Omaha daily bee., 1896-11-24
WEYLER IS BACK In HAVANA
Oubans Are Jubilant at the Apparent
Failure Of His Expedition.
mACEo SET A PRICE ON HIS HEAD
Captain General Supposed to Have
Been Frightened, but He Says IL
WAS Too Hot and Un-
healthy to Fight.

HAVANA, Nov. 23.-Captain General
Weyler arrived here this evening on board
the cruiser lie Gazpi from Mariel.
Exploring trains left Artemisa last
night and this morning for Can
delarla and San Cristobal, in order to
prepare for the arrival at Artemisa Of Cap
tain General Weyler At o'clock this
morning Artemisa and its vicinity was in a
state OF considerable excitement, for 1t be-
came known that the captain general was
at Mangas, five miles distant. General
Arolas. accompanied by his stan and
escort Of cavalry, started soon afterward
for Mangas and at $40 news was received
at Artemisa that the cruiser lie Gazpi had
arrived at Mariel, the port at the northern
extremity OF the military line across the
province OF Pinar del Rio, with instructions
to her commander to place his vessel at the
disposal OF the captain general. At o'clock
General Weyler entered Artemisa with col
umns commanded by Generals Aguilar and
Arolas. The captain general was consider
ably sunburned. He wore field uniform
with a Panama hat and rode a black horse.
He put up at house OF citizen. whose
large gardens enabled the Spanish com
-f1hnder to receive there the stan officers and
others and transmit orders in various di-
rectioas There he also transacted consider
able business with his chief of stan. The
captain general was received on his ar
rival at Artemisa by crowds of people and
bands OF music. Trumpet salutes were
sounded and the bells were rung in his
honor. After visiting the military hospitals
and breakfasting, the captain general
started for Mariel.
Prof Jose Diaz of the University of
Havana has been suspended on a political
charge
dispatch from Santiago de Cuba an
nounces the arrest OF Francisco Berenger,
Victorina Ruez and Jose Garras.
Colonel Seguera's troops have escorted
to Candelaria, Pinar del Rio large num-
bers OF families who were camping about
in different parts of the country, owing
to the destruction of their homes by the
insurgents and the burning of the prefec-
lures and villages Of that province. In an
engagement at Damas, the insurgents left
thirteen killed on the field buried sixty
dead and retired with 100 wounded.
At the approaching trial OF Louis
sommelien, thu American citizen who
has long been imprisoned on
charges OF conspiracy. arson, etc, counsel for
the defense will demand his acquittal. basing
the request upon the conclusions arrived at
by the public prosecutor when the latter
asked that sentence OF Imprisonment for
life be imposed on the prisoner
Insurgents have dynamited an exploring
train near Cardenas, province of Matanzas,
derailing the engine and upsetting and
burning the cars. a passenger train which
followed 1t was fired upon and although the
passengers threw themselves upon the floor,
a woman and five men. gendarmes and fire.
men, were wounded.
HALIFAX. n. s. Nov. 23.-The steamer
Bermuda, which left New York few days
ago. arrived at this port today. Captain
Scott. her commander. denied the published
stories concerning the Bermuda's intended
movements and her owners, Mugrave a.
Co. of this city, said positively that they
had no desire TO risk her in such business
as that OF flibustering, and that she is TO
be used in legitimate commercial enterprise.
The vessel has been chartered to load
apples here for the London market. On
hr- arrival here the Burmuda was not
searched by the military authorities, only
the usual customs regulations having been
carried out.
WAS FORCED TO RETURN.
NEW YORK, Nov. pa dispatch to
the World from Jacksonville. Fla, says:
A cipher cablegram from Havana tonight
to a Cuban leader says General Weyler
has been forced to return to Havana and
that the city is in great confusion. Weyler
gives no excuse, II is said, except that II
is too hot and unhealthy TO do any fight
Ing. II is openly asserted in Havana that
b Weyler became frightened because MaceO
had set price upon his head or his cap
ture. Weyler's scouts suggested to him that
Maceo might make an attempt on Havana,
and the Spanish general retreated in hot
haste to the safety Of his palace. II is also
stated in the cablegram that Weyler's re-
call is assured now, as the Spanish gov
ornment is incensed against him for his
dilatory tactics. Cubans here are jubilant.
for they think this will have a favorable
effect upon congress.
A dispatch TO the World from Havana
under date OF November 20 says: The Com
petitor prisoners have been tried by court
martial in the fortress La Cabana in spite
of Consul General Lees official protest, filed
Just before he left Havana. The exceptions
taken by the prisoners were oyerruled by the
naval courts. General Lees note was pig
eonholed and in defiance OF Secretary OIL
ney's Intimation OF disapproval the Competi
tors crew and Mr.. Melton. the American
newspaper correspondent, have again been
tried by drumhead court sitting within
the walls OF Spanish fortress. where, ac-
cording to Captain General Weyler's orders
the representative OF the United States con-
sulate may not enter. The prisoners were
allowed neither interpreter nor counsel
Those partly acquainted with Spanish were
compelled to interpret for the others. So
quietly was the affair conducted that Acting
General Springer does not yet know. II is
said, that the case was virtually closed
November H. on which day Melton. Maza
DR. Vedia and the witness. George Ferran
were forced by Naval Judge Fernandez to
sign statements admitting their completely
in the flibusterlng expedition which the
Competitor is alleged to have brought under
Monson and Laborde to the Pinar del Rio
coast. This written evidence Is now under
consideration by the court. Judge Saul said
today that decision may be rendered az
any moment. II is expected that all the
members OF the party whose American citi-
zenship has not been clearly shown will
be shot The bona hde Americans probably
will be sentenced to from three to ten years
Imprisonment In some Spanish penal station
of the coast Of Africa.