The Indianapolis journal., 1896-04-25
DISPLAYED BRAVERY
HOW THE sPANLARDs ARE SAID TO
HAVE DEFENDED FORT ZAyJA.
Small Garrison Alleged to Have Held
Out Four Days Against $500 Cubans,
Assisted by Yankee Gunners.

here from ManZanlla give details of the
gallant defense of Fort Zanja, near Cauto,
by small force of Spanish troops The
fort. Ii appears, was besseieed by about $500
insurgents OF the provinces of Puerto Prin-
cipe and Santiago de Cuba, commanded by
Rodriguez. Rabi, Capote and others The
attack 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 soldiers suffered
badly from lack of water. The insurgents
had with them two rapid-fre guns One of
them belonged to Rabis column and the
other was recently landed near Guayabal
and was manned by American gunners. The
latter fired about 2l5 shots and destroyed the
small reservoirs used for the storage of
water, riddling the barracks, beat down the
storehouses and did great damage TO the
fort itself.
Three times the insurgents sent messen-
gers to the fort. offering to accept the sur
render of the garrison with honor, but the
Spaniards refused to give up the fort. fight
ing with great enthusiasm, announcing their
intention of accepting death before surren-
der The behavior of the Spaniards so i'm
pressed the messenger OF the insurgents
that after his visit to the fort he decided
that the insurgents during the first days
fighting lost forty-three killed. among them
being the insurgent Colonel Pena, who had
recently landed in Cuba and that in addi-
ton the enemy had many wounded. The
messenger was unable to say how many
Insurgents were killed during the other
days fighting. The garrison only had eight
men wounded.
ried to Manzanilo and General Muniz, with
a column of troops soon afterward left that
city on board four small gunboats ana two
tugboats for the river Canto and, protected
by the guns of the warships. the troops
were landed at two points In the vicinity
Of the beseged fort The fSan beV eV
beat a retreat. So soon as all the soldiers
were ashore the column started in pursuit
Jaguey Camaniguan, where General Muniz
destroyed large camp which had previous
ly been the rendezvous or the insurgent
CAPTAIN Antonio Sanchez Bernal, of the
Union battalion, who commanded the de,
tachment OF troops which SO Draveiy neI9
the fort, has been promoted to the rank
of major and Lieutenant Victorio Perez and
Sergeant Lorenz Castanon have been pro-
posed for the cross of San Fernando Ior
valorous conduct In conveying water 10 the
fort under the fire of the enemy
1t Is reported that an insurgent force Is
escorting the Cuban revolutionary govern
ment from Mountes Sevlla.
Captain Canosa, at Sevilla, surprised an
insurgent camp at night with force OF guer-
ras killing eight Insurgents inSladng be S2s1sb Ia
force had nine men wounded.
The woman of literary instincts who has
be the wife of Fedrlco Alfonso one of the
insurgent leaders. She Is charged with others
with having burned the village of Caya69.
In the insurgent camps II appears she al
ways dressed In male attire.
The insurgent leader Mariana Mar, Martinez m sz
Talemesuela tried by court-martlal last
nfsht Tha
the death penalty be imposed
Some insurgents recently fired on the mil
itary line. opposite the plantation OF Canas'
and retreated as soon as their fire was re-
Colonel Mario met the insurgents at the
Canteras Cienega and attacked and dispersed
through the woods near La Carbonosa. The
insurgents left eight killed and four rifles In
Captain Medina, in command of the local
euerrillas of Lajas. has been engaged with
insurgent band which had fortified itself
at the Batey plantation The troops dis
lodged the enemy, who left twelve killed on
the field well as a quantity OF arms ana
retired with a number of wounded. squad
ron of cavalry. while pursuing the insur-
gents at Auras killed five of them. The local
guerrillas of Calabazas: in the Sagua district;
has had a brush with the insurgents and
killed three of them.
The investigation into the conduct or Col
Echevarria for his failure TO relieve the Al.
fonso Trece battalion In the engagement OF
San Claudia. has terminated favorably 10
Colonel Echevarria, and he has been re-
stored to his command.
a column consisting of the battalion or
Canteabrica had a stiff brush with the in
surgents In effecting a landing at Cortes, In
Pinar del Rio, to reinforce the columns OPP
Grating against Maceo in that province. The
column was protected while landing by two
gunboats, the guns of which swept the
beach, which was held by the insurgents.
The landing was made under other difficult
ties as the wharfs and stores were burning
On this account 1t was found necessary TO
throw the horses overheard, and several of
them were drowned. 1t was found quite i'm
possible to land provisions The report says
that the troops, after landing. went In pur-
suit of the insurgents, who left twenty-one
killed. Many citizens were rescued, who
were being held prisoners in the hands of
the insurgents. The pursuit was kept up to
killed. -
The steamer Montvideo has arrived here
having on board battalion of engineers.
town were decorated and the new corners
were received with much enthusiasm.
A story is in circulation here that Antonio
Maceo has become greatly dsgusted because
as the general-in-chief of the insurgent ar
my. reserving to himself the command and
supreme leadership of the revolutionary gov
ernment.
AT Sagua the insurgent leaders Cajizole.
Lieutenant Carlos Morales and six armed
privates have surrendered in compliance
with General Weylers proclamation prom
ising them liberty.
Spanish Account of an Outrage.
HAVANA, April 24.-Details of an outrage
said to have been committed by the insur-
gents at Pinar del Rio have been received
here Ii is alleged that the insurgent chiefs
gave an order for the execution of three
wel-known, old-time Spanish residents
an1rin a