The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-12-12
THE DEATH OF MACEO.
DIR. Zertucha Gives Additional Facts Re-
garding the Killing.

garding the Killing.
HAVANA, Dec, 12.-Dr. Zertucha, the
personal physician of Antonio Maceo, who,
after surrending to Colonel Tort at San
Felipe, furnished confirmation OF the re-
ported death of the great Cuban leader,
has given to the press in an interview at
Melena del Sur additional facts in con-
nection with the case. II seems that An
tonic Maceo and his companions did not
cross the trocha or military line of Pinar
del Rio in the sense generally understood.
They passed from Pinar del Rio into
Havana province by seq in an open boat,
five trips being required to take the whole
party of insurgents As the boat would
only hold eight men, in addition to its
handlers, it 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
portant insurgent leader, and others of
his staff They landed near Banes, and
shortly afterwards occurred the encounter
with the Spanish troops under Major CT
ruieda, resulting, as alleged, in the death
of the Cuban chief.
In spite of the official accounts of the
death of Maceo and Francisco Gomez
there are many here who refuse to credit
the report. Friends of the insurgents ex-
press their belief that either the jewelry
and other things alleged to have been
found by the Spanish soldiers did not be-
long to Maceo, or else that they were
placed upon the body as ruse, in order to
throw dust in the eyes of the Spaniards
while Maceo pushed on eastward and COM
,r;t
Some doubt having been thrown upon
the statement that Zertuche was the per-
sonal physician of Antonio Maceo, he was
questioned on the subject and declared
that after the death Of Dr. Hernandez, in
Pinar del Rio, physician of higher rank
in the insurgent army, he succeeded DR..
Hernandez, by appointment, as Maceo's
physician, leaving the body Of insurgents
under Diaz, to which he had been attached,
for that purpose.
Dr. Zertuche also states that Major Cru
jeda narrowly escaped a severe defeat and
possibly capture at the hands of the in
surgents. He also says that the insurgents
in the vicinity of Melena have deserted the
Cuban cause and have surrendered to the
Spanish authorities, as they are worn out
with the many fatigues they have endured
and the privatons suffered during the
long and wearisome campaign The doc
tor adds that Beimudez, one Of the most
important leaders, was wounded fatally
in the abdomen on Dec. 3 In an engage
ment fought on the heights of Goyerna-
dora with the Spanish troops under Gem
eral Inclan.
Dispatches received from General In
clan confirm this report 1t is officially
stated here today that Miro the insurgent
leader who accompanied Altonio Mnceo
out of Pinar del Rio, was also wounded
by the side Of the great Cuban soldier,
and that Alberto Nodarce, Alfred Justio,
Ramon Ahumade and Gordon, all staff
officers Of Maceo were wounded in the
fight during which their leader fell.
Dr. Iortuche, who has been given his
liberty, has asked for permission to leave
Cuba for SPAIN and there is little doubt
that his request will be granted.