The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-04-03
MAY End Thu WAR.
News Of the Capture Of Pinar Del
Rio Confirmed.
TWO SPANISH OFFICERS SENT
HOME in IRONS.

The Loss of the City a Severe Blow to
| WeyIer-Government Now Admits
That Fight Took Place, But Says
| Maceo Only Succeeded in Destroying
| Few Houses.
| New York, April 2.-The Journal this
morning prints the following under Ha-
vana date line: The capture of the cit
les of Pinar del Rio and Santa Clara by
the insurgents, who occupied them sew
eral hours and left them in flames, is a
severe blow to the Spanish armies.
| How severe may be judged by the fact
| that, Gen. Luis Maria Pando and Gen.
Alvardo Suare Valdes, the military gov
ernors of the destroyed cities, have been
| ordered to return to Spain by Capt. Gen.
| Weyler. 81
For days the government officials have
denied absolutely that any fight had oc-
| ourPed, but now they admit that Maceo
succeeded in destroying a few houses
Details have been brought to Havana
surgents to Journal correspondent.
The letter says that as soon as Garcia
| and the remainder of the Bermuda expe-
dttion had landed, consultation was
held. and it was decided TO attack i'm
mediately. A forced march of 40 miles
to the south brought the insurgents clos
er to Pinar del Rio. They waited until
dark, and then pressed forward into the
| town.
| The Spanish sentinels north of the out
skirts of the city were surprised and oy-
ercome. The first thing that the Spanish
| garrison knew Of the attack was when
the rapid fire guns, trained on the town
| by A nerican artillerymen, drove the hail
| ish soldiers were panic stricken and ran
wildly. The officers gallantly tried to
hold them in check, but it was a hope
| less task.
4 The insurgents to the number of 5000
entered the town and proceeded to apply
| the torch. In few minutes flames were
| leaping up on every side. One party of
rebels shooting into the houses. terror
| ICED the inhabitants and kept them in
doors. Another party went for the gar
rison and secured nearly every box of
ammunition stored there They also cap
tured many rifles, matches and reYolv-
srs.
The insurgents had things their on
way for over an hour, when the Spanish
officers succeeded in getting their troops
together and made a charge on the
| town.
Then followed hand to hand contest
between the troops and the rebels.
| Seeing that the soldiers had regained
| their senses and that all possible damage
hQd inf tpH
dered retreat. Within 10 minutes from
the time of giving thea order there was
not living rebel in town.
| A letter from an insurgent says that
| they lost AZ killed and SO wounded. He
had no knowledge of how many the
Spaniards lost but said the loss must
| be greater than that of the insurgents.
because the insurgents had an American
| sharpshooter, who dropped man every
| time he pulled the trigger.
| 1t is possible that tho lost cities may
| end the war in favor of the rebels wi thin
| three months unless Spain can pour men
into Cuba by the thousansds to fill places
| of those who will die from fever
THE BERMUDA IN SPANISH HANDS.
1t Is Thought Too That Whereabouts of
Garcia Are Known.
Washington, April 2.-The Spanish
minister here has received confrmatory
dispatches bearing yesterdays date, from
the Spanish minister to Central Ameri-
Costa Rica, saying that he IL in commun-
ication with the Honduras government.
regarding the Bermuda, which was seized
in Porto COrtez, and la still there. Con-
| sui Reig of Spain, at Porto Cortez, is in
| constant cable communication with the
minister here, who received two despatch
es from him yesterday, showing that rhe
Bermuda is detained there, and her oar
go Of oontraband seized, including 90
cases of ammunition, Mauser rifles and
field gun.
The cRblegraIn reached the legation
yesterday from the Spanish consul at
Panama, confirming the detention of the
Bermuda and giving details withheld
from publication at present, but which
arc understood to relate TO the whore
abouts of Calixto Garcia and his men.
who are thought to be in spot where q
Spanish man-of-war may capture them.
ANOTHER SCHOONER SEIZED.
She Was Without Cargo, and Spanish Cap
tain Threatened to Sink Her.
Colon, Colombia. April 2a.-The Amer
lean schooner George W. Whitford, of
New York, was seized by the gunboat
Cordova, six miles of Manzanillo. The
schooner was without cargo. The cap
tain of the GU nboat threatened to sink
her and put an officer on board and con-
voyed her there, accusing her of having
oontravened the customs laws
j. L. Peary, United States consul here,
is actively endeavoring to obtain the re-
lease of the vessel, whose document have
been sent to the United States consul
general at Bogota.
A force of police is stationed on board
the schooner. In boarding the schooner
the gunboat fouled and damaged her.
The captain Of the schooner declared his