The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1896-12-28
Dr. Maxine zertucha Says Generals
Death Was Caused by CubanS.
LEADER WAS NOT SUPPORTED
Physician Declares the Insurgents
Opposed Him.
DEATH SCENE IS DESCRIBED BY SURGEON
Writer Asserts That He Loved the
Dead Warrior and That Charges
Are Unjust and Untrue.

New York. December 24.-Dr. Maxine !
Zertucha, during the life of General An
tonic AIaceo attached TO his staff as a sur
geo1, and after the death OF Maceo accused
of treachery IN causing his betrayal into
the hands of the Spanish troops. has writ
ten a letter to The Herald. in which he de-
scribes the death OF General Maceo and
the causes leading up to it, as follows, Win
the premise that he owes it TO himself TO
state how the event happened:
Melinda del Sur. Cuba December 10, 1876.
Major General Antonio Maceo, at O'Clock
y. m. December 4th, accompanied ~ part
of his general star, namely. Generals MIRO
and Diaz. Colonies NOdarsc and GORDON
Majors Piedra, Justiz. Ahumada ana ZEN
alVer, Captain Sauvanel and myself, "A
surgeon of headquarters general. with TOUR
orderlleS and Lieutenant Francisco bohFI
TOrO. crossed the military line between
Mariel and Majana at the former point AT
. o'clock the following morning we Joined
some twenty-five CavalrYmen belonging 10
Colonel SartOrius's command at MoSqul-
tos. on the 9th We started toward Bara-
Goa.
During our march some eighty men OF
Lieutenant Colonel Acosta's command were
Incorporated with our ranks. Together we
went at o'clock that night to the grazing
faTm-PotrerO-of san Pedro. between KIM
con and Govea. There we met the forces
under Brigadier Sanchez and Colonel del
GadO, numbering some 40 men, all cavalry.
1T was clock in the afternoon or the
next day when word came TO our camp
that the enemy's forces were moving in our
direction. following the trail We pre-
pared for the engagement. The left flank
was commanded by the general of division,
| Pedro DiaZ The right was under tho
command OF Colonel del Gado and Lieuten-
ant Colonel ACoSta. Brigadier sanchez
! took command Of the center. The fight
! was under way when General Maceo, &C
! ccmpanied by Brigadier Miro, his adlu-
! tant and myself started toward the battle
! field. General Maceo moved forward TO
| within 500 PAGES OF a stone fence, behind
/ which the euemy's infantry intrcnch-
/ ed. Brigadier Afro was 10 the right aud |
| TO the left OF General Macco. lie raised
! his sword ana saying To Brigadier Miro.
! This goes Wen fen If struck by light
| ming from the horse he was riding to the
| ground. Mauser bullet had entered the
! right side of the chin. causing fracture Of
| the lower jaw in three places. coming out
/ of the left lateral side at the base Of the
| neck. The bullet I'm its course tore the
| carotid artery. bringing on mortal hem
| orrhage which caused death in minute
The moment General Maceo was wound
| Cd ] called for assistance. \ trooper came
| % my aid. He helped me with great
/ bravery. under severe FIRE to raise the
| body Of my general The trooper was at
| that moment wounded in the thigh Bull
/ lcts were pouring over my head as ] re-
| maincd cntrenChed behind the general
| horse. by the side OF his body At that
| moment | saw tho son Of Major General
| Mazimo Gomez before me. lie had been
! WOUNDED in the left shoulder during an en-
| Eagemcnt we had had on December "a be
tween Cayaiahos and Col2noS. Ills arm
/ was IN "a sling. We raised the body or
/ Maceo and placed il upon the horse He
took hold of tha, hqrne H.. + ifist -. re- ~
| ',cios"re We We're 10. Gomez was then
! struck by bullet lie sank 10 the ground
] 4 went TO his assistance and General Ma
| ceo body fell from the horse I begged
! out OF the place. Nothing would avail to
| persuade him. Tie would reply 10 every
apbra i,o, III The general be carried out
! Then. almost chazod. I calIoped on the
! general horse toward our forces which
\ owing to the incidents OF tho ef,a-1 par,.rt'
were al faIr distance Off. ] met the
/ brave ana honest Pedro Daz Hearing
/ what had TO say to him, ana fastening to
! The enemy had advanced. It was ncces-
sary 70 dislodge him. aud then We recov-
SI'd tho bodies Of General MaceO and
I Lieutenant Gomez. Had the latter dIoI
/ from the wounds he had received in the
! Chest and arms? 10 =" was stabbed over
! me leit Side, near the breast. Tie had over
| ms tortuead also a maCbete wound which
| had divided his skull. The bodies had been
arms ana jcwcir Al O'clock oE'' tbt n SllS
the bodies We're taken to a shed on tho
grains farm aud there I appeared before
rant of General Mar.)'s death An ofIida-
VT Of what had taken place was drawn
zap and sworn 10. and with other official
General MaEimo Gomez. After stating Inc
facts as They occurred wish TO speak
about my humble personality
W ~ Killed Antonio Mac"o? Who killed
Jose MarcoH Was 10 Tie euern,-.s bulIafs ~
III Cato and san Pedro? No. II was hv y
thousand times. no. They wcro killed b,,
order Of the men of tho council They v-ers
killed through those VINO. having received
money from the Spanish government
afterwards demanded places which aid moi
belong 70 them Jon The ranks of the revo-
luuon, in whose behalf they have, done
nothing But they want 10 take places at
"Whea, we werc ont Of ammunition. with
no supplies at all ond We followed the
ou"mys trail Up search OF "a cartridge.
when we Ind no Otler hope or elIftn,rt
than God, tho government council com
posed Or Pima Eoom aud others were
holding back the forces under jose Naceo
and ) NJ Rodriguez from coming to our
lend support To allow the enemy IN can
ture the unarmod. il and wounded muiatto
Maceo. | have wcpt over the death OF HIM /
who my friend my brother rather
than my chief ] have heard from his Inns
desperate words uttered M tho disIo,-tltt-
do not know. u IS impossible 10 believe |
that General Maceo should thus have ex- |
himself tn a position so dangerous as the |
ono he took and especially as ii was not |
NO: Macco. rather than struggle against |
certain clements. chose to die at his post |
"P. S-Upon the body or General Ma |
Coo and IN tho presence Of General Dia2 |
7 SWole that | would not servo 1iudcr any
other leader in the revolution
Il am carrying out my oath 7 have
gained nothing 10y the revolution. cannot |
travel for pleasure nor spend any money
ne others supposed TO he patriots are doing |
Il have nothing but a quiet conscience
and The greatest disappointment Cuban
can have-namcly, the idea that we are
deserving Of such government as we have
"NIANIMo ZERTUcHA."
PALMA SAYS zERTUCHA LIES.