Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-12-17

brother of the Cuban general earn 10,
has received the following letter from
n Trustworthy correspondent IN
Havana, confirming the reports OF
Maceo's death and showing that he was
killed by treachery:
Havana, Dec. 9th. Dear Friend
Justo-Our brave general, Antonio
Maceo, and the greater part OF MS
staff have been murdered by SpaniardH
the Spanish major, Cirujeda, acting the
part of the assassin with Dr. Maxine
Zertucha as his assistant In the horrl-
bic drama. Convinced that notWith-
standing his enormous army he could
do nothing against our gallant leader,
who had 80 repeatedly defeated the
Spanish generals In Plnar del no.
Weyler conceived the idea OF appeas-
ing his beastly instincts by u COLD
blooded murder, and making the best
of the secret relations between Dr.
Zerthucha and the Marquis OF Ahum-
ada. ne planned with the latter his
hellish scheme. Weyler took the hcid
and in his absence Ahumada proposed,
though Ierthucha, u conference WIFI
Mnceo to take place at "a certain point
ir. the province OF Havana with the
view of arranging plans for cessation
of hostiites. The basis was to be
Cub's Independence and monetary
indemnity to Spain, together with Ger
tain advantages that should be agreed
upon for Spanish commerce and Span
ish capital invested there. TO carry
out the plan, the agreement was lhat
orders should he given to attachments
of troops stationed on the trocha IN
the section betwe Martial and Juana-
lay to allow Maceo with his staff to
pass the military line unmolcSted,
To secure the time required to mature
these arrangements and give them all
the appearance of TRUTH Ahumada
feigned that before acting he must
make them known to Weylcr for his
previous approval. This explains the
sudden arrival of Wcylcr in Havana
and his prompt return to Plnar del
Rio. Tho conditions OF the meeting
having been agreed on MAceo crossed
the trocha over road to Guanajay with
out being molestcd by the fort, but IA
soon as he arrived nj the place de-
eided upon he and his party were
greeted by u tremendous rolley from
the troops under Major Ciruicda who
lay conveniently In ambush. Most
Of the officers on his staff fell with
Gen. Macco. Hortuchn IL alive be
cause he was aware of the scheme and
remained In the rear. The Spainards
know where the bodies are but are bent
~, feigning ignorance to blot out the
vestigos OF the crime. Havana and
all Spain are rejoicing because in their
stupidity they hope that the war may
end with the death OF their leader,
Far from It, The spirit Of the Cubans
has grown more ardent, and today they
are resolved to make every sacrifice
before surrendering their arms to their
relentless tymnts. In this very pro-
vince of Havana, In which our army rs
least numerous and has least means
of defence, the Cubans are operating
with greater activity and not day
passes uhnt we do not hear in this city
Of firing on Guanamcoca. The Spain
ards may troncherously murder some
of our patriots but no earthly power
can annihilnto the spirit of liberty
floating now us ever over the Cuban
people"
Yesterday Joaquin Forum pointed
out the following facts, which, in his
opinion corrohorate statements in the
foregoing letter and Indicate that
Maceo is really dead First In lucha
published an article Dec. r in Witch II
was stated that ON the previous day
IN msnrgont force and had killed }.
Cubans, not named. AT pre, lsc(y tn,
place In which Maceo was murdered.
Second The first dispatch sent from
Havana reporting Maceo's death, which
was received Tuesday, stated that Cir
ujeda had previous knowledge of The
horse that Maceo was to ride. How
did he acquire that knowledge?
Third Weyler publicly attributes
the glory of the event to the marquis
of Ahumada who had not been away
from Havana. Why should not the
story be given exclusively to Cirujeda
who had the good fortune, II the en-
counter was an accident. to come I'M
cXpeotedly on MaCeo's party?
Fourth From the first, even before
convincing proofs We're offered such
assurance wis expressed nj the palace
as Indicated preconcertcd plan
Fifth Zertucha's previous conduct
it now appears, Is not altogether free
from hlemish
Sixth A manifest contradiction APP
pears between what is said by the uu-
thorities in Havana and what the
Spanish minister Of foreign affairs
announced in his contrmatory tcle-
glvm to Minister DE Lone ut Wash
ington, The Havana authorities dis
tinctly say that they have been unable
- secure the body Of Maceo. while the
telegram from Madrid states that the
body has been identified This YER
sion was transmitted to Madrid to give
- -.