The record-union., 1896-01-13

A
Key West (F'la.), Jan. 12.-On the Zoth
uIt. the guerrillas of Colonel TeJeda
and the battalion, constituting I'zoo
men in all, had a bloody engagement
with rebel leaders under Brlgadier Ce-
breco and Colonel Pancho Sanchez'
with 500 men, in Iona de Los Clegos
and in San Prudencio. The Spanish
troops commenced the attack with such
a hurried and continuous firing from
different directions that the insurgents
abandoned the aforementioned place
and took positions in San Prudence,
after inflicting some losses to the
troops.
Colonel Tejeda, after giving some
rest to the soldiers, again attacked the
rebels in their new positions. A ter
rible fight ensued, but when the Span
iards arrived about halfway up the
mountain they began to show signs OIL
weakening in consequence of the con-
stant and deadly fire of the rebels.
Colonel Tejeda then ordered an at
tack with bayonet, and the insurgents
seeing that suddenly attacked the
guerrilIas with machetes. The latter
disbanded and in running disorganized
and scattered the battalion, leaving
them alone in the field. Colonel Tejeda,
being unable to rally the dispersed
guerrillas, had to retire with his
wounded.
In this engagement the Spaniards
had DR.. Gomez, four officers and M
teen soldiers killed, and Commander
Punet. seven officers and forty soldiers
wounded. The rebels had six killed
and fifteen wounded.
The insurgents captured several
horses, three mules laden with ammu-
milton, many weapons and large box
of medicines.
Another encounter has taken place
lately in La Tontina between the Span
ish Colonel Sandoval and the Cuban
leaders Ruen and Dominguez. After
a short but hard fight Dominguez de-
feated the Spanish column. The troops
had nine killed and thirty wounded
The rebels captured ten mules laden
with ammunition and medicines.
SPANISH BUTCHERIES.
A horrible crime was committed near
Manzanillo on December 24th by the
Sranish guerrillas commanded by Col
onel Lolo Benitezs a bandit whom
Martinez Campos took out from the
prison where he was serving a term
for crimes, and raised to the rank OF
Colonel in the Spanish army.
Iolo Benitez is a Cuban by birth. On
the evening of the oath he went from
Manzanillo with sixty guerrillas with
the object of inspecting the surround
fngs Of the city In the middle of the
night they arrived at a country seat
called San Francisco, where there We're
about twenty-five persons celebrating
Christmas Eve, the majority of them
being women and children. The guerril-
las went to the front of the house, fired
a volley at it, and then entered, ma
chetes in hand. They killed an old man,
the owner of the place, two other men,
two women and two children and
wounded four men, three women and
four children. Lolo Benitez took three
men with him to Manzanillo as prison
ers, saying that he had dispersed
party of rebels.
MORE CUBAN VICTORIES.
On December 24th a Spanish column,
500 strong, under Colonel Ochoa, left
Mayari to carry a convoy Of ammuni-
ton to the detachment of troops sta
tened in La Juliana- On their way
they were met by the rebel leader
Matias Vega with 900 men. The insur-
gents attacked the convoy and captured
forty mules laden with provisions and
ten with ammunition. The troops re-
treated to Mayari. having eight killed
and thirty-seven wounded. The Cubans
also captured eight soldiers prisoners.
On December 2Sth the Spanish col
umns of Colonels Rodon and Pablos,
with ], 100 men, left Tignani by differ
ent roads with the object of meeting IN
Manacahueca and continuing together
to the Venta des Canova, to fortify it
and place there a garrison. The insur-
gents under Colonel Lora and forces of
the brigade Of Cambute, who had
learned of the plan of the Spaniards,
took up positions in Manacahueca
ahead Of the troops.
Rebel Commander Abad Reyes. with
100 infantry and twenty cavalry, began
10 fire. at Rodon's column, who, trusting
in Colonel Pablo's arrival, entered the
trap which the rebels had prepared for
them. They were fired upon from all
sides. and afterward terrible charge
was made with machetes, which scat
tered the troops. The forces of the
Spanish Colonel Pablo, arrived too late
to be of service
twenty mules. laden with ammunition,
was left in the hands Of the rebels The
Spaniards had three officers and thirty
nine soldiers killed and five officers and
nine soldiers wounded
THE POOR PLANTERS.
Lieutenant General Pando has issued
an order threatening to court-martial
all owners of sugar estates if they do
not grind the cane on their plantations.
Of course some planters, fearing that
Pando would carry out his threat, tried
to comply with the order, but the very
day the order was published in Guiana
tanmo newspapers all the cane fields of
those who were grinding were set on
fire and they had to stop.
Jose Maceo and Rabf have notified the
planters that if they attempt to grind
again not only the cane viii be burned.
but their housesand machinery too. Cen
eral Pando has particular interests in
Guanatanmo, because his wife. who be-
longs to that city, has a sugar estate
there.
CAMPUS WANTS MEN.
Marshal Martinez Campos sent an
order by. cable last night to the authori-
ties here TO send him Immediately l 500
men for Bantanabo. 1t is said 50 many
men cannot be spared, as there are
numerous rebels around the city await
ing a chance to pay a visit to Santiago.
LATEST FROM HAVANA.
HAVANA, Jan. 12.-Gomez and Ma
Geo are stil1 moving TO the westward.
They have joined Delgado's force near
San Christobal Few insurgents re-
main in the province Of Havana.