Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1896-12-25
DR.. zERTUCHA'S STORY.
Alleged Betrnyer of Maceo Tells How
4the .Lamented Leader Met
His Denfh


New York, Dec. ga long letter has
been received here from DR.. Maxine Ter
tucha, who is accused of having betrayed
General Maceo TO his death. The letter is
dated at Metena del Sue, Cuba, December
10. and is devoted TO a graphic recital as
to the death of General Maceo. DIR. Ter
tucha declares that Maceo was killed in
open battle; that a Mauser bullet entered
the right side Of the chin, causing fract-
ure of the lower jaw in three places, COM
ing out of the left lateral side at the base
of the neck. The bullet, in its course tore
the carotid artery, bringing on a mortal
hemorfhage, which caused death in a min
ute.
The doctor then relates how, with the aid
OF young Gomez. he attempted to carry
Maceo's body of the field, but Gomez fell
wounded, and the body had to be aban-
doned.
Then almost crazed," he says, II gal
ioped. on the generals horse, toward our
forces, which, owing to the incidents of the
engagement were at fair distance off.
met Brigadier Sanchez and informed him
of what had happened. He, after while
of issuing orders. giving excuses, etc. did
nothing.
Then 1 sought another chief that brave
and honest Pedro Diaz. Hearing what
had to say 10 him and Fastening to do his
duty We're the work of an instant. The
enemy had advanced. 1t was necessary to
dislodge them, and then we recovered the
bodies of General Maceo and Lieutenant
Gomez.
Had the latter died from wounds he had
received in the chest and arm?
No; he was stabbed over the left side
near the breast. He had over his forehead
also machete wound which had divided
his skull. The bodies had been stripped of
their shoes, stockings side arms and jew
elry.
AT o'clock that night. the bodies were
taken to Il shed Cn tine grazing farm, and
there l appeared before the commanding
officers, who were ignorant of General
Maceo's death. An affidavit of what had
taken place was drawn up and sworn TO
case It was sent to General Maxine
Gomez"
DR.. Zertucha then attempts to show that
Maceo's death was indirectly due to jeal-
ousy and treachery on the part of other
Cuban leaders, who refused 10 send him aid
when he was hard pressed. The letter
says:
Il have wept and still continue TO weep
over the death of him who was my friend
my brother. rather than my chief l have
heard from his lips desperate words uttered
at the disloyalty of his own people. 4 few
days before his death / heard him. after
he had read letters from Portuenda, ex-
claim: Were I not Maceo. I would leave
this. They are very mean. "
New York Dec. A.-Tomas Estrade Pal
Hla, president of the Cuban junta issued
This statement to-day:
Il am not very much surprised to see
DIR. Zcriucha rush into print for the pur.
pose Of dstructing attention from himself
hy attracting 1t TO n scandaIous charge
which can only aid him with the Span
iards.
For me IL is sufficient indication of the
mans character that he surrenders to the
enemy under the conditions in his case
and that he is treated in such a. kindly
manner by the Spaninrds What more
n"tuial that he, in combination with Span
ish diplomacy. should be the instrument
by which the revolution should be discred-
ited He certainly knows that this inter-
view will be sent to Cuba, where II can
not he received by the Spanish otherwise
than with demonstrations of gratitude
II know from letters received from Cen
Crsl Antonio Maceo personally, as we'll as
from "A person Of our mutual confidence.
through whom We frequently communicated
that Maceo was not in the desperate straits
depicted by Zertucha.
The following extract from letter late
~ received will show Maceo was well sat
iShed with the condition of affairs:
' 'Pinar del Rio. Nov. H.-Mv Distiu-
guished Friend;-The active operations of
against wishes, from answering Immediate
~ your welcome communications of the
18th and 25th ult.
'' General Rius Rivera happily disem-
harked with all the war material sent
which was well employed in a series of
hard combats which we sustained against
our enemies but which We're all most sig
nal victories for us. The object OF Weyler
was TO imrrison our army between two
fortified lines and make us suffer tre-
msndous defeat by means Of simultaneous
attacks by forces previously placed in
those positions. hut the most brilliant sue
cess crowned our efforts. six OF the enemy'E
columns which tried TO impede our progress
after our saving the expedition of General
Tius Rivera being destroyed.
'As late as December 9, the day Il is re-
ported Maceo was killed a person of con-
ndence ana veracity had a conference with
the general. and 1 am informed Maceo then
stated tho Cuban forces in Piuar del Rio
were ~ excellent condition in charge of
Rits Rivera. and that he was well salts
bed with his position
''ZertuChas last published interview dIf-
fSrS in detail from all others previously