The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-16
MAcEo'S DEATH NOT A MURDER
spANIARDS CLAIM HE WAS KILLED
IN A FAIR FIGHT.

Tbe Hand writing in the Letter
FOUND on the Corpse of GOmez's
SON Verified and the Letter Alone
Lacked Upon as Sufficient DisprOOf
of the Charges of Foul Playa Gu
han at Jacksonville Accused of
Concoeting the Assassination
story.
washington, Dec. 15.-The Spanish lega-
tion here furnished the following transla-
tion of a cablegram received tonight:
Madrid. Dec. 15.-To Spanish Minister,
washington: Maceo's death took place in
1oval fight at Punta Bravo, and was
caused by our soldiers bullets. This is
ovidently proved by the letter written by
the son of Maxine Gomez, in which he
states that he killed himself in order not
to abandon the body of his general. The
handwriting of the letter has been veri-
fed and also every detail Of the fight, time
and circumstances when Maceo and the
son of Gomez were wounded. All these de-
tails have been published in Europe by
telegrams from both Spanish and foreign
correspondents.
(Sgned) Tetuan.
q note saying that the Spanish legation at
washington hoped ito discover the origin
of the report of Maceo's assassination, and
to trace 1t to certain CUBAN resident IN
Jacksonville -
The note further says that the presence
in Jacksonville of several newspaper cor
RESPONDENTS at the time of the reported
assassination Of Maceo, explains the
whole circulation of the slander."
jacksonville Fla, Dec. 15.-The indig-
nation of the Cubans of Jacksonville and
the American friends of Cuba over the re-
norted cowardly assassination of Gen. An
tonic Maceo under flag Of truce, was ex-
pressed tonight by a great torchlight
nrocession and mass meeting on a vacant
lot, no building in the city being large
enough to accommodate the crowd.
Judge r. B. Archibald, one of the lead
inc lawyers Of Florida. presided, and
speeches denunciatory of Gen. Weyler and
the Spanish government were made by
prominent citizens.
Ex-Alayor d. u. Fletcher, member of
the Florida legislature, said: THE high
est authority in the United States, Presi-
dent Cleveland. tells us there is no war
in Cuba. If not, why is it a craft can
not leave this port without being chased
bv armed cruisers? 1 tell you, there is
war in Cuba, and the time has come
when we as American people can no longer
say that the Spanish people are examples
81 cnivalry. Their ohivalry now consists
in butohering crippled men, weak women
and children We know what freedom
xvil1 stand
by Cuba and see that she gets her free
DOM
Judge r. B. Archibald in his address,
said: "A few days ago President Cleve-
land, in referring to Cuba, expressed what
he supposed was the sentiment of the
American people in referring to the honor
and chivalry of the Spanish people. In
the war of the rebellion it is said that
President Cleveland hired substitute. He
believes in substitutes, and in his mes
sage substitutes his opinion for that of
the American people. The substitute is
repudiated by the American people, who
now claInor for the recognition of Cuba
as a free and Independent nation. We
not only are here to express indignation
at the manner in which Maceo was as
sassnated, but to express Indignation at
the appointment of Spanish spies as Unit
ed States deputy marshals. 1t seems that
the Spanish officials are debating to and
controlling federal officials
Sheriff Napolean Broward, the command
er of the steamer Three Friends, was
given an ovation when introduced He
made strong plea for free Cuba He pre-
dlcted victory for the Cubans by April l,
1897
State Senator John E. Hartridge, a can
dldate for the United States senatorship,
said that the cowardly assassination of
Maceo was the most disastrous thing that
was black man, but was fighting for
white and black alike, and his death only
created greater sympathy for the strug-
Cling Cubans
j. N. c. Stockton, national bank pres
ldent and member-eiect of the legislature,
thought that 1t was time President Cleve-
land stopped dealing in long winded sem
tences, and acted according to the reso-
luton of Senator Mills. 1t is time to give
me Spanish minister his passport and send
him home.
Gen. j. J. Dickinson commander of the
Confederate Veterans of Florida, said he
was ready to raise regiment of 900 men
70 90 to Cuba and drive the Spaniards off
the island.
Resolutions calling upon the United
States government to at once declare the
independence of Cuba were unanimously
adopted. The resolutions, offered by Il.
q. Blair follows:
BE it resolved first we, the people of
Jacksonville, Fla, in mass meeting assem-
ned, receive the news of the assassination
Oh Gen. Antonio Maceo, the gallant leader
Of the Cuban patriots, with profound sor-
row, and believe no act of intrigue, inhu-
manity, butchery and cowardice so appaIl-
ing in its nature can be found in the rec
ords of warfare among civilized nations,
save in the annals of Spanish history
Second, believing that the war in Cuba
Is being waged by the Spanish govern
ment in an inhumane, atrocious and un-
civilized manner, never before eaualled in
II Ihe pages of history, for cruelty, indeceney
ana vice. save in the acts of the barbor-
our and uncivilized nations, we, therefore,
as Christian community, appeal to the
american congress for the sake of human
ny to enact such legislation as win give
american citizens the right to legally aid
.He Cuban patriots and that our govern-
Hent may at once declare the independ-
esuce of the Cuban nation, regardless OF
4ofeign complications.
Third, we furthermore appeal TO all
christian communities throughout this