The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-24
ZERTUCHA'S STORY.
THE DOCTOR TELLS HOW MAcEo
DIED,
And How He So Miraculously Es-
capped Injury.

New York, Dec. 24-Dr. Maxine
Zertucha, during the life of General
Antonio Maceo attached to his staff
as a surgeon, and after the death of
Maceo accused of causing his betrayal
into the hands of the Spanish troops,
has written a letter to the Herald in
which he describes the death of Cen
eral Maceo, and the cause leading up to
it as follows, with the preface that he
owes it to himself to state how the
event happened:
''Meline Del Sur, Cuba, Dec 10.
Major General Antonio Maceo, at s
O. clock D. m, December 4, accom-
panied by part of his general staff,
namely, Generals Miro and Diaz,
Colonels Nodarse and Gordon, Majors
Piedra, Juztiz, Ahumada and Penalver.
Captain Sauvaneil and myself, as sur
geon of headquarters general, with four
orderlies and Lieutenant Francisco
Gomez Toro, crossed the military line
between Mariel and Majana at the
former point At o'clock the follow
ing morning we joined some rs cavalry
men belonging to Colonel Sartorius
command at Mosquitoes. On the 9Th we
started towards Baracoa.
During our march, some so men of
Lieutenant Colonel Acostas' command
were incorporated with our ranks. To
gether we went at o'clock that night
to the grazing farm (potrero) of San
Pedro, between Rincon and Govea.
There we met the forces under Briga-
der Sanchez and Colonel Delgado,
some 400 men, all cavalry.
1t was o'clock in the afternoon of the
next day, when word came to our camp
that the enemy's force was moving in
our direction, following the trail. We
for the pnQa cement
THE left flank was commanded by
General of Division Pedro Diaz. the
right was under the comamnd of
Colonel Delgado and Lieutenant
Colonel Ascosta. Brigadier Sanchez
.ook command of the center.
THE fight was under way when Cen
eral Maceo, accompanied by Brigadier
Miro, his adjutantS and myself started
oward the battlefield.
General Maceo moved forward to
withia 500 PAGES of a stone fence, be-
mind which the enemy's infantry was
Brigadier Miro was to
The right, and 1 TO the left of General
Maceo. He raised his sword. and
saying to BriSadier Miro: This goes
WE'LL fell, as if struck by lightning
rom the horse he was riding to- the
ground
"a Mauser bullet had entered the
.ure OF the lower jaw in three places.
coming out of the left lateral side at
he base of the neck. The bullet, in
is course, tore the carotid artery,
bringing on a mortal hemorrhage
which caused death in a minr.e. The
moment General Maceo was wounded
called for assistance.
"A troo0er came to my aid. He |
helped me with great bravery, under |
severe fire. 70 raise the BODY of my |
GENERAL The trooper was at that mo-
nent wounded in the thigh. Bullets |
we're pouring over my head as re- |
NAMED entrenched behind the gen
rails horse by the side of his body. |
1t that moment l saw the son of Ma |
Maxine Gomez before me. |
lie had been wounded in the left |
boulder during an engagement we had |
lad on December 3 between Cayajabos |
nd Colanos. His arm was in a sling. |
We raised the body of Maceo and |
laced it upon his horse: He took hold !,
f the horses bride while / held the
eneral by the feet. Then we started |
oward a gate which was the outlet
o the enclosure we were in. Gomez
7as then struck by a bullet. He sank |
D the ground. I went to his assist |
nee and General Maceo's body fell |
rom the horse.
Il begged Gomez to allow me to carry |
i'm on horseback out of that place
yothing would avail to persuade him.
lie would reply to every appeal: Let |
he general be carried out first. Then
will CO.
Then, almost crazed, 1 galloped on
he generals horse towards our forces
hitch, owing to the incidents of the
Engagement. were a long distance
way. 1 met the brave and honest
'iaz. Hearing what. 1 had to say to
i'm. and fastening to do his duty,
as the work of an instant. The enemy
ad advanced: i was necessary to
islodge him. and then we recovered
he bodies of General Maceo and Lieu
snant Gomez. The latter died
-om the wounds he had received in
ne chest and arms.
mo, he was stabbed over the left
de, near the breast. He had over his
'rehead also machete, wound which
ad divided hs skull.
The bodies had been stripped of
leir shoes, stockings. side arms and
welry.
"At o'clock that night the bodies