Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-04-25

Havana, April 24.-Despatches re-
ceived here from Manganillo, province
OF Santiago de Cuba give details of the
gallant defense of Fort Zanja near
Cauta, by small force of Spanish
troops. The fort, it appears, was be-
sieged by about $500 insurgents OF the
provinces Of Puerto Principe and San
tiago de Cuba, commanded by Rodrig-
uez, Rabi, Capote and others. The at
tack of the insurgents was carried on
with vigor for four days during which
the detachment of troops defended the
place day and night. although the sold
iers suffered terribly from the lack Of
water.
The insurgents had with them two
rapid fire guns; one OF them belonged
to Rabi's column and the other recent
ly landed near Guyaba and manned by
American gunners.
The latter for practice fired about
$50 shots from their pieces and des-
troying the small reservoirs used for
the storage of water, riddling the bar
racks, beating down the store houses
and doing great damage TO the fort it
self.
Three times the insurgents sent mes
sengers to the fort, Offering to accept
the surrender of the garrison with hon
or, but the Spaniards refused to give
up the fort and fighting with great en-
thusiasm announced their intention of
accepting death before surrender.
The behavior of the Spaniards so i'm
pressed the messenger of the insurgents
that, after his last visit TO the fort, he
decided to remain under the Spanish
flag.
He said that the insurgents, during
the first days fighting lost thirty-three
killed, among them being the insurgent
Col. Pena, who had recently landed in
Cuba, and that in addition the enemy
had many wounded.
The messenger was unable to say
how many insurgents were killed dur
ing the other days fighting. The gar
rison only had eight men wounded.
News of the siege of Fort Zanja was
carried to Manzanillo, and Gen. Munoz,
with column Of troops, soon after
wards left that city on board four Small
gun boats and two tug boats Tor the
river Canto, and protected by the guns
of the war ships, the troops were landed
at two points in the vicinity Of the be-
sieged fort. The insurgents no sooner
saw the troops landing than they beat
a retreat.
So soon as all the soldiers were ashore
the column started in pursuit OF the in
surgents and followed them to Jaguez
Camaniguan, where Gen. MunoZ de-
stroyed a large camp which had pre-
viously been the rendezvous of the in
surgents of that district.
Captain Antonio Sanchez Bernal, OF
the Union battalion, who commanded
the detachment OF troops which so
bravely held the fort, has been promo
ted to the rank OF major, and Lieut..
Victor Perez and Sergeant and Loren
Castanon have been proposed for the
cross Of San Fernandino for yalorous
conduct in conveying water to the fort
under the fire of the enemy.
1t is reported that an insurgent force
is escorting the Cuban revolutionary
government from MounteZ Villa.
Captain Canosa, at Sevilla, surprised
an insurgent camp at night with force
CT guerrillas, killing eight insurgents,
including Caldarin. the insurgent lead
er. The Spanish force had nine men
wounded.
The woman Of literary instincts who
has been imprisoned at Attemisa, pro-
vince of Pinar del Rio. turns out to be
the wife Of Fedrico Alfonso. one of the
insurgent leaders. She Is charged,
with others, with having burned the vii
lage Of Cayabo. In the insurgents
camps it appears she always dresses in
male attire.
The insurgent leader, Mariana Mar
tinez Talemzuela, was tried by court
martial last night. The public prose-
cutor has asked that the death penalty
be imposed.