The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-13
MACEo LURED TO A MASSACRE.
sp,IN,s COMMANDERS ACCUSED OF
RED HOT TREACHERY.

coinG to Accept an Invitation TO
ParIey-AnOther story Throws
su.niciOn on His Physician-COn-
oss May Be Aroused if the story
of Treachery Is True.
cincinnati. O., Dec. 12.-The Scripps-Mc-
poe League correspondent at Jacksonville,
no wired the Post to-day as follows:
.arbis city was thrown into great excite
mont by the news this afternoon that the
notriots had admitted the correctness of
+be report that the brave leader, Antonio
uoceo had been butchered. c. M. de
IInou chief of the Florida Cuban junta,
cave out the following to the correspond
ont "A letter received by a prominent
Cuban in this city gives the detailed ac-
count of the assassination of Gen. Maceo
and his entire staff, with the exception of
Dr Zertucha, who was Maceo's physician.
The letter came from reliable source in
Havana. but the correspondents name is
withheld for obvious reasons, said Mr.. de
Huau. that the writer would be shot with
IN an hour by the Spanish authorities if
thew knew who gave away the details of
one of the most horrible atrocities ever
cbronicled in modern warfare. From the
letter it appears the Marquis of Album
ada. who officiated as captain general of
cuba during Gen. Weyler's absence IN the
field. sent a letter to Gen. Maceo,
inviting the Cuban leader to confer
ence Maceo, never for moment think
ing that treachery was intended, espec-
iajlv as the invitation came from such a
nrominent Spaniard as the Marquis of
Abumeda. Immediately returned an an
swer. saying that he would be glad to
meet the Spanish general, and only accom-
panied by his staff he went to the rendez-
vous little dreaming of the awful fate in
store for him. On arriving at the trocha
the Spanish soldiers there, acting. under
orders, actually saluted the rebel chief
tain as he passed, and after reaching the
rendezvous, the Cuban leader was sur
prised to see, instead of the Marquis Of
Ahumeda, a large body of Spanish SOL
ders who seemed to come from every
side. The actions of the Spanish troops
were so suspicious that Maceo felt that
they had him cruelty trapped, and his
suspicions were confirmed when a per-
emptory order came from a splendidly
mounted officer to surrender.
Never was the reply, and hardly had
the words been uttered when volley after
volley was poured into the little band of
patriots, who, although hemmed in on all
sides, and outnumbered almost 100 to l,
stuck spurs to their horses, and with
cries of Cuba libre,' rode gallantly to
their death.
"Maceo is reported to have fallen at
the first fire, with bullet through his
head breaking his jaw. Another hit him
in the abdomen. Both were fatal. Young
fo, Il. C.ul T..
moments a number of bloody corpses, shot
almost beyond recognition, were all that
remained of the gallant Cubans who
trusted to Spanish honor.
Only one member of the staff escaped,
and that was DR.. Zertucha. The latter
says the corpses We're buried on the field,
and every precaution taken to keep the
details from being made public"
Jacksonville, Fla. Dec. 12.-J. A. Huau
the agent of the Cuban junta here, has re-
teiyed letter from Havana which con-
hTms the death of Antonio Maceo, but
also indicates that the Cuban leader was
victim of a treacherous plot formed by
ms own physician, DR.. Zertucha and the
Marquis de A=Aumeda, who acts as captain
general of Havana when Capt. Gen. Wey-
Ter is absent in the field. The letter,
winch was written by a prominent citi-
zen OF Havana, whose name is withheld in
order that he may not fall under the dis
pleasure of the Spanish authorities, is as
follows:
Havana, Dec. 9, 1S96-Dear Friend JUS
10: We are at present under the sad de-
preston caused by the death of our brave
general, Antonio Maceo, murdered, to-
eelher with the greater part of his staff,
py The Spaniards, acting under the assas-
sn' Maj. Cirujeda. and as instrumental in
thls horrible drama. Maceo's second sur
eeon DR.. Maxine Zertucha.
convinced as Weyler was, that, not
outstanding his enormous army, he could
40 ohothing against our gallant leader, VINO
Hds so repeatedly defeated the Spanish
generals in Pinar del Rio, he conceived the
ilea Of appeasing his beastly instincts by
eVld-olooded murder, and, making the pest
VI me secret relations between DIR. Ter
.lcna and the Marquis of Ahumeda, he
PTahned T.hn with the latter his hellish scheme.
Weyler took the field, and in his absence
,nuneda ale proposed, through Zertucha, a
VVnlerence with Maceo to take place at a
sI.aih place at certain point in the
Movihce of Havana, with a view of ar
..auslnS plans for the cessation of hostill-
W. W. on the basis CT Cuba's independence
s sua monetary indemnity to Spain, with.
b.oleoNer certain advantages that would
S g. dsreed upon for Spanish commerce and
opahlsh capital herein invested To carry
tL yLul the plans, orders would be given to
,,e te detaehments of troops stationed at the
Scocna, in the section between Mariel and
~ tSoudhaJay, to allow Maceo, with his staff.
" .5,, pass the military line unmolested.
o., lHese combinations took time to ma
tu %te and to give them all semblance of
buln' Ahumeda feigned that before acting
o. o. tlust make known his plans TO Weyler
n, MS previous approval; and this explains
s .g sudden arrival Of Weyler at Havana,
Nv NV ms prompt return to Pinar del Rio
80 a~savlhg arranged the conditions and place
w. ~ me meeting, Maceo crossed the trocha
W.. wi the road to Guanajay without being
ted by the forts, but once arrived at
r.ace r.e decided upon, he and his party were
esree'ed by tremendous volley from the
ties under Maj. Cirujeda, lying conven-
bJtuuy IN ambush. Most of the officers Of
'ia an, staH, fell with Gen Maceo. Zertucha is
I've because he was aware of the scheme
Inu IIru remained in the rear The Spaniards
INV where the bodies are. but are bent
tia 1a leisning ignorance TO blot out the yes
uses OF the crime.
o. havana and all Spain are rejoicing be-
ttouse IN the midst Of their stupidity they
Hcope mat the war may end with the death
~ ms gallant leader Far from this, the
55pIlt OF the Cubans has grown more ar
vuI and to-day the latter are resolved to
,it'ahe every sacrifice before laying down
,",r arms 10 the relentless tyrants: and