The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1896-12-10
Gen. MaceO May Still Be in
Land Of Living.
There Was No Identification of
the Dead Bodies.
Friends OF Insurgent Cause Do Not Believe
Report-Letters May Have Been Forged.

MaCeO and MS young aide, FRANCISCO
Gomez, son of Maxine Gomez. continue
without abatement. The details which
were announced yesterday, however, of
the facts relied upon for the identifica-
tion Of the two Cubans, have caused an
undercurrent of doubt in this city.
Major Cirujeda, who commanded the
Spanish forces in the engagement at
Punta Bravo on Monday, and whose
troops discovered the two bodies and
gave the evidence OF Identification, has
consented to be interviewed on the cir
cumstances Of the case. He said that
when the rebels were routed ii was evil
dent that the body Of the chief was
abandoned on the field. The Spanish
column, without stepping to explore the
field went in hot pursuit Of the insur-
gents and followed them for d mile or
more. Meantime, young Gomez Is sup
posed TO have committed suicide by
Maceo's side.
While the troops were returning to
Guatao, after the pursuit had ceased,
various guerrillas belonging to Major
Cirujeda's command went over the field
where the route Of the insurgents had
occurred and searched the bodies re-
naming there for anything of impor-
tsnce
THE body of Maceo." Major Cirujeda
continued, was relieved of a ring cloth
ing, etc. The guerilla who performed
the act was, at the time, quite unaware
that the body was that of Maceo. In
fact little attention was paid to the
identity of the bodies. IT was already
dark on the field, and it was raining
Various other bodies were also
searched"
1t was an adjutant, according to Major
Cirujeda's further statement, who in
sisted that the above mentioned body
and the other, which was lying by it's
side, were evidently of first rate impor-
tance, and that they must not thus be
left without Identification.
The two bodies oere therefore tied
by the feet to the tails of some horses"
Major Cirujeda went on to relate, and
thus dragged over the ground, the in
tention being to carry them to town for
Identification But after proceeding for
q mile the horses became tired with their
burden, and the bodies were therefore
cut loose and left in the road"
When the troops reached Guatao,
Major Cirujeda proceeded to read the
documents which had been found upon
the bodies, and which were described in
news dispatches. After reading these
documents, Major Cirujeda says, he be-
eamc convinced that the bodies which the
troops had abandoned were those of
Antonio Maceo and young Gomez. But
1t was then too late to return and recover
them. Major Cirujeda, however, ex-
presses the firm conviction that they
were those of Maceo and Maxine
Comezs son.
With the insurgents in this battle,
Major Cirujeda says, was a beautiful
Amazon about % years of age, who
urged the rebels "A la machete," but at
the same time interposed to prevent the
killing of the prisoners.
Major Cirujeda has taken charge of
the objects found on the body said to
be that Of Maceo for further examina-
ton. There were gold watch, q splen-
did pair Of cuff buttons. made by Moreau
Torin, Paris, with five pointed stars on
them and inclosed in a big strapped
leather case; hunting knife, with an
ebony handle and gold mounted, and
good waterproof coat. All Of these were
taken from the body by the scout Santa
Ana.
1t Is thus seen that there has been no
actual Identification Of the bodies them
selves, the conviction as to their identity
resting upon the evidence Of documents
and articles found upon them. There is
no doubt, however, Of the assurance of
the general public here that Maceo is
dead. 1t is pointed out that he met his
death in a manner similar to that of
Jose Marti and Zayas. His loss is re-
garded as the heaviest blow the revolu-
tion has received, and 1t is felt that his
continued life was all that could save
the insurgent movement. He was the
most striking personal character Of the
outbreak.