The record-union., 1896-11-29

1er'S Alleged Engagement With
Maceo's Forces in the Rubi Hills, in
Which the Spanish Were Reported
to Have Lost Two Thousand Killed.
KEY WEST (Fla.), Nov. 2S.-Pas-
sengers by the steamer tonight report
that Weyler left Havana last night for
Muriel, going by steamer 1t is reported
that $4,000 insurgents are waiting on
the road to Muriel to intercept and give
him battle.
One hundred and forty-three prison
ers were deported to-day Seventy
nine were Manigoes and the balance
suspects. Fourteen were arrested yes
terday, tried by drumhead courtmar-
tial, convicted and sentenced to-day
Coloma, while being led to execution
on the 2Oth, was slapped in the face by
a Spanish official for trivial remark.
He died game. His last words We're
Cuba Libre.'
Passengers also report that Orna
Melton is very sick and ill-treated.
Eight hundred Spanish soldiers were
brought into Havana yesterday.
G. B. Pendleton arrived in this city
tonight. He claims there was nothing
irregular in his passports. The Span
ish officials wanted to detain him on
account of his bearing special dis
patches to this city.
A CUBA MESSENGERS STORY.
NEW YORK, Nov. 2S.-Lieutenant
Jose Felix Rios, a special messenger
from the Cuban Government to the
Junta in this city, arrived here last
night on the Clyde steamship Algon-
quin. This afternoon he told a start
ling story in the headquarters of the
Cubans in this city, which would go to
show almost beyond doubt that battle
which took place in the Rubi Hills in
October last. and in which 1000 Span
iards are said to have been killed, had
been construed into an engagement
with Weyler's troops in the same ter
ritory about a week ago. The details
of the October battle are strikingly
similar to the details of the story Of
Weyler's alleged engagement, which
was attributed to Lieutenant Rios. al
though he now denies that he ever gave
out such an interview. He declares, in
stead, that what he said about the al
legged engagement with Weyler was
simply common talk ip Jacksonville
while he was there. His story is as
follows:
"I am a Galician and went to Cuba
have been in the commission business
in Havana. Having worked hard for
the Cuban cause I was some time ago
7 MT tn,
army and took part in the battle of Sar-
atoga. On October 23d last was given
documents by General Gomez and by
the Cuban Government represented by
General Cisneros at a town called
Arancana an encamprnent near Cana
quay. With eight men 1 left a certain
port Of the island in a small boat and
set course for Nassau. We arrived
there In five days. A Spanish gunboat
which had been hunting for us got into
port two hours later, but she was
quarantined and we were safe. From
Nassau after some delay We went to
Jacksonville, thence to this city"
Some remark at this point led Lieu
tenant Rios off his story of the details
of the fight which he said occurred in
the hills just at the point where Wey-
ler's troops are said to have had an en-
gagement. He said he knew it to be a
fact that the Spanish General Melquizo,
with $1,000 men, the exact number that
Maceo is said to have engaged a few
weeks ago, came suddenly upon Gen.
eral Maceo with 5000 Cuban patriots.
AS usual, the Cubans got to work first,
and before MelquiZo could get his line
into shape he was greeted with show
er of leaden hail that moved great gaps
in his line. The battle continued for
some time before Maceo, who had evil
IDENTIFY been waiting for the Spanish
soldiers, began to slowly retreat
AT this point, as in the story of the
alleged Weyler enga cement. the dyna-
mite incident comes in. Hundreds Of
Spanish soldiers were killed instantly
by the discharge of the dreaded sub
stance almost under their feet The
carnage was terrible. Maceo still re-
treated, and was followed slowly by
the broken lines of the Spanish forces.
Then from an eminence (this same emil
nence is mentioned in the alleged Wey-
Ter ensagement) Maceo brought a dy-
Mantle gun to bear on the Spanish and
killed off several hundreds of Spain's
soldiers before darkness ended the
fighting Maceo and his victorious
troops got away.
Lieutenant Rios declared that the
Cuban loss was only thirty. The Span
ish, he declared, lost nearly 1900 men.
Lieutenant Rios was then asked if
the story dated November Goth from
Fla, and purporting to be
an interview with him, was true He
replied, through an interpreter, that the
Weyler story he knew nothing about,
but explained when he was told it's
purport that he had heard the same
thing before leaving on the Algonquin
for this city.
do you know whether it is true?" he
was asked.
His reply was that he knew nothing
at all about it. This seemed to settle
the story of General Weyler's engage
ment with Maceo's men in the Rubi
Hills. which the Cubans have said was
a fact.
Lieutenant Rios says regarding the
occupancy of the Province of CANA
guey by the Cubans: The Cuban Gov
ernment is in healthy operation in the
district. The Spanish have given it up.
In the mountains. under the roofs of
the old farmhouses, the new Govern
ment Of Cuba Libre conducts schools
for the children Of patriots. The pupils