The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1896-04-18
CAPTURE OF SANTA CLARA
Interesting Story Told BY an Eye
Witness.
illustrates the Splendid Audacity Oh
the Rebel General GomeE--In-
surgents Protected Life
and Property.


Of Gomez is thus related by an eye wit
ness:
Gomez IA camped about nine miles
from Cruces. with a force of about 5000
men, and he learned hat Pando wa.
coming from Sagera with about an
equal force. He, therefore, made up his
mind TO meet him on the way and have
a tussle with him. Accordingly he pre-
pared his forces in such a way that IL
Pando, as he expected, should take the
natural road to Santa Clara, he would
surely cut him to pieces, but it seems
that Pando suspected that they were
laying a trap for him. and instead If
going direct to Santa Clara, he took a
roundabout course TO Clenfuegos, where
he established his headquarters.
las soon as Gomez found out this fact
he concluded that it was possible for
him to capture Santa Clara. as the
forces protecting the town We're not suf,
ficient to cope with his 5000 picked and
determined men. He had two objects
in view when he decided this: First, tG
ration his troops, who were in grea.
need of clothing and provisions, and
second, to strike a blow which would
have a tremendous effect In the United
States and in Spain, especially in the
latter country, by practically demon.
strating the capture of some important
place, even without the elements of
strength deemed necessary for that pur-
pose.
The way he accomplished his objecl
was this: After surrounding the city
with his 5000 men and cutting off all the
communications OF Santa Clara with the
outside country, he placed his men IL
such positions that at a given signal
they might simultaneously rush into
the city by six different entries. The
signal was to be the firing of shots in
the interior of the town. After Issuing
his orders he placed himself at the head
of 1000 men and at II o'clock at mid.
night he directed his steps to the city.
On reaching one of the fourteen forta
surrounding the city he was challenged
by the sentinel, and he sent out n Ct
his men, a Spaniard by birth, with a
strong provincial accent, in order to be.
| guile them into mistaking his men fof
regular Spanish troops. This man res
piled to the challenge, crying:
" Spain!'
What regiment?'
"The man named one. His replies
We're satisfactory and he was allowed to
| pass; and the whole body in silence filed
into the city. Their entry did not cause
| any surprise, because there were 50
many Spanish troops coming and going
in and out of the city at all hours Of the
day and night that they mistook them
for their own troops.
soon as Gomez arrived at the 'Ro-
creo' square, which is situated in the
,,a,,,. l,,,, nj NF y1,A ,iI,- Ia. Stotinpnl liS
men around the quadrangle, forming
the square, with orders not TO fire until
they We're given the 'quien vive,'' and
then to all fire together. AT the same
time Gomez ordered a part of his forces
to cut off the electric lights and break
up the telephone switch which connect
ed the forts. 1t seems that The artillery
park, or arsenal, was located in the
first floor of the building occupied by
the Audiencia' (supreme COURT. in front
of the Recreo square, and that 1t was
placed in such a position that the ap-
proach of Gomez could not be observed
until he had actually encircled the
square. Once his extraordinary move
ments We're noted, the ~Spaniards imme-
diately challenged him. and, with yelis
of Cuba libre! viz Cube libre!' the Cu-
ban troops opened with volley fires.
THE Spanish We're instantly panic
stricken. The soldiers sitting round
and lounging in the portico rushed tc
their arms and tried to repel the attack,
but they were not a match for the dar-
ing fellows who attacked them. INK they
were literally hewn down with the ma
chetes. Thirty-two were killed on the
spot, and about thirty wounded more or
less seriously. When the Cubans rushed
into the place they thought only of over
powering the guard, so their surprise
and joy may be imagined when they
found a pile of over 200 boxes of 900
each of remington and mauser car.
tridges. This boxes We're carried out and
placed in the center of the square and j
strong guard was placed over them until
the arrival of the pack mules, on which
they were carried way.
"While his was going on AROUND the
square, the other rebel forces stationed
outside of the town, when they heard
the signal shots, made a headlong dash
into the city; established patrols to calm
the peaceful citizens, especially the
women assuring them no harm would
be don to them; opened the stores and
took from them whatever they were in
need of, paying for every article they
took, and, in fact, behaving in the gem
tlemanly and honest manner customs
airy to them. The only damage done
to the place occurred in two small stores
on the outskirts, owned by Cinnamon,
who refused to open the doors, and be.
sides insulted the soldiers by calling
them thieves II murderers. The stores
were burnt to the ground
THE rebels remained in the city from
midnight to 4 a. M, and during all that
time they were joyfully received by
their friends IL sympathizers. These
did nothing but cheer Gomez, shout
Cuba libre.' etc. wen the women and
children Joined in the demonstration,
n We're the most enthusiastic of ali
the crowd
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