The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-12-10
MAJ. CIRUJEDA'S STATEMENT
BODIES OF THE REBEL CHEF AND
GOMEZ TIED TO HORSES TAILS,
Then Dragged About Until the AMI
mails Were Tired-Spnniards Conf
dent the Cuban Leader Is Dead.
Downright 1896. by the Associated Press

abundant proof Of the death OF Antonio
Maceo ard his young aid. Francisco
Gomez, continue without abatement. The
details which are announced to-day, how
ever. of the facts relied on for the identi-
fication of the two Cubans have caused
an undercurrent of doubt in this city.
Major Ciruje,la, who commanded the Span
ish forces in the engagement at Punta
Bravo on Monday, and whose troops dis
covered the two bodies and gave the evil
dence Of Identification, consented to be in
terviewed on the circumstances of the case.
He said to-day to the correspondent of the
Associated Press that when the rebels were
routed it was evident that the body of the
chief was abandoned on the field. The
Spanish column, without stopping to ex-
plore the field, went in hot pursuit of the
insurgents and followed them for a mile or
more. Meantime young Gomez is supposed
to have committee suicide by Maceos side.
While the troops were returning to
Guatao, after the pursuit had ceased vari-
Gus guerrillas belonging to Major
Cirujeda's command went over the field
where the rout of the insurgents had oc-
CURED, and searched the bodies remaining
there for anything of Importance. THE
body Of Maceo." Major Cirujeda continued,
guerriilas who performed the act, were at
the time. quite unaware that the body was
that Of Maceo. In fact. little attention was
paid to the identity of the bodies. 1t was
already dark on the field, and it was rain
ing. Various other bodies were also
searched"
Cirujeda's further statement, who insisted
hal ha
other which was lying by it's side. were
evidently of first rate Importance and that
they must not thus be left without identi-
fcation. The two bodies were therefore
tied by the feet to the tails of some
horses Major Cirujeda went on to re-
late, land thus dragged over the ground,
the intention being to carry them to town
for identification. But after proceeding for
while the horses became tired with their
burden and the bodies were therefore cut
loose and left in the road
THE MARKED CLOTHING
When the troops reached Guatao, Major
Cirujeda proceeded to read the documents
which had been found on the bodies and
which were described yesterday. They in
cluded a letter addressed 20 "De ar Pancho," :"
and signed M. Gomez a diary of Maceo's
operations from Nov % to Dec. z, and
note in pencil found on the body of the
younger man, saying he died rather than
abandon the body of his general, Maceo.
The undershirt and socks on the body of
the older man were marked with the ini-
tials "A. NJ" and ring on the finger
contained in the engraved inscription An
tonic Maria.
After reading these documents, Major
Cirujeda says he became convinced that
the bodies which his troops had aban-
doned were those of Antonio Maceo and
young Gomez. But 1t was then too late
to return and recover them. Major Cru
jeda, however, expresses the firm convic-
ton that they were those of Maceo and
Gomezs son.
With the insurgents in the battle, Major
Cirujeda says, a beautiful amazon,
about twenty-five years of age, who urged
the rebels "A la machete." but at the
same time interposed to prevent the kill
ing OF the prisoners.
Major Cirujeda has taken charge of the
objects found on the body said to belong
to Maceo for further examination There
were a gold watch, a splendid pair of
cuff buttons made by Moreau TORN, Paris
with five-pointed stars on them and in
closed in big strapped leather case a
gold-mounted and good waterproof coat
All of these were taken from the body by
the scout Santa Ana. 1t is thus seen that
there has been no actual identification of
the bodies themselves, the conviction as to
identity resting upon the evidence of docu-
ments and articles found upon them.
There is no doubt, however of the as
surance of the general public here that
Maceo is dead. 1t Is pointed out that he
met his death in manner similar to that
of Jose Marti and Zayas His loss is re-
garded as the heaviest blow the revolu-
ton has received, and it is felt that his
continued life was ali that could save the
insurgent movement. He was the most
striking personal character of the out
break
LATEST ADVICES
Major Cirujeda telegraphed TO headquar-
ters yesterday that after the battle at
Punta Brava he had been obliged to aban-
don the bodies which, in the course Of a.
reconnaissance. his troops had discovered
to be the bodies of Maceo and Francisco
Gomez. The guide of the column said the
body looked like Maceo. Some one stand
ing by observed that Maceo was in Pinar
del Rio, but ii is, nevertheless, believed
that the bodies were those of the Cuban
leaders. Francisco, the bulger of the bat
TALON of San Quenten. was taking away
from the fallen Cuban a ring when he
found that he was still alive. He thereupon
killed him with the machete The insur-
gents, upon noting the small force of the
reconnoiterng party. rushed in with a.
large number on the troops and succeeded in
carrying away the body said to be Maceo's
but without securing any of the jewels and
papers which had been found upon it
Major CiruJeda, in order not to abandon
his dead and wounded was compelled TO
retreat 10 Punta Brava- At that place the
soldiers delivered the jewels and docu-
ments which they had found with the two
bodies and then the chief of the column
became convinced of the death of Maceo
Following Is a copy OF the letter written
in pencil which was found on the body of
the youth supposed to be Francisco Co.
mez:
Dear Mamma. Papa, Dear Brothers.
die al my post. L did not want to abandon
the body of General Maceo and | STAYED
with him. / was wounded in two places
and as 1 did not fall into the hands OF
| the enemy l have killed myself / am
| dying. i die pleased at being in the de-
| fense of the Cuban cause. 1 await for you
in the other world. Your son.
FRANCISCO GOMEZ
Friends or foes please transmit TO it's
destination as requested by one dead
The insurgents again kept up rifie-fring
| for period of an hour last night upon a
portion of the town OF Guanabacoa.
Col. Franco Drcmber. in combination