The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-12-09
ANTONIO MACEO
KILLED In BATTLE
0ntWitted the Spaniards, but Fell
After Crossing the TrOcha.
YOUNG GOMEZ ALSO DEAD
Several Battles Reported and the Iden-
tihcation Of the Body Of Maceo
Vouched For.

copyrighted. '9s. by Associated Press)
Havana, December Sit Is stated in
the mcst positive terms by Spanish au-
thorities that Antonio Maceo. the great
insurgent leader and the heart and soul
OF the Cuban cause. has been killed In
Havana province. after having effected
a passage OF the western trocha, near
Mariel. at its north extremity. with
the Cuban leader died the youth, Fran
cisco Gomez. son Of Maxine Gomez,
who accompanied the mulatto general
on his passage OF the trocha.
The most explicit details Of the find
ing Of the corpse OF the fallen leader Of
the cubans. and OF the facts relied
upon for identification, are at hand,
through the report Of the Spanish COM
mander, Major Cirujada, who contest
ed the passage OF the trocha unsuccess-
fully on December Qast Friday with
Maceo. and who sustained another con-
fiict yesterday with the forces under
the insurgent leader.
II was in reconnaissance, after the lat
ter engagement. that the Spaniards
found the two corpses. not separated in
death. which they Identified as those Of
Antonio Maceo and Francisco Gomez.
The authorities now permit the puhli-
cation Of Major Cirujada's report Of the
engagement with Maceo. on December
I, when he forced the trocha, and
which was fearful combat, which Is
the first official admission that Maceo
brought with him across the trocha a
considerable equipped following and
fought a hot engagement TO effect his
passage. After the Cubans had passed
into Havana province the Spanish com
mander effected fresh concentration
In that province and awaited the arriv-
al OF Maceo. He had received confden-
tial information OF the proposed move
ments Of the cubans and arranged his
forces accordingly. He had in addition
received a detailed description Of the
horse which Maceo was to ride as wen
as of its caparisons. The expected bat
tie occurred yesterday but no details
of the engagement are given for publ
cation here.
After the fight the Spanish troops
made a reconnaissance of the ground |
previously held by the Cubans. Here
was found the two corpses lying to-
gether and indeed, almost locked in the 1
Of death. One body was that
Of a mulatto, a stout man with gray,
crispy curling hair and the other that
Of a slender, dark-haired youth. Both
were dressed in white linen duck suits
When the linen was removed from the
corpse Of the elder OF the two 1t was
found to have underneath It a fine un-
dershirt with the initials A. NJ. upon it.
A pair of black silk socks ON this body :
the same initials, worked in
red ink. There was a gold ring on the
niger containing on the inner rim the
Engraved inscription. Antonio Y Ma
ia" A revolver with an ivory handle +,
md marked, together with a small gold r
telescope. were also found on !
he body The head of the younger
mans body was resting upon the body =
+ the first. There was found on it a A
liver watch, and ammunition bag and :,
everal handkerchiefs bearing the ini- :
lals IF, G."