, 1896-12-10

COuTSc ~ OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES LIS uOOp
had discovered to be the bodies O
Maceo and Francisco Gomez. Tn,
guide of the column said the body look
ed like Maceo. Someone standing b!
observed that Maoeo was in Pinar de
Rio. but it is nevertheless believed tina
The bodies were those of the Cubar
leaders. The bugler OF the battalion o
San Quentin was taking a ring ava,
from the fallen Cuban, when he fount
he was still alive. He %thereupon killet
him with a machette.
The insurgents, upon noting the small
force of the reconnoitering party. rush.
ed in with a large number Of troops
and succeeded in carrying away the
body said to be Maceo's, but withou,
securing any Of the jewelry AMI pagers
which had been found upon it.
Major Cirujeda, in order not to aban,
don his dead and wounded, was COM
PEELED to retreat to Punta Bravo. AT
Punta Bravo the soldiers delivered the
Jewels and documents which they
found with the two bodies, and then
the chief Of the column became con.
WINGED of the death Of Maceo.
Following is a copy OF the letter,
written in pencil, which was found on
the body of the youth supposed to be
Francisco Gomez:
Dear, Mamma, Papa, Dear Brothers
i die at my post. l did not want to
abandon the body Of General Maceo.
and I stayed with him. / was wounded
in two places and as I did not fall into
the hands of the enemy, l have killed
myself. am dying. 4 die pleased at
being in the defense Of the Cuban
cause. l await for you In the other
world. Your son,
FRANCISCO GOMEZ"
"Toro in San Domingo. Friends or
foes, please transmit to its destination
as requested by one dead"
DENY THE REPORT.
New York, Dec. 9.-The Worlds Ke,
West special says: Private Havana ad,
vices fatty deny the Spanish report
that Maceo has been killed.
The story was concocted at the pal
c to c~ounteract the bad effect OF
Maceo's success in crossing the trocha
between two Spanish forts near Canas
without losing a man.
Tho Gnnuyop NO IN Afnno, ron - -.
local press by Major Cirujeda himself,
and to the foreign correspondents by
the press censor contains no proof Of
autheahicity, was not authorized by tho
general staff and did not bear the Gus,
tomary heading "oflcial."
The inspired government newspaper,
La Union Constitutional. this morning
afirmed nothing Of it's own knowledge.
and qualified every statement and edi,
torially referred to Maceo's death as
current rumor, supremely important,
II true. High officials in Havana are
10th to admit that Weyler failed with
10000 men to accomplish what less
""n wv usu.
Only yesterday heavy achievements
left Artemisa by rail to cooperate with
Melquizo IN the attack ON h rebel POI
sitons near San Juan Y Martinez,
where Maceo Is believed to be en-
camped.
He was there Sunday with over 5000
men. Various residents OF Punta Bravo
talked with the Worlds correspondent
yesterday and they secuted Cirujeda's
reports. They say the Spanish troops
under Ciru5eda subjected to a hui
initiating defeat and lost one-third OF
their force. Rebels pursued them TO
the outskirts Of the town.
Neighboring pacifcos seen said the
insurgents were commanded by serahn
Sanchez. whom Spanish reports killed
last month in Santa Clara province.
adding that II Maceo was with the party
the fact vas kept quiet The most i'm
portant Cubans in Havana, sympathtz-
ing, aiding or abetttng In the revolu-
tton. disbelieve the story OF Maceo's
death. They admit his entry into Ha-
vana province. and believe he forced
the trocha in response to an order from
8: :: I'm: =: s:;; e.: !: Z en- En-; M !; s.: s =: s'''',
Another fact nrov1nr thaA h trp41h
-..L 49,.
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