The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-12-12

Reports Discredited In some Quarters
spanish Generals story.

Havana, Dec. I0.-The confident
claims of the Spanish officials that they
have abundant proof of the death Of
Antonio Maceo and his young aid, Fran
cisco Gomez, son of Maxine Gomez,
continue without abatement. The de-
tails which. however. OF the facts relied
upon for Identification of the two Gu
bans have caused an undercurrent Of
doubt in this city.
Maj. Cirujeda, who commanded the
Spanish forces in the engagement at
Punta Bravo on Monday, and whose
troops discovered the two bodies and
gave the evidence OF Identification, con
scented TO be interviewed on the circum-
stances of the case. lie said that when
the rebels were routed il was evident
that the body of the chief was aban-
doned on the field. The Spanish co..
umn, without stopping TO explore the
field, went in hot pursuit OF the insur-
gents and followed them for a mile or
more. Meantime young Gomez is sup
posed to have committed suicide by
Mnceo's side.
While the troops were returning to
| Guato after the pursuit had ceased
various guerrillas belonging TO Maj.
! Cirujeda's command went over the field
where the rout of the insurgents had
occurred. and searched the bodies re-
naming there for anything of impor-
lance. THE body OF Maceo," Maj. Cru
! jeda continued, was relieved OF a ring,
clothing and other articles. The guer-
rillas who performed the act were at
the time quite unaware that the body
was that of Maceo. In fact. little atten-
ton was paid to the identity of the
bodies. IL was already dark ON the
field, and IL was raining. Various other
bodies were also searched"
IL was an adjutant. according 20 Mai.
Ciruieda's further statement, who in
sisted that the two bodies were evil
IDENTIFY of frst-rate Importance, and
that they must not be thus left without
identification. "rhe two bodies were
therefore tied by the feet 10 the tails
of some horses" Maj. Ciruieda added.
''and then dragged over the ground.
the intention being TO carry them TO
town for identification. But after pro-
cecding for awhile the horses became
tired OF their burden. and the bodies
were therefore cut loose and left in
the road"
When the troops reached Guato Mai.
Cirujeda proceeded 10 read the docu-
ments which had been found upon the
bodies. After reading these documents.
Maj. Cirujeda says, he was convinced
that the bodies which his troops had
abandoned were those of Antonio Maceo
and young Gomez. But. il was then too
late to return and recover them. Mai.
Cirujeda, however, expresses the firm
conviction that they were those Of
Maceo and Gomez son.
Ii is thus seen that there has been no
actual Identification of the bodies them
selves, the conviction as TO the identity
resting upon the evidence OF documents
and articles found upon them.
There is no doubt, however. of the
assurance OF the general public here
that Maceo is dead. II is pointed out
that he met his death In a manner sim
liar TO that Of Jose MART and Zayas
His loss Is regarded rs the heaviest blow
the revolution has received, and IL is felt
that his continued life was all that
could save the insurgent movement. lie
was the most striking personal char
ncter of the outbreak.
According TO the Madrid Official Ga
zette the Cuban war expenses from May
4, 1925, 20 June, 1896, have amounted to
$G4.00O,000.
Washington, Dec lO.-Ricardo Diaz
Albertini, secretary of the unrecognized
Cuban legation here. was seen Wednes-
day regarding the alleged killing OF
Gen. Maceo in battle. lie had no Official
information, but said the story was
obviously untrue, and that this was
Rbut the twentieth time that Maceo had
been killed, according TO Spanish adj
vices. He further said that the report
ed self-inilicted death of young Gomez
was equally ridiculous, just as much so
as the reported death of his father, Gen.
Gomez, who had recently been reported
killed just as he had won an important
victory.
Mr.. Albertini said that he received
telegram from New York Tuesday
night telling him that Maceo's death
would be printed broadcast Wednesday,
and would create excitement.
Washington, Dec. 10. ~ The Spanish
minister has received a cablegram from
the duke Of Tetuan. minister OF state OF
Madrid, which officially confirms the
death of the leader, Antonio Maceo, aud
the suicide IF the son OF Maxmo Gomez.
The engagement is characterized as n
GLORIOUS battle fought by our troops"
Madrid. Dec. l0.-The government
has received official confirmation OF the
death OF the Cuban insurgent LEADER,
Antonio Maceo.
HEIR TO 100000.