Birmingham state herald., 1896-12-13

Dr. Zortucha, and the Marquis De Anu meda, who acts as captain general of Havana when Weyler is absent on the field. The letter which was written by prominent citizen of Havana, whose name is withheld in order that he may not fall under the displeasure of the Spanish authorities, is as follows:
 roF Havana, December 9.
 Dear Friends Justo: We are at pres ent under the sad depression caused by the death of our brave general, Antonio Maeeo, murdered, together with the greater part of his staff by the Span iards, acting under the assassin Major Cirujeda, and as instrumental in this horrible dream, Maceo's second surgeon Dr. Maxine Zertucha.
 Convinced as Weyler was, that not withstanding his enormous army, he could do nothing against our gallant leader, who has 50 repeatedly defeated the Spanish generals inS Pinar del Rio, he conceived the idea of appeasing his beastly instincts by cold blooded mur- der, and making the best of the secret relations between Dr. Zertucha and the Marquis De Ahumeda, he planned with the latter his hellish scheme. Weyler took the field, and in his absence Anu meda proposed, through Zertucha, con- ference with Maeeo, to take place at a certain point in the province of Havana with a view of arranging plans for the cessation of hostilities, on the basis of Cuba's Independence and a monetary in- demnity to- Spain. with, moreover, cer- tain advantages that would be agreed upon for Spanish commerce and Span ish capital here invested. To carry out the plans, orders would be given to the attachments of troops stationed at the trocha, in the section between Mariel and Guanajay, to allow Maceo with his staff to pass the military line unmolested.
 These combinations took time to ma- ture and to give them the semblance of truth, Ahumeda feigned that before act ing he must make known his plans to Weyler for his previous approval; and this explains the sudden arrival of Wey~ Ter at Havana and his prompt return to Pinar del Rio. Having arranged the conditions and place of meeting, Maceo crossed the gtrocha oyer the road to Gu anajay without being molested, by the forts, but once arrived at the place de cided upon he and his party were greeted by a tremendous volley from the forces under Maj. Cirjuda, lying conveniently in ambush. Most of the officers of his staff fell with Gen. Maceo. Zertucha is alive because he was aware of the scheme and remained in the rear. The Span iards know where the bodies are, but are bent on feigningi ignorance to blot out the vestiges of the crime.
 Havana and all Spain are rejoicing, because, in the midst of their stupidity, they hope that the war may end with the death of this gallant leader. Far from this, the spirit of the Cuban has grown more ardent, and today the latter are resolved to make every sacrifice be- fore laying down their arms to the re- lentless tynants; and in this very prov ince of Havana, where our army Is less numerous and disposeS of less means of defense, the Cubans are operating with greater activity than ever, and not day passes but we do not hear in this city the firing on Guanabacoa.
 The Spaniards may treacherously mur- der some of our patriots, but there is no earthly power that could annihilate the spirit of liberty floating now, as ever over the Cuban people.
 Speaking of the letter, Mr. Huau said :: "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 bravely for liberty. MacAo was not killed fairly or in honest battr, but through the murderous treachery of his physician, Dr. Zertucha, and the act ing captain general of Cuba, the Marquis Ahumeda. Thirty-f members of his staff were murdered with hm-every man of the staff with the exception or the treacherous Zertucha
 "The Spaniards say added MT. Huau, that they do not know where Maceo' s body is. They know full well. They have buried it to cover their treachery to degree, and will exhume it soon and say: 'Ah. here is the body of Maceo.' From to- day Cuba will. fight harder than ever be- fore This will be sad day for Spain.
 q do not know who will succeed Ma eco" said MT. Huau, "but l think it will be Rios Rovera, brave and intelligent coI1iar