Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-06-20

they could do was to defend themselves
from the continued charges which, with
marvellous military precision, were kept
up night and day, without aTfordinS the
Spaniards a moments rest.
Thanks to General Godoye's timely ar
rival with $500 men, Castellanos was
saved from complete disaster, as I'M
doubtedly he could never have eXtricated
himself from the trap III which Gomez
had him. 1t is said that If Godoye had
delayed his march six hours longer Cas-
tellanos would have surrendered, as he
was already too weak to stand mucn
fighting longer. OF course, Gomez could
not sustain the battle after Godoyes
arrival with fresh reinforcements.
Therefore, he allowed them to effect
their retreat to Puerto Principe, but stu
he managed to harass them all the way,
obliging them to form squares up TO
the very gates of the city The actual
losses on both sides have not been as
certained yet. 1t is only known that the
Spaniards brought with them 800 wound
ed from the field of action, and whether
they left any behind is not known. Re
port has it that the total Spanish loss
in killed wounded and missing was over
1000. 1t is also stated that CaliXto Gar
ella and presumably Rabi took part in
the engagement but this has not been
confirmed, and many believe it impossi-
BILE, since both are still reported on the
other side of the Cauto river, forming
the limit of Camaguey and Santiago de
Cuba provinces.
Another report which caused a great
sensation in the city was the dynamite
explosion under two bridges separating
the main body of the city from the two
important suburbs of Jesus del Monte
and Cerro. Although the damage done
was not great, since only a water main
was destroyed under one and few
tl,aI a-ts
taken in considera ton with the former
explosion at the captain generals pal
ace, 1T shows that there is an organized
conspiracy in the city, and that II for
the present they have done little injury,
they may cause considerable harm some
day That Is what everybody fears, the
government included, for every effort Is
being made to discover the perpetrators,
but up to the present 1t has failed. Two
Span,ards have been arrested on Sus-
plcion but nothing has been proven
against them.
The sanitary condition of the island is
getting worse every day. Reports are
coming in from every town and city tell
ing about the ravages caused by yellow
| fever, smallpox and other diseases. yell
| low feveris said to be increasing in alarm
| ing proportions, especially among the
| troops. The death rate is very great. 1t
| is known that in Matanzas the fever
| form, known here as ''vomito negro" or
| black vomit, from which any one attack
| ed had never escaped, exists. The
| Matanzas hospitals are so choked
| with patients that they are send
| ing them to Havana for want
of space. OF eighteen sick soldiers
| broght in 1t has appeared under It's
| most malignant form. On train the
| other day fifteen died on the road. No
| wonder General Lasade the surgeon gen.
| eral of the army, rushed yesterday to
Matanzas to survey the situation and
| spreading of the epidemic and at the
| same time prepare sufficient accommo-
| dations for all who may unhappily fall
| victims to the terrible disease. There is
| already quite a panic here among the
| troops, and surely when this news
| reaches Spain It will undoubtedly COO
| down the enthusiasm of all those who
| said that Spain would send her last mar
| and spend her last cent to save the island
| that belonged to her, as they will appre-
! ciate that they have a more powerful
| enemy to contend with than all the rebels
| put together, and it is "yellow jack
which sweeps so many of them yearly
| without honor or glory.
| Private information received of the
| fight on the Cauto river near Manzanillo,
reported four days ago. says that tile
| lighter was struck a second time with a
| dynamite bomb, and for fear of destruc-
| ton she was grounded. All were made
| prisoners, including the naval officers In
| command. Pando the officer, was after
wards released with all the crew and sent
| to the MELONS, fort. The scout was not
spared. The Cubans hung him from a
| tree near by. The whole convoy was cap
| tured.