Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-12-11
Contradictory Reports as to Maceo's
Fate Continue.
REPORTOF DEATH POSITIVELY DENIED
Alleged Particulars of the Cubans'
Approach to Havana.
THE PHYSICIANS STORY

PARIS, December 11.-Senor Betancas.
the representative OF the Cuban insurgents
in this city, states that he learns from an
authoritative source that Antonio Maceo
still lives
CINCINNATI. December 1.-THE Com
mercial Tribune's special from Tampa, Fla,
sent last night. SAYS:
While it is not impossible that the Maceo
rumor is true. vet all Indications point to
Ii another Spanish fake, to carry weight
and influence with Congress. Information
today from Havana from Cuban sympa-
thizers there is that while the Span;ards
are delirious with joy over the report of
Maceo's death and are celebrating 1t, yet
the Cuban population DO ret believe 1t nor
can they obtain proofs tlat are satisfac-
tory. Every effort IS being made to get
news from Maceos army. and within TWEEN
V-four hours the truth will be known.
Men who have gone outside of the city in
search of Information have been turned
back with threats Last night in an en-
counter some five miles west of Havana
the Spanish troops got confused in the
darkness and fired upon each other five
soldiers and one officer being killed.
MADRID. December 11.-There is nc
abatement in the manifesto lions of joy at
the death of Antonio Msceo. Tine queen re-
gent received ovation at the opera last
night. Her majesty sent an aid-de-camp
TO congratulate the wife of Major Cirujeda.
troops in the engagement with tire insur-
gents near Punta Bravo. during which the
cuban leader met his death, and Frederick
Gomez the son of Maxine Gomez commit
ted suicide rather than abandon the body
of his chief.
DALLAS. Tex, December 1.-THE head
of the local Cuban committee has received
dispatches from Key West making absolute
denial of the Spanish reports from Havana
OF the alleged killing of General Antonio
Maceo- The dispatches state that Wednes-
day night Maceo was again in Pinar Del
Rio province and that his army was max
ing successful operations against General
VIEWERS forces; that since the turning of
Weyler's left flank. December l. Maceo had
captured more than 12VD stands of arms
and immense quantities of ammunitions
medicines and commissary supplies. With
IN the next three days the Cubans expect
TO turn Weyler's other flank and win a
great victory.
What DR.. Zertuch Says.
HAVANA. December 11.-Dr. Zertuch, the
personal physician of Antonio Maceo who
after surrendering to Col Tort, at San Fee
He. furnished confirmation of the reported
death of the great Cuban leader has given
TO the press, in an interview at Melera Del
Sur, additional facts in connection with the
case 1t seems that Antonio Maceo and his
companions did not cross the trocha or
military line of Pinar Del Rio in the sense
generally understood.
They passed by Pinar del Rio into Ha-
NdEa province by sea in an open boat five
trips being required to take the whole
party of insurgents from Pinar del Rio tn
CarDaneS, this province and as the boat
wottd mold only eight men in addition to
It's handlers. 1t will be seen that Maceo's
party was composed of forty men only
The night was dark and stormy. Maceo
was accompanied by Miro another i'm
poI aaht ihsurgent leader. and others of his
slan They landed near Banes and shortly
afterwdrd occurred the encounter with tbe
spanish troops under Maj. Cirujeda. re-
suIuhg: as alleged, in the death of the Gu
The meeting between the Standards md
the insurgents was seemingly of an acct
GENITAL nature, the former having no idea
az tnat time that Maceo had succeeded in
leaving the province of Pinar Del Rio
In spite of the official accounts of tba
Gedth OF Maceo and Francisco Gomez there
are many mere VINO refuse to credit the
report Friends Of the insurgents express
ther oeEef that either tie ievelry and
other things alleged to have been fonnd h.,
the Spaniards did not belong to Maceo 9r
else mat they were placed upon the BODY a g
ruse IN order to throw dust in the ewes of
the Spsblards while MaceO passed on east
faro ara communicated with Maxine
Gomez io
Asserts He Was Maceo's Pbx.ict,n
some doubt having been thrown upon the
statement that DR.. Zertuch was the ner-
interviewed ON the subject today and de-
clared that after the death of Dr us-nor
oez' In Pinar Del Rio. as physician of high
er rank in the insurgent army. he succeed-
ed Dr. Hernandez. by appointment. as
Maeeos physician. leaving the body of in
surgents under Diaz, to which he had heep
attached for that purpose
Dr Zertuch also states that Major Ciru-
3sda narrowly escaped sever defeat and
flrafr
gents.
He also says that the insurgents in the
vicinity of Melena have deserted the Cuba n
cause, and have surrendered to the Spa. =
du'horltes, as they are worn out ~ - "
many fatigues they have endrpo, .lts .he
privations suffered during ~ anu the
wearfsome campaign, iohs anu
The rnos, i,,,ro aus nat Bermudez, one of
GENT iesdarn INT of the surviving insur-
gem Iedders- was wounded fataIIr in ~.
abdomen december / i'm an enc, -, VI,
1sn' on the heights of Governadora u,itb
'ne spanish troops under General IncIan.
Dlspatches received from the latter con-
firm the report.
insurSent Leaders Killed by Whole
sale.
1t Is officially stated here TODAY that
Miro the insurgent leader who accom-
panied Antonio Maceo cut of Pinar Del
Rio. was also wounded by the side of the
siedt Nuoah Soidier, and that Alberto No
darse. Alfredo Justio, Ramon Ahumada
and Gordon. all staff officers of Maceo.
were wounded in the fight during which
their leader fell
Dr. Zertuch. who has been given his
liberty. Eas asked for permission to leave
tuba for Spain. and there is little doubt
u al his request will be granted
BUSINESS on the bourse here has been
suspended IL order that the members NAV
indulge In the NANTES tations of joy at thu,
/. Ceath Of Antonio Maceo
dispatch from Matanzas saws that the
LEGAL guerrilias have killed an insureent
leader, Major Juan Palito Toro
Advices from Palma. province of Santa
Clara. are that The local guerrilla fore
there has killed another noted insurgent
leader, Nestor Palma.
"Cnnard- Says Representative SuIxer
MaceO is not dead by any means" said
Representative Sulzer of New York TO q
Star reporter this morning. II know thai
the story which has been sent out is a
canard- Even if did not know this to be
fact the circumstances would contradjc,
the story in almost every particular. I;
Maceo was dead Spain would be holding
1ollihcation meetings everywhere The
: Ita i