The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-03-25
SPANISH STORIES DENIED
LETTER FROM A MEMBER or GEN.
ERAL GoMEz's PERSONAL STAFF.
Twenty-Eight Victories Won An
Thirty-0ne Engag-ments-spain
Anxious 40 sect Even.-

HAVANA. March A-Another terrible
mistake. attended with loss OF life ana re-
sulting In many soldiers being wounded. has
taken place. In some manner unexplained
two columns Of Spanish troops opened IRE
on each other at midday. According TO
the few details received here. the columns
Of troops commanded by General Godoy
and Colonel Holguin. at the Santa Rosa
plantation, near Esperanza, province OF
Santa Clara, mutually mistook each othcc
for insurgent forces owing. IL is said. 10 the
thickness of the sugar cane. Each detach-
ment opened fire on the other and for ten
minutes shots were exchanged. resulting In
the killing of seventeen soldiers. among
them being Lieutenant Colonel Fuennlayer,
of the Havas Battalion. In addition. five
officers and eighry-four soldiers were
wounded. Two of the latter have since died.
six others are mortally wounded and thirty
two are seriously injured Lieutenant Col-
onel Fuenmayer died while leading his
troops on and shouting Long live SPAIN
Owing TO the fact that the meeting be-
tween the two columns took place at mid
day. the explanation furnished by the Span
ish commanders is considered unsatisfac-
tory and court-martal viii follow.
Full details have been received OF the burn
ing by the insurgents OF the town OF San
Antonio de las Vegas In Pinar del Rio. An
official report of the destruction Of the town
has been made. from which the following
points are taken: ''On the night of Sunday.
March l5. a numerous band OF insurgents
under the leadership of Pedro Diaz Castillo
invaded the handsome town of San Antonio
de las Vegas with the two-fold purpose and
cruel determination of converting il TO q
heap of ashes and OF compelling the Spanish
garrison to surrender by burning and smok-
! ing them out The first part OF the plan
succeeded, making spaupefs Of thousands OF
industrious workingmen. who looked on with
heart stricken awe. while their families hast
lily left their homes in the midst of the
flames and the fearful kissing OF deadly bull
lets. seeking shelter in the wilderness and
woods. Mothers caught up their children In
their feeble arms. sons dragged their sick
and aged fathers out or the fIre TO a distance
from the town. Here the frightened citizens
on their homes, wrapped in the devouring
element. The second part Of the plan. tor
il t' was frustrated only after bitter struSs.e.
| The sentinel on watch gave the alarm when
| the insurgent forces first made their appear
ance, ana the officers and the garrison were
| promptly at their posts. A shower OF bullets
was thrown into the ranks OF the Invading
enemy through the loop-hoies and from be-
| hind parapets. But this did not prevent the
| spread OF the fire In the town. IL was already
feeding on the houses adjoining the fort
when the commander, Captain Gonzalez. see
| ing the necessity OF prompt measures 10 save
| the fort, consulted Lieutenant Martinez. or
| the engineer corps. and decided TO order
| the whole force OF the garrison into the
| streets TO demolish the houses which were
supplying food to the flames This was done
re 30 s5 he nSng ad
| the fire. The attack by the insurgents lasted
forty-two hours: when the insurgents were were
finally routed with heavy losses, their killed
and wounded being carried on with them
when they retreated-"
Maxine Gomez has returned westward
| from the province of Santa Clara and was
! encamped yesterday at the plantation OF
Moralito. near Union de Beyes, province or
Matanzas. Antonio Maceo Is supposed TO be
at San Diego de Los Bajos. province OF
Enrique Poro Mata, an Insurgent leader.
naovice nas of Mataoz he antherifes OF
/ CarienTs have captured Rafael Rorayo and
Cashmere Ponce, who nave been accused
The explanation given for the capture or
the three boats loaded with arms and am
muniton at Varadero, near Cardenas. is
that Collazo, who is understood TO have
commanded the expedition, mistook the
| landing place and went ashore at Varaeero
| instead OF the San Anton canal
General Bernal. in pursuing a baud Of
insurgents near the Gram Clenaga Occifen.
tai de Sapata. south o. the province of
the enemy. This band has burned three
barracks, some bridges ard a number r,
huts sklriss has taken ss aSo ass u
plantation; one thousand Spanish cavs!ft-
men were engaged ne insurgents ioss
wounded. The autho. fies OF Carienas nave
| found six more boxes o. ammunition s.bsn-
doned by the collazo e<pedition-
sentenced 10 death. will be shot on the 18th:
Ii is reported that Ccionels Moncada and
| SIgura in combination have captured an i'm
portant insurgent camp at SIguanea- No de-
| tails have been received
Maceo has ordered the burning OF the
| plantation houses Of Lombil.a. near San
Diego de Nunez. In Pinar. del Rio The
| plantation houses OF Gabriel. IN Pinar del
| Rio, have also been burned. The insnr-
4 gents have burned one hundred huts In the
| village OF Rodrigo. in the Sagua district
A report has been received that a nurner-
Gus band OF insurgents attacked Santa
| Clara on March .. but were repelled with
great loss.
Letter from Insupgent-
| BOSTON, Mass. March 2f.--The Standard
| tomorrow will publish a letter from Capt
| c. s. Il. valeros. a member OF the personal
staff OF Gen. Maxine Gomez m the Cuban
patriot army The letter was written 20
| Mr. " r. Johnstone OF New Haven. Conn.
| with whom CAPTAIN Naieros became intI-
mate while at Yale College. and was snug
| gled through the Spanish lines TO Havana.
and forwarded to New York. The letter il
| dated: Headquarters First Corps c. r. A..
March g. and says in part:
Dear Johnstone-It has been a most
| trying experience through which 1 have
| passed during the last thirty days. blood.
blood blood and blood again. everywhere
| No less than six OF our headquarters ness
| have gone 10 their eternal rest since my last
| to you-alI killed with their faces TO the foe.
'Cespedes. one OF the Generals personal
| scouts, who bought our last dispatches.
| after paving 8 visit to Havana. had hard
| time getting through the Spanish lines and
was twice held up and put through the
| severest questioning. All this time the dis
patches were I'm his stockings, but his cool
| ness and ready wit saved him. The pass
word was changed before ne passed their
| outer line and ne waited TIN dark and made
4 rush rather than take chances Of further