Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-17
FULL STORY OF MAcEo's DEATH.
Giruicdn Did Not Know of His Pres
encc TIL Ills Cnrnsc WINS Mound.


encc Till His Corpse Was Found.
HAVANA (via Key WesO, Dec. l6,-The
following are full details, as CLEANED by care
full investigation amongst those who took
part In the affair OF the killing of Macco
After crossing the trocha by land, as has
been indicated In previous dispatches to the
Associated press, Antonio Maceo and STAFF
1t appears, were encamped in the hills and
expected tho arrival of Cuban reinforcement
under Brigadier General Sanchez and others
ordered by General Augierre to receive and
escort the needed Pinar del Rio chief to the
east. Major Giruieda was totally ignorant oil
Maceo's presence in the district believine
him to be still west Of the trocha. But
learning that Spanish fort on the San Pedro
had been fired on that morning by insur.
gents, he started out on a accommodating tour
at the head OF the remnant OF the San Quin.
tin battalion. ACCOMPANIED by force of Local
guerlillas, under Captain Peral. The latter's
men were dressed in manner very similar
10 that OF the insurgent troops, and they
marched in the vanguard of the Spanish
column. Mistakng these for Sanchezs van.
guard. challenges having been made and
countefsigns given satisfactorily, Maceo, sur.
rounded by the members of his STAFF and
handful Of followers. advanced with all the
confidence to meet his friends when the
guerrillas received them with voley
Maceo fell at the first fire, his men TEN.
porarily Disconnected with the surprise, re-
firing by the TANKS.
Young Gomez. though he had been pre-
Vlously wounded at the trocha and still had
his arm IN a sling, assisted as the engage
ment became general in dragging his chief
10 place OF temporary safety on the grass
and remained by his side until realizing that
they had been abandoned, Gomez wrote the
note to his parents which had been previ-
ously telegraphed to the Associated press
and then committed suicide by shooting him
sell with a revolver. After the fight the
Spanish scout, Santa Ana accompanied by
the bugler of the San Quentin battalion,
WhlIe recoi noitering the field in quest of
documents and other effects of Importance
or value, ran upon the body of Maceo, who
was still alive. As the bugler pulled the
ring from the finger he asked in an agonized
tone If they were Spaniards or Cubans.
"Spaniards," said the bugler. and he raised
his machete as the dying chief said: ~
Die Tor Cuba and Independence As the
KNIFE came down. almost scvering the vie
tim $ head from his body, the scout interpos-
ing remarked: That man resembles Ma
Geo"
impossible" responded the bugler. "Ma-
Geo is in Pinar del Rio"
me scout insisted that at least II was a
chief of some Importance and tying the feet
TO his horses tall he proceeded. Mean
while, the insurgents, learning that their
chlef's body was in Spanish hands and being
evidently reinforced, rallied and made n
new attack and succeeded in recovering the
body. The Spanish officers, unaware of its
Importance. cut 1t loose as an unnecessary
impeachment
It thus seems that Major Giruieda did not
know that his forces had encountered and
Killed Maceo until after reaching Cuyato at
nlShttall and reading the document The
tull statement of DR.. Zetucha has not been
allowed to be telegraphed, even to Madrid.
II develops that Maceo left Ruis Rivera
in charge of Pinar del Rio and came to
Havana province with the object of as
slstlng in carrying out the plans of Gomez
OF recognizing the troops in the central
provinces, to gather an army of from
10000 to 10000, and to prepare for a de-
clsive and final blow intended to end the
war. 1t is alleged that Maceo considered
the trocha good thing for the insur-
gents, and that it would Indirectly be an
aid In carrying out Gomezs plan Gomez
had complimented Maceo upon the man.
ner in which his organization In Pinar
del Rio had been effected by the formation
OF battalions and regiments. the distribu.
ton OF arms by Zonenes, the putting on
war footing of $4,000 men, the establish
ment of shops salt works and his hos.
pitais and keeping up of communication
frequently by small boats to the Florida
coast. Dr. Zetucha says Maceo never
wrote the insignia of his rank. He adds
mat the party left Pinar del Rio amplv
prepared to sutsist for a long time. DR.
Eetucha Is also authority for state
ment that many Spanish soldiers are
deserving from the trocha, owing to Cen
eral Arayos ill-treatment DIR. Zertucha
reports that Maceo was a great reader of
the Madrid. New York and Paris newsna-
pers, which he frequently received and all
OF which were read or translated to him,
He was close observer OF Spanish politics
and OF Washington affairs. Maceo's habits
were sober and he never smoked nor drank.
nor allowed others to do so in his nres
n tot ns,,II,
ways Travelled with a small escort He
constantly made inspection of his military
organization. He was idolized by his men
white and black. Maceo opposed the an
heNation sentiment OF other Cubans. He
always carried from SIS, 900 to $40 600 with
him and always granted quick succor TO
needy pacifcos. 1t is reported that Gomez
is moving westward, having delegated the
government to other hands, as far as re-
CARDS military matters, before leaving Puer-
to princina