San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-12-24
He Was Shot By DisaffeCted Gu
bans Who Had Received Span
ish Gold For Their Deed.
Maceo Was Not Ambushed He Was Not In
the Line Of Direct Flle-He Was Not
Surprised He Was Shot to Death
By Cuban Soldiers Whom He
Had Refused Promotion.

New York, Dec. 24.-The Herald this
morning publishes the following letter
from Dr. Zerturcha dated at Melina,
Cuba, Dec. 10:
81 have been Informed of the reports
current in the United States concern
ing the death Of my old chief and
friend Maj. Gen. Antonio Maceo.
owe to myself to state how the event
happened.
Maj. Gen. Antonio Maceo, at three
p. M, Dec. A, accompanied by part Of
his general staff, namely Generals Mi
TO and Diaz, Col. Nordez and Col. Cor
don, Majors Piedra, Ahiuada and Pc
nazen and myself as surgeon of head
quarters, with four orderlies and
Lieut. Francisco Gomez, crossed the
military line between Mariel and Ma
jana. At nine the next morning we
Joined some % cavalrymen belong
ing to Col. Sartoris' command at Mos
quito. On the sixth we started tow
ard BaracOa, beginning our march
some so men Of Gen. AcOsta's COM
mand were Incorporated with our
ranks. Together we went at nine
o'clock that night to Graslin farm,
property of Don RincOn, between Rim
con and Covea. There we met the
forces under Brig. Sanchez, and Col.
Delgado. numbering some 400 men,
all cavalry. 1t was 2 O'clock in the
afternoon of the next day when word
came to our camp that the enemy's
forces were moving in our direction,
following the trail. We prepared for
the engagement.
1.-The left flank was commanded by
the general of the division, Col. Diaz.
The right was under the command of
Col Delgado and Lieut.. Col. Acosta.
Brig. Sanchez took command Of the
center.
''The fight was under way, when
Gen. MaceO, accompanied by Brig.
Miro. and Adjutants Justis and Sau-
vim and myself, started towards the
battlefield Maceo issued orders as
he proceeded. He then took his pO-
sition at a point outside the sphere
of active operations, but all of the en-
emy's fire suddenly conferred upon
that point, it was lead rather
than air that we breathed. Gen. Mi
70 was to the right and to the left
of Gen. Maceo. He raised his sword
and saying to the brigadier "This
goes welT' fell as if struck by light
ming from the horse he was riding to
the ground.
II was ON the spot at once, examin-
ing his wound. A Mauser bullet had
entered the right side of the chin,
causing a fracture Of the lower jaw
in three places coming out Of the left
side of the neck. The bullet in its
course severed an artery which caus-
ed death in minute.
.eThe moment Maceo was wounded
/ called to his assistance those VINO
ACCOMPANIED him. Bullets were show
ering over my head as 1 stood, en-
trenched behind the generals horse.
At that moment young Gomez appear
cd before me. He had been wounded
in the shoulder in the engagement
which he had on Dec. 3. His arm
was in a sling. He said to me: L
will help you doctor"
"We again raised the body of Ma
Geo and placed it upon the horse.
Young Gomez took hold Of the horses
bride while 1 held the general by the
feet. Then we started towards
gate which was the outlet to the en-
closure we were in. Gomez was then
pierced by bullet completely shat
'tering his elbow. He sank to the
ground. went to his assistance and
Maceo's body fell to the ground.
'What to do then knew not The
enemy was close upon us. L be-
seeched Gomez to let me carry him
out but nothing availed.
Then, almost crazed, jumped on
the generals horse and started tow
ards our forces, which owing to the
incidents of the engagements were at
a fair distance off. I met Sanchez
and informed him of what had hap
pened.
Now, 1 wish to speak about my
humble personality.
"They were killed by their own
countrymen through those having re-
ceived money from the Spanish gov
eminent afterwards demanded places
in the ranks that did not belong to
them.
"Ask Sanchez. ask DR.. Hernandez,