Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-10
EVIDENCE OF MACEO's DEATH
Major Girujeda Interviewed Al
Icgcd Finding of the BOhy.


Major Girujcda Interviewed ON Al
legged Finding of the Body.
HAVANA, Dec 9.-The confident claims
OF the Spanish officials that they have
abundant proof OF the death of Antonio
Macso and his young aid, Francisco Gomez
son of Maxine Gomez, continue without
abatement. The details announced today,
however, of the facts relied upon for the
Identification OF the two Cubans have caused
an undercurrent OF doubt in this city Major
Girujeda, who commanded the Spanish
forces in the management at Punta Bravo
on Monday, and whose troops discovered the
two bodies and gave the evidence of identih-
cation, consented to be interviewed On the
circumstances of the case. He said today to
the correspondent of the Associated press
that when the rebels were routed 1t was
evident that the body of the chief was aban-
doned on the field. The Spanish column.
without stopping to explore the field, went
in hot pursuit of the insurgents and followed
them for a mile or more. Meantime, young
Gomez Is supposed to have committed sui
eide by Maceos side.
While the troops were returning to Guato,
after the pursuit had ceased, various guer-
rllas belonging to Major Girujeda's COM
mand went over the field where the rout of
the insurgents had occurred and searched
the bodies remaining there for anything of
Importance. The body of Maceo," Major
GiruJeda continued, was relieved of a ring,
clothing, etc. The guerrillas who performed
the act were at the time quite unaware that
the body was that of Maceo. In fact little
attention was paid to the identity of the
bodies. 1t was already dark on the field and
IL was raining. Various other bodies were
also searched"
Grujedas further statement, who insisted
that the above mentioned body, and the
other which was lying by its side, were ev-
identity Of first rate Importance, and that
they must not thus be left without identifca-
tion. The two bodies were therefore, tied
by the feet to the tails of some horses
said the major, "and thus dragged over the
ground, the intention being to carry them
to town for Identification. But after pro-
ceeding for a while the horses became tired
with their burden and the bodies were, there
fore, cut loose and left in the road"
When the troops reached Guato, Major
Girujeda proceeded to read the documents,
which had been found upon the bodies and
which were described in n dispatch eXclu
slvely to the Associated press yesterday.
They included letter addressed to Dear
Pancho" and signed NJ. Gomez; diary of
Maceo's operations from November rs to
December Z and a note in pencil, found on
the body of the younger man. saying he
died rather than abandon the body of his
general, Maceo. The undershirt and socks
on the body of the older man were marked
with the initials OF "a. M" and ring on
the finger contained the following engraved
inscription: Antonio Maria" After read
ing these documents Major Girujeda says he
became convinced that the bodies which his
troops had abandoned were those of Antonio
Maceo and young Gomez. But IL was then
too late to return and recover them. Major
Girujeda, however, expresses the firm con-
vlction that they were those OF Maceo and
GomeZs son.
With the insurgents in the battle, Major
Glrujeda says. was a beautiful Amazon,
about % years of age, who urged the rebels
"A la machete," but at the same time In
terposed to protect the prisoners.
Major Girujeda has taken charge of the
objects found on the body said to be that of
Maceo for further examination. They were
a gold watch, splendid pair of cuff buttons
made by Moreau TORN, Paris. with five
pointed stars on them. and enclosed in a
big strapped leather case a hunting knife
with an ebony handle and gold mounted, and
a good waterproof coat. All of these were
taken from the body by the scout, Santa
Ana,
1t is thus seen that there has been no
actual identification of the bodies themselves,
the conviction as TO the identity resting upon
the evidence of documents and articles found
upon them. There is no doubt, however.
of the assurance of the general public here
taat Maceo is dead 1t is pointed out that
he met his death in similar manner to
tnat OF JOAe Martl ana Layas. MS loss Is
regarded as thesheayiest blow the revolution
has received. and II Is felt that his continued
life was all that could save the insurgent
movement He was the most striking per-
sonal character OF the outbreak
WEYLER A DISAPPOINTED MAN.
NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 9.-The Picayunes
Havana correspondent sends the following.
Havana Dec. 3.-The all-absorbing question
In this city, | might say on the island is
ha 10 NJ
gress. II has been pretty well understood
the president will not do anything, that is
toward changing his policy, Dut the action
of the American congress is what perturbs
the minds of the Spanish political leaders
| was present on the return Of General
Weyler and can really say he did not look
like conquering hero by any means. He
seemed more like one who Is glad to return;
aye. he was without doubt very glad, after
the decidedly bad reception given him by
Maceo and his friends. The return OF Wey-
Ter to Havana as hurriedly as he left has
only one object, namely the rumor that
Gomez was already in Santa Clara and was
pushing ON to Havana. From authority
which | consider OF the greatest veracity
and OF whose intimacy with the government
| have no doubt whatever, can safely say
these two powerful reasons have compelled
Weyler to return: First, his defeat at the
hands OF Maceo In the battle OF Rubi: and
second the fear of Gomez's approach, As
you are probably aware, General Weyler's
divisions were caught by the willy guerrilla
chief In the midst OF a cross fire from the
crest of two hills and at the same time his
cavalry attacked the tanks and rear of IN,
Spanish army, forcing him TO suspend the
forward attack In order to concentrate his
forces In repelllng the attacks on his nanks
and rear. The mines which Maceo had
placed TO the mule paths leading to HE erests
OF the hills were quickly set in motion, and
many a Spanish mother will eternally wear
weeds for her sou that never came back