerts on on
the line running from this city through
oulra, Melena, Artemisia, Candeleria
san Cr1Stobel, Paso Real and ConsOIa-
clon to the city of Pinar del Rio, in ad-
dition to sacking a number OF towns.
burning plantations, plundering houses
ana DONG other damage north and
south or the railroad line Cen Maceo
is said to be in the Immediate vicinity
OF the town of Pinar del Rio, with the
| intention of making an attack on It.
The town is strongly fortified, well
garrisoned and provisioned, and addi-
tional earthworks have recently been
thrown up. Maceo, however, Is under
the impression that he can dynamite
with considerable effect
The air is full of rumors regarding
negotiations going on between the cap
tain general and the insurgent leaders,
but the opinion is that, even if such are
taking place, there will be no result
! from them. The price of provisions is
rising very rapidly here and the ex-
pense of living is fully 80 per cent more
| than 1T was month ago. At the pres
ent rate the city of Havana will soon
be the most expensive place in the
world to live in.
From the eastern provinces comes
the report that the column Of troops
engagements with the insurgents in the
Sancti Spiritus district of Santa Clara,
in one of which the insurgents are said
to have sustained loss of twenty-seV-
en-, while captain of troops was slight
ly hurt and nine privates wounded
Reports of two other engagements
with Gomez have been received In
which theinsurgents were put to flight
The authorities say that they have
pressed Gomez hard for two days, and
that they have succeeded in doing what
they sought, in driving him back into
the Pinar del Rio province
Gen. Campos is confident he has at
last got the insurgents at disadvant-
| age, and will be able to prevent their
escape from Pinar del Rio
MADRID, Jan. 15.-Capt Gen. Cam
pos has asked for cavalry reinforce
ments to be sent to Cuba, and it is re-
ported that the situation there is re-
garded as being Of the most critical
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