Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-14
A FOUL MURDER.
Maceo Trapped and Shot in
Most Treacherous Manner.
Invited to Conference by the Spanish
Marquis Of Ahumada.
And Led on by Traitor Zertucha. Ne is Bru.
tally Murdered.

Maceo, cubas Phi she ri i1.-e spain!s
most hated foe, who has defied her choic.
strongest lines like pack-thread. who has
burned her cities and devastated her
plains, who has attacked her fortresses
and Knocked at pursuit, who has borne
he brunt of her tiercest attacks who has
been an honest. open foe, a brave and
gallant leader and man without fear
and without reproach. is dead-dead no,
by the fortune of war, not on the open
field, not face to face. but deceived i'm.
an ambuscade and butchered without
one chance for escape. without mercy
and without pity. In all the red and
treacherous records of Spanish barbarity
there is not an event which has nut 50
foVl blot upon her escutcheon as this
massacre of the patriot leader and his
staff under a flag of truce, beneath the
disI pnored folds of which his cowarily
enevhies had themselves invited him
ia. Huan. agent of the Cuban Junta
In this city, received a long letter. Satlr-
day noon. from his confidential CORE
spondent in Havana, giving full details OF
the assassination. too foul for civilized
nations of the earth TO tolerate.
Yes" said Huan. 'Maceo is dead but
Cuba will live long. The death of no
one man can crush the brave spirit of the
patriots of Cuba. who are fighting gal
lantly for liberty.
'Maceo was not killed fairly or in hon
est battle, but through the murderous
OF MS physician, III LtTtuHnd.
and the acting captain-generai of Cuba
Marquis Ahumada-
'Thirty-four members of his staff were
murdered with him-every man of his
staff, with the exception of the treach-
erous Zertucha.
The marquis of Ahumada who off
ciated as captain-general of Cuba during
Neyler 5 absence In the field, sent a let
ter TO Gen. Maceo inviting the Cuban
leader TO a conference.
'Macco never for a moment thinking
that treachery was intended especially
as the invitation came from such a prom
uent Spaniard as the marquis Of Ahli-
mazda, Immediately returned an answer
saying that he would be glad TO meet
the Spanish general. and only accom-
panied by his staff he went to the rem
devious. little dreaming of the awful
fate that was in store for him.
"On arriving at the trocha, the Span
ish soldiers there, acting under orders.
actually saluted the rebel cheftain as he
passed. and after reaching the rendez-
vous the Cuban leader was surprised TO
see. instead of the marquis of Ahumada.
a large body of Spanish soldiery who
seemed to come from every side.
The actions of the Spanish troops
were 50 suspicious that Maceo felt that
they had him cruelty trapped, and his
suspicious were confirmed when a per
emptory order came from a splendidly
mounted officer to surrender.
Never was the reply. and hardly
had the words been uttered when volley
after volley was poured nto the little
band of patriots. who. although hemmed
in all sides, outnumbered almost 100 to
one. stuck spurs to their horses and with
cries of Cuba Libre' rode CALAMITY to
their deaths.
Maceo is reported to have fallen AT the
first fire with a bullet through his head
breaking his jaw. Another hit him in
the abdomen. Both were fatal.
Gomez was the next to fall. and in a
few moments a number of bloody
corpses. shot almost beyond recognition.
We're all that remained of the gallant Gu
bans who trusted to Spanish honor
''Only one member of the staff escaped,
and that was DR.. Zertucha. who a once
surrendered and it is he who has given
the garhled account of the killing"
THE Spaniards say added MIR. Huan,
that they do not know where Maceo's
body is. They know fun well. They have
buried it to cover their treachery to a
degree and will eXhume it soon and say,
All. here is the body of Maceo From
today Cuba will fight harder than ever
before. This will he sad day for Spain.
! do not know who viii succeed Maceo.
but I think it will be Col, Rios Rivera, a
brave and intelligent soldier"