The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-12-24
DETAILS OF MACEO'S DEATH.
HE MlSTOOK SPANISH GUERIL
LAS FOR CUBANs UNDER
SANCHEZ.
SHOT DOWN WITHOUT ANY Warming
Advancing to Meet His Supposed Friends,
the Fatal Volley was Fired-His Last
Words Were 81 Die for Cuba
and Independence"

Havana, Dec. rs, via Key Wcst.-Fol
lowing are the full details, as CLEANED by
careful investigation amongst those who
took part in the affair, of the killing OF
Antonio Maceo:
After crossing the trocha by land, AZ
has been indicated in previous dispatches
Antonio Maceo and staff, it appears, were
cncamped in the hills and expecting the
arrival of reinforcements under Brig. Gen
Sanchez and others ordered by Gen.
Aguirre to receive and escort the noted
Pinar del Rio party to the east.
Maj. Cirujeda was totally ignorant OF
Maceo's presence in the district, believing
him to be still west of the trocha. But
learning that Spanish fort on the San
Pedro had been fired on that morning by
insurgents, he started out on a reconnoit-
ering tour at the head of remnant of the
San Quentin battalion, accompanied by a
force Of local guerillas under Capt. Peral.
The latter's men were dressed in man.
ner similar to that of the insurgent troops,
and they marched IN the vanguard of the
Spanish columns. Mistaking these for
Sanchez vanguard, challenge having been
made and countersign given satisfactorily,
Maceo, surrounded by the members of his
staff and q handful of followers, advanced
with all confidence to meet his friends,
when the guerilas received them with a
rife vOlley. Maceo fell at the first fire,
sl,, ,txx1 tha
,urprise, retiring by the TANKS. Young
Gomez, though he had been previously
wounded ut the trocha and still had his
arm in sling, succeeded in dragging his
chief to a pace 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 has been previously published, and
then committed suicide by shooting him
self with Il revolver.
After the fight the Spanish scout San
tanna, accompanied by the bugler of the
San Quetin battalion, while reconnoiter-
ing the field in quest of documents and
other objects of importance and 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 as
he raised his machette the dying chief
said: II die for Cuba and independ-
ence." As the knife came down, almost
severing the victims head from the body,
the scout interposing remarked: 'That
man resembles Maceo."
Impossible" responded the bugler.
"Maceo il in Pinar del Rio"
The scout insisted that it was mt least
a chief of some Importance and tying
fhx, bod hu hn foot To fai
he proceeded.
Meanwhile. the insurgents, learning
that their chiefs body was in Spanish
hands and being evidently reinforced,
rallied and made n new attack and sue
ceeded in recovering the body. The
Spanish officer, unaware of its import
ance, cut it loose as he found it an I'M
necessary impeachment.
Thus it seems that Maj Cirujeda did
not know that his forces had encountered
and killed Maceo until after reaching
Guatoa ut nightfall and reading the doc
uments.
The full statements Of DR.. Iertucha
have not been allowed to be teegraphed,
even to Madrid. 1t develops that Maceo
left Rivas Rivera in charge in Pinar del
Rio and came to Havana province with
the object of assisting in carrying out
the plans of Gomez in recognizing the
troops in the central provinces. to gather
an army of from 10000 to 10000 and
to prepare for final blow intended to
end the war. 1t is understood that
Maceo considered the trocha good thing
for the insurgents and would necessarily
be n good thing in carrying out Gomez's
plans. Gomez had complimented Maceo
on the manner in which his organization
had been effected, the distribution of
arms by zones, the putting on war foot
ing of $4,000 men, the establishment of
ships, salt works and hospitals and the
keeping up communication frequently
by small boats to the Florida coast.
DR.. Xertucha says that MaceO never
wore the insignia of his rank. He added
that the party left Pinar del Rio amply
prepared to subsist for long time.
DR.. Zctucha says many Spanish
soldiers are DESERVING from the trocha
owing to Gen. Weyler's i'll treatment.
The doctor reports that Maceo was
great reader of the Madrid. New York
and Paris newspapers, which he fire.
quently received and which he would
read after translation. Maceo's habits
were sober and he neither drank nor
smoked nor allowed others to do so in
his presence. He was rigid discipla-
rian. He constantly made inspection of
his military quarters. Maceo opposed
the annexation sentiment of other Cuban
chiefs. He always carried considerable
money with him and always granted
1t is reported that Gomez is moving
westward.
INnIrNNUN LNJCIITJNG