San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-12-13
ONE HERO LESS.
SPAIN DOES NOT MOURN THE LOSS
OF THIS PIREHAND.
If Antonio Maoeo is Murdered With the
Slain, Then There is Cause for
Joy in Spain.
Special Wire To Sunday Light.


Special Wire To Sunday Light.
Jacksonville, Fla, Dec. 1.-THE
agent of the Cuban Junta here has re-
ceived q letter from Havana which
confirms the death of Maceo, but also
indicates that he was the victim of a
treacherOus plot, formed by his own
physician, Zertucha, and the Marquis
de Ahumada, who acted as captain
general in Havana, when Weyler was
absent in the field. Ahumada propos-
ed through the doctor, conference
with Maceo, to take place at certain
point in the province of Havana in
view of arranging plan for the ces-
Sation of hOstilities on the basis of
Cuba's independence and a monetary
indemnity to Spain. To carry out the
plans orders would be given to detach-
ments of troops stationed at a trocha
in a section for the meeting, to allow
Maceo with his staff to pass the mill
tary line unmolested. Maceo crossed
the trocha without being molested, but
on arriving at the place decided upon,
he and his party were greeted with a
tremendous volley from the Spanish
troops lying in ambush. Most Off
GERS of his staff fell with Maceo. The
doctor being aware of the scheme re-
manned in the rear. The Spaniards
know where the bodies are, but feign
ignorance to blot out the yestiges of
the crime.
Special Wire To Sunday Light.
New York, Dec. 12.-For the sew
enth time since the present Cuban
revolution began General Antonio Ma
Geo has been killed. Tit, fact that he
invariably comes to life more formid-
able than ever in no wise detcrs the
enemy in killing him again. Well
indeed, might the Spaniards wish for
the death of the irrepressible Maceo.
What checks has he not given them!
What victories has he not snatched
from them! What pungent warfare
has he not waged in their very strong
holds! At no time within the past
two years has there been a moment
when Spain would not have paid L.
600, 900 pesos, in sore straits as she is,
for his body, dead or alive. What
mighty motive has moved Antonio
Maceo in his relentless war on Spain?
A brief notice of the career of the Gu
ban hero and liberator will suffice to
answer the question.
The study of Maceo is as thrilling as
that of any hero in the world-struggle
for liberty. His uncompromising pa
triotism, his implacable hatred of the
enemy, his self-sacrifice. magnetism,
courage, his rugged nature and his
stern, solemn purpOse-all these things
drew men to him and held them with
force from which there was no es-
cape. This is the second Cuban revo-
luton in which Maceo has been con-
spicuous figure. In the ten years.
war he rose from the ranks to the
grade of a major general. Then, as
now, he was a fearless fighter. Then,
as now, he was the despair of the
Spaniards. But in this revolution
Maceo went into the fight with all the
experience of his first campaign, re-
enforced by sixteen years of study
and preparation in the arts of war.
At the time that Maceo's plantation
was destroyed General Maxine Co
mez was lying with his forces in the
mountains Of Santiago. One day he
was confronted by tall, gaunt man,
followed by half a dozen awkward
boys. The gaunt man volunteered his
services and those of his sons. Scan
you fight?' asked the leader, with a
smile" Perhaps" was the reply. Some
time after company of Spanish cav
airy passed near the camp Of Gomez,
They were cut to pieces by the guer-
rillas of Gomez. At the head Of the
rebels rode the Maceo awkward squad.
The father fell in his fight, and within
two months three of the sons had
been slain in battle. The remaining
members of the Maceo family SEEM
ed to bear charmed lives. They fought
recklessly. Death first overlook
Miguel; then Julio fell under Spanish
fire, and Felipe and Tomas were dis
abled. This left Antonio alone. His
brother Jose was too young to join
his brother in the field. For the first
year of his service under Gomez An
tonic fought like lion. In that space
of time he was promoted from q COM
mon soldier to sergeant, then be-
came successfully lieutenant, captain,
and major. Soon after his last pro-
motion he led band Of 300 against
the upland town of I'll Arriba, and
capturing the forts drove the Span
iards to Santiago. He was then CIV
en- the straps of a colonel. His career
from this time forward was one of
glory. Gomez advanced him in pow
err and the Spaniards began to dread
his very name. His engagements
were all brilliant, his victories far
reaching, his losses slight. He tor
tured the great Campos at Ramos.
slaughtered the combined forces of
Campos and Valera at Monte Oscuro,
utterly routed a force of $500 Span
iards in the battle of Zarzal, and at
Santa Maria de Helguin he charged
a.,a dis,,a n,-nd the Snanish line hafnre