The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-12-19
WAS SHOT FROM AMBUSH
MACEo SAID TO HAVE BEEN BRUT-
ALLY MURDERED.
WeyIer, Through the Medium of the
Marquis of Ahumada, Asked
for Conference.

Jacksonville, Fla, Dec. l2.-The Citizen
tomorrow win contain the following rela-
tive to the death of Antonio Maceo:
Justo Carrillo, well-known Cuban of
this city, brother OF the Cuban Carrillo,
has received the following letter from a
trustworthy correspondent in Havana con-
corning the report of the death of Antonio
Maceo and showing that he was killed by
treachery:
Havana Dec 12-Dear Friend Justo: Our
brave general, Antonio Maceo, and the greater
part of his staff have been murdered by the
Spaniarts the Spanish major. Cirujeda, act
ing the part of assassin with DR.. Maxine Ter
tucha as an assistant in the horrible drama
Convinced that Notwithstanding his enormous
army. he could do nothing against our gallant
leader who had so repeatedly defeated the
Spanish generals in Pinar del Rio. Weyler con-
ceved the idea of appeasing his beastly In
stincts by cold-booded murder making the
best of the secret relations between DR.. Ter
tucha and Marquis of Ahumada, he planned
with the latter his hellish scheme.
Weyler took the field and in his scheme All
umada proposed through zertucha a conference
with Maceo to take place at a certain point
in the province of Havana, with the view OF
arranging plans for the cessation of hostili-
ties. The basis was to be Cuba's independ-
ence and monetary indemnity TO Spain, 10
gether with certain advantages that should
be agreed upon for Spanish commerce and
Spanish capital invested there.
To carry out the plan, the agreement was
that orders should be given to the detachments
of troops stationed on the trocha on the section
between Mariel and Guanajay to allow Maceo
with his staff to pass the military line unmo-
Tested.
Time was required to mature these arrange
ments and to give them all the appearance OF
truth. Ahumada feigned that before acting
he must make them known to Weyler for ire
vious approval This explanation is the sud
den arrival of Weyler in Havana and his
prompt return to Pinar del Rio.
The conditions and place of the meeting hav-
ing been agreed on, Maceo crossed the trocha,
the road to Guanajay without being mo-
Tested by the forts, but soon as he arrived
at the place decided upon he and his party
was greeted by tremendous volev from the
troops under Major Cirujeda, VINO lay con-
Weniently in ambush
Most of the officers on his staff fell with
General Maceo. zertucha is alive because he
was aware of the scheme and remained in the
rear The Spaniards know where the bodies
are, but bent feigning ignorance to
blot out the vestiges of the crime Havana
and all Spain rejoicing because in their
stupidity they hope to end the war in the
death of this leader Far from 1t, the spirit
of the Cuban has grown more ardent and today
they resolved to make every sacrifice be-
fore surrendering their to their relenries~
tyrants. In this very province of Havana, IN
which our army is least numerous and has the
least means of defense, the Cubans are operat-
ing with greater and greater activity and rot
a day passes that we do not hear in this city
the firing Guanabacoa.
The Spaniards may treacherously murder
some of our patriots. but no earthly power can
annihilate the spirit of liberty flowing. now
as ever over the Cuban people.
Joaquin Forum pointed out yesterday
the following facts, which, in his opinion,
corroborated the statements in the fore
going letter, and indicate that Maceo is
really dead:
F1rst-La Lucha published article last
Saturday in which 1t was stated that on the
previous day Major Cirujeda had had an en-
gagement with insurgent force and had
place in which Maceo was murdered.
Second-The first dispatch from Havana re-
porting Maceos DEATH which was received
Tuesday, stated that Major Cirujeda had pre-
vious knowledge of the horse that General Ma
to ride. How did he acquire that
knowledge?
of the event to the marquis of Ahumada, who
had not been away from Havana. Why should
not the glory be given exclusively to Major
Cirujeda, who had the good fortune, If the en-
counter was an accident. to come unexpectedly
on Maceo's party?
Fourth-From the first even before convinc-
ing proofs had been offered, such assurance
expressed at the palace indicated a
preconcerted plan.
Fifth-Zetrucha previous conduct, 1t TOW
appears, is not altogether free from bemish.
SiXth-A manifest contradiction appears be-
tween what is said by the authorities in Ha-
vana and what the Spanish minister of foreign
affairs announces in his conirmatory telegram
to Minister De LONE at Washington. The Ha-
vana authorities distinctly say they have beer
Madrid telegram states the body has beer
identified. This version transmitted tC
Madrid to give the home government full assur-
ance of the fact, while it later thought fl
to conceal the truth from the press in Havana
in order to conceal the dastardly crime.