The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-12-16
macso WAS MURDERED.
Betrayed tc His Death By HIS Renegade
Physician.

/
JACKSONVILLE, Fla, Doe. la.-Little
doubt remains that Gen. Antonio Maceo,
second in command of the Cuban army,
is dead and that he was feuily murdered
by the Spauiards while be was under the
protection of flag Of truce. J. A. Huan.
agent for the Cuban junta here, has made
public q letter received yesterday by JUS
20 Carrillo from Cuban in Havana in
which the assassination is described. The
| letter is dated December Q. and is as fol-
| lows: "Our brave Gen. Antonio Maceo
and the greater part of his staff. have
been murdered by the Spaniards, the
Spanish Maj. Cirujeda acting the part of
assassin with DR.. Maxine Zertucha as
an assistant in the horrible drama. Con-
vinced that. notwithstanding his enor-
nous army, he could do nothing against
our gallant leader, who had 80 repeated
| ly defeated the Spanish generals in Pinar
del Rio, Weyler conceived the idea of ap-
peasing his beastly instincts by cold
/ blOOded murder; and making the best of
the secret relations between DIR. Zertucha
and the Marquis of Ahumada he planned
with the latter his hellish scheme.
SLAUGHTERED BY rREACHERY.
''Weyler took the field, and in his alb
senee Ahumada proposed through Zertu-
cha conference with Maceo, TO take
place under a flag of truce at certain
point in the province of iIavana, with the
view of arranging plans for the cessation
of hostilities. The basis was to be Cuba's
independence and a monetary indemni
| ty 10 Spain, together with certain adj
vantages that should be agreed upon for
| Spanish commerce and Spanish capital
invested there. To carry out this plan
the agreement was that orders should be
given to the detachment of troops station
ed on the trOcha in the section where the
meeting was SET, to allow Maceo with his
staff TO pass the military line unmOlested.
Thine was required 10 mature these
fiendish arrangements aud to give them
all the appearance of truth, so the Mar
quis of Ahumada feigned, that before act
ing he must make known his plans to
Weyler for his previous approval. This
explains the sudden arrival of Weyler in
Havana, and his prompt return to Pinar
del Rio.
The conditions and the place of meet
ing having been agreed on, Maceo cross
ed the trocha over the road To Cuanajsy
without being molested by the forts, but
as soon as he arrived at the place decided
upon he aud his party were greeted by
tremendous volley from the troops under
Maj. Cirujeda, who lay conveniently in
ambush, and followed up the rifle volley
with a machete charge. Most of the
officers on the staff fell with Gen. Maceo.
Zertuch Is alive, because he remained in
the rear like the coward and traitor he
was.
"The Spaniaris know where the bodies
Of the dead patriots are, but are bent on
feigning ignorance, the better and quick
er 10 blot out the vestiges OF the crime.a
Another letter 10 Huan gives further
details. 1t says that as Maceo crossed
the trocha, going to the place appointed
for the meeting, he passed the Spanish
sentinels under Spanish protection, and
that they presented arms in his honor
Going forward some four miles from the
trocha, Maceo and his staff, numbering
p men and officers, came TO hillside
thickly studded with small pines and
underbrush. Here n Spanish Outpost
was observed. Maceo sent forward his
flag of truce, and IN few moments he
was signaled to advance. As the party
did SO hundreds of Spanish soldiers arose
out of the underbrush, completely sur
rounding the party. Maj. Cirujeda gall
loped mp and demanded Maceo's sur
render.
''Neverr' shouted the intrepid Cuban
leader, drawing his sword, as he saw
that he was entrapped.
Forward, my men! Death to the
towards - cried Cirujeda.
At this the Spanish soldiers poured in
fire of leaden bullets. Maceo fell at
the first fire aud young Gomez next.
The fire was continued until every man
was killed except DIR. Zertucha. The
machete charge then followed. The
bodies Of Maceo and yonng Gomez were
next tied to the tails of the soldiers
males and dragged over the field so as
to mutilate them, as the Spasiards did
not wish 10 have them discovered and
identified at first. The letter states that
this murder leaked out through drunk
en- Spanish soldier while in Havana
day or two after the assassination.