Evening journal., 1896-02-03
THE BRUTAL SPANlARDS
Noncombatants Killed In Cold
Blood In Sabanilla.
DBFBEsBLEss WOMEN SHOT DOWN.

Killed Without Reason-Thc Insurgent
Soldiers Warmly Welcomed In sabanilia.
NEW YoRK, Jan. 3.-Thc SUNS corrc-
spondent sends the following from Cuba
via Tampa Bay;
The true story Of what occurred when
the insurgents entered Sabanilla has never
been told in print.
The authorities prevented the Havana
papers from publishing anything but a
garblod account Of tho affair, and oven
that was not allowed to be cabled to the
United States.
The official account, which / was per
mittod TO transmit said that the insur-
gents entered Sabanilla on the 22d, burn
ed the railroad station and two or three
houses and looted several stores.
Tho garrison Of 90 men made strong
defense and drove away the insurgents,
killing IL. The Spanish losses were given
as three volunteers killed and ten civil
guards wounded. Tho true story Is as fol
lows;
Snbanilla, an important railroad town
in Matanzas province, was entered by
about 40 insurgents, undor Eduardo Gar
cia, at 80 a. IN. ON Jan. 22. Tho main
body Of insurgents, numbering over 1000,
camped on the outskirts OF tho town.
Garcia, the leader, belongs to one of the
best families of Matanzas and many Of
his followers had friends and relatives in
Sabanilla. Fifty regulars undor Captain
Juan Galan and ten guardia civiles shut
themselves up in the barracks, and after
being warned by Garcia's men they re
Trained from firing upon the invaders. A
number of Spanish volunteers fired upon
the rebels from the church, which had
been transformed into fort.
The rebels returned the fire. killing
three volunteers and wounding two civil
guards. Ono insurgent was wounded by
a shot from the church tower lie was
taken out Of town ON horseback and Is said
TO be mortally hurt
Shouts of "Viva Cuba Librei"
The townspcople received the insurgents
with cheers, shouts Of "Viva Cuba libror'
were heard on all sides, and the invaders
were surrounded by men, and women as
well, who wished them success and told
OF their woes under Spanish rule.
Tho poor people Of the town told Garcia
| that they were without food and had eaten
nothing but cane from nearby plantations
| for days, as there was no work and nc
money.
The rebel leador then ordered the store
keepers TO open their doors and told tn,
/ people TO help themselves One shopkoepel
who resisted was shot.
About 90 stores were looted of provi
sions, shoes and clothing. The railroad
station was burned. Then the invader.
left town.
As soon as they had gone the Spanisl
volunteers issued from the church -nnt
fired into the dcfonseless crowd of people
in the streets killing "a including seyera
women and children.
1t is asserted that these people wor
among those who looted the stores, bu
even the Spanish papers say some were in
nocent Of the crime Of taking food to pre-
vent starvation.
Not satisfied with shooting these peopl
in the streets, the Spanish volunteers tool
ten Cubans who had been with the insur
gents for time, but had presented them
selves to the alcalde a day or two befor
the fight and had been set at liberty undo
the proclamation Of amnesty TO all rebel
who surrendered their arms.
These ten men were shot in cold hloOl
by the volunteers in revenge for the losse
sustained in the fight around the church
These are facts.
1 AnlElnontu
Fifteen hundred refugees from Sabanil
| Ia reached Matanzas on Monday. The
were men, women and children, and mos
Of them said they led for fear of furthe
outrages by Spanish volunteers.
Others said they expected the tow
would bo burned by the insurgents. Ther
arc daily reports of arrests of suspects Il
all the provinces. They are thrown int
prisons without trial and in many case
without any evidence of having aided th
Cuban cause in any way. Their graves
crimo may be that they sympathize wit
tho patriotic rebels in the field.
Many of them hold American citizenshi
papers and speak good English. tn
American consul interposes in all thes
cases and prevents a court martial, as th
people are not taken in arms.
The government, after much delay, In
forms the consul that civil trial has bee
granted, hut the time drags along, and tn
people remain in jail.
For the first three days they are 'incon
munioado that is, no one, not eve
their counsel, IL they hayo one is permit
ted to see them. During that interval Oh
government having arrested tho 'su'
pectsn without evidence, ondeavors b
a case or induce the prisoner TO incriml
nate himself.
Rodriguez, who was taken of the Amoi
lean steamer Oliyotte ten days ago, is sti
in jail. Cepero, the American, who wa
an insurgent leader and who was arreste
on q south coast passenger steamer an
who asserts that he was on his way
Havana to surrender and claim amnesty
| is still i'm Morn castlo
Honore Laine, a Frenohman, VIII
claimed TO have been kept a prisoner b
Gomez for several weeks, but who is sal
to have remained with the insurgents
his own accord and came to Havana
where he was arrested on a charge of cal
rying messages, is I'm the Moro castle, an
the French consul has asked for a civ
trial.
Sanguilly, whose case is the only one I
which trial has been held. was conyicte
without legal evidence and doomed 10 lii
imprisonment.
Fen Into Boiling Vat.