The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-20
zERTUCHA TELLS HIS STORY.
TT REITERATEs THE FIRST RE-
PORTS OF MACEO's FATE.

The Doctor Denies That the Dead
Leader Received a Peace COmmis-
siOner from Gen. Weyler in Pinar
del RiO-MaceO Shot from His
Horse, Machete in Hand-AH the
Members of His stan Seriously
wounded.
Havana, Dec. 19.-Dr zertucha, through
whose treachery it is claimed Maceo met
his death, is in Havana. In an interview
today he explained his relations with the
rebel leader. He said that great friend
shin existed between them and that Maceo
had great confidence in him. Only three
Of Maceo's staff were allowed to dine with
him-Dr Zertucha, Miro and Francisco
Gomez. son of the insurgent commander
in-chief DR.. Zertucha denied the stories
that Naceo had received in the province of
Pinar del Rio a commissioner sent by
CAPT. Gen. Weyler asking him to treat
for peace. He also denied that he had
apv connection with Chief of Police La
barrarera His friendship with Col. Tort
was old and private. He repudiated the
charges made against him by Serrano, add
ing that he never saw Serrano's camp, and
that he knew MIN formerly as Ifleno OI
the bandit Garcia.
Dr.. Zertucha declared that Maceo fire.
ouently expressed his admiration of the
Spanish soldiers, and praised Gems. Ber-
nal Arolas, and Echague, and Coils. Eche-
varra, Retger and Franks He repeated
the story already cabled about Maceo
crossing around the end of the trocha by
sea in front of Mariel, and said the Off
GERS who accompanied him were Briga-
and Miro CnlG Il
berto Nodarez and Gordon, the last named
being an American; Maj. Alfredo Justiz,
Piedra PenalVer and Ramon Ahumada;
Capt. Sanvanell Lieut.. Francisco Gomez
and himself as surgeon, besides three ne
gro orderlies.
Maceo was on horseback, with his ma
chete unsheathed when he was struck by
a bullet from a Mauser rifle. AS he fell
DR.. Zertucha rushed to his assistance, but
he dropped to the ground dead. Another
bullet struck him in the stomach before
he reached the ground All the members
Of the staff who were around Maceo at
the time were more or less seriously
wounded. Col. Nodarez and Maj. Justiz
died later from the effect of their
wounds. Lieut.. Gomez was also wounded
in the arm. His wound was attended to
and his arm placed in sling. He tried
to assist Dr. Zertucha to carry Maceo's
body but was again struck by bullet
and knocked down. He then wrote the
note that was afterwards found on his
body and committed suicide by stabbing
himself with his own knife, not Maceo's,
as some reports have stated.
Dr. Zertucha declared that after the reb-
els had carried Maceo's body off the field,
statement was drawn up which was sign
ed by all the leaders who had taken part
in the engagement, explaining the manner
in which he had met his death.
DR.. Zertucha intends to go to Spain and
take up his residence in the town of Viz
caya. He will print in Paris pamphlet in
which he will attack Senor Estrada Palma,
the head of the Cuban junta, the junta
ITSELF and Gen. Calixto Garcia, for their
actions in connection with the insurrection.
He thinks that Maceos body was buried
near Govea.
Pedro Gonzalez Moya will be shot to-
morrow at Matanzas for the crime of re-
belon.
Gen. Rey, with 1000 infantry. 300 cavalry
and two pieces of artillery. while escort
ing a convoy to Bayamo. had six engage
ments near Peralejo with a number of
united rebel parties under command of
CalIXto Garcia. The rebels lost 80 killed
and a large number wounded. One wound
ed rebel was captured The Spanish loss
was three officers and fifteen privates kill
ed and three officers and 100 privates
wounded.
Julio Sanguilly, the naturalized Ameri-
can citizen who is charged with conspir-
acy against the Spanish authority has Sc
lected Antonio Mesa Dominiguez, law
yer of this city, to conduct his defense.
The case will be called in the supreme
court on Monday. Sanguilly, it will be re-
called, was tried by court martial some
months ago and sentenced to life impris-
onment. He succeeded however, in having
a civil trial granted him.
There is much comment here on the ac-
ton OF the committee on foreign relations
OF the United States regarding the inde-
pendence of Cuba. Full reports of the pro-
ceedings are not printed and the newspa-
pers make no editorial mention of the sub
ject