The record-union., 1896-06-09
Shocking Stories Told of Bruta
Assassinations.
Defenseless People Who Had Taken
No Part i'm the Revolution, and
Whose Only Crime is Being Wit
nesses of the War Raging All Over
the Island, Dragged From Their
Homes and Put to Death.

HAVANA, June 6 (via Tampa Fla.),
June S).-That the work of eXtermina-
ton of non-combatants continues to
greater or less extent is evinced by the
reports which are received from the
country. Not a day passes without
some shocking story being told of brutal
assassinations committed by the troops
on defenseless people, whose sole crime
is being witnesses to the war raging all
over the island, without taking any
part in it. Here are a few facts Sc
lected from the many that are told:
On the I'd inst. a column of Spanish
troops, commanded by Colonel Ochoa,
operating around Jaruco, Havana
Province, captured a poor, miserable
boy Of 10 years named Juan Rodriguez,
suffering from nervous prostra ton, and
so weak that he could hardly move
without assistance This unhappy crea-
ture was dragged from his home, and,
without any compassion for his pitiable
state, he was butchered on the road
way to Tapaste for the crime Of being
cousin of the leader of a band named
Victor Simon.
On June 1st Simon Y Ruri, member Of
one of the best families of Jaruco, was
arrested on suspicion Of being a rebel
sympathizer, by orders of General Mel
gUizo. He was too we'll known to be
taken out of the town and shot in the
fields, as this would create a scandal,
SO they made a semblance of a court
martial, and with all the apparent for
malities of the law he was publicly shot
in the square of the town. The deed
created general Indignation when it
was known that Melguizo had ordered
the execution on his own authority
without consulting the Captain-Gen-
eral, who is the only one empowered to
order such proceedings.
On June 4th Lorenzo Medina, a ma
tive of the Canary Islands, 40 years of
age, and a cattle dealer, and John
Toledo, a Cuban, 30 years of age, both
well known and esteemed in the town
of Jaruco, were arrested on no known
charges. They were locked in the civil
guards barracks, and the next morn
ing they were taken out of the town on
the promise of prompt release and
treacherously shot behind the slaugh-
ter-house.
1t is known that Valencia had a fight
with Colonel Dondevilla Of Campo
(Florida) fame, in which the brave"
was completely routed, losing thirty
two dead left on the field. This has
never been reported officially.
The Bayamo guerrillas of about 100
men, commanded by Abiga Guerra
have joined the rebels, seduced thereto
by Calixto Garcia when he passed near
that place last week.
In Sancti Spiritus a band Of musi-
clans Of the local volunteers. headed
by its bandmaster, Justo Alvarez, with
all the instruments of the band asso-
citation, went over to the woods to en-
liven the time of the revoutionists
HAVANA, June S.-Official reports
received to-day give details of many
skirmishes that have taken place, none
Of which, however, were of much i'm
portance, according to the reports. The
rebel losses in these skirmishes
amounted to sixteen killed. seven
wounded and nine prisoners, while the
troops lost only twelve wounded.