The herald., 1896-02-26
Insurgents Not Executed but
Set at Liberty
THE BEACH OF THE GOATS
A Scene Of Funny Mistake, Not Of
Murder
Fails to Discover $4,000 Spanish
Soidiers-Filibusters Released
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
HAVANA, Feb. 25.--Close to Moro castle,
at the entrance to this harbor, is beach
termed Playa Chivo, goats beach) go
called on account of the many goats which
browse in it's vicinity. 1t transpired today
that one night last week a sentry on duty
at the castle saw some whitsh looking
forms approaching stealthily. The soldier
challenged the approaching forms, and,
receiving no answer, discharged his rifle at
them. The shot aroused the garrison of
the fort, the guard turned out, and a num-
Der of other soldiers opened fire upon the
supposed enemy, with the result that the
latter disappeared. The next morning an
examination was made of the beach and
several goats were found dead about the
beach. killed by the fire of the soldiers,
who must have done better shooting than
usual when engaged with the insurgents.
Considerable amusement was caused by
the affair and the fact was about to be for
gotten when persistent rumors were cir
culated in this city that number of insur-
gents. said to be thirty men. had been exc
cuted near Moro castle during the night.
The report was denied by the Spanish Off
cials, but it continued to circulate until the
captain-general not only felt called upon to
make an official denial, but order5d an in
vestigation. Eventually the matter mar
rowed down to the following facts:
Some soldiers questioned concerning the
cause of the firing were foolish enough to
say they believed number of insurgents
had been executed on the beach during the
night. Instead of executing the thirty-five
insurgents who have been confined in Moro
castle. Oant1In.OanQraI
ated all against whom there were no seri-
GUS charges.
In addition, Gen. Weyler has most gen.
erously pardoned the mayor OF Managua.
Senor Cristo, and his brother, who were
recently captured by the Spanish after
having raised a numerous band of insur-
gents and joined the forces of the enemy.
The Spanish authorities have detained
Charles Nicholson, the correspondent of a
New York and San Francisco newspaper,
and his assistant, Lorenzo Betancourt,
both Americans. They are charged with
having disobeyed the orders OF the mayor
of Mariana in leaving that place and going
into the insurgeut lines at Punta Bravo
and Guato de Mariana.
The United States consel-general. Ramon
0. Williams, has been notified and the
friends OF the prisoners are doing every.
thing possible for them.
1t now soems to be definitely established
that Antonio Maceo was not killed near
Placetas as was generally believed.
! relative of Maceo, who lives in this city.
admits, however, that he bas heard from
good sources that the insurgent leader is
wounded in the arm, as result of the en-.
ga9ement at Ell Cato.
Among the dead insurgents found in tho
hills about Candida was man, evidently a
messenger. who had in his pocket note
addressed to GARLIC, one of the insurgant
leaders, saying: "Send me some salt"
This note was signed "Gomez."
During the different engagements about
San Jose de las Lajos, $50 horses belong
ing to the insurgents were killed or
wounded, among them being the one rid
den by the insurgent colonel, Colunga.
Troops buried the bodies of seventy in
surRents which were picked up near San
jose de las Lajos.
teers.
United States Consul General Williams
had prolonged conference with Captain
General Weyler with reference to Messrs.
Nicholson ana Betancourt, the American
newspaper correspondents who were ar
rested today. Up to the present time Mr..
Williams efforts on behalf of the prisoners
have bsen without any result.
report has been received that the col
umn OF Vicuna has had an engagement
near Corral Falso, Matanzas, with Maxine
Gomez, but no details of the fight are
given. The insurgent leader and ex.ban-
dit, Tuerto Mator, has been seriously
wounded.
AN ARrI MISSING
ST. LOUIS, Feb. 25.-A special to a local
pancr from New York says: A dispatch
from Havana reports $4,000 Spanish SOL
diers missing in Cuba. The fact has been
communicated to the Madrid government,
and the search for their whereabouts is GO
ing on day and night. Official circles are
in a. state of alarm, for 5000 men with
10000 rifles and 10000 cartridges is an
enormous item to the Spanish ariuy. The
Disappearance of the men will ui-imateiy
he traced to either deaths in battle, the
number of which has been concealed to
hide Spanish losses; details to positions in
various parts of the island of which no rec
ord has been kept. or desert:ons to Join the
insurgents. The Spanish records show that
eatre garrisons have joined the rebels with
their arms i'll every province on the island.
An order was issued by Gen. Weyler sew
eral days ago for a report of the number,
position and condition of the army. The
responses to this, it is said, have increased
the confusion, ana there are reports now
from reliable sources that there are 10000
men instead of 10000 to be accounted for
FlL,BUsTERs RELEASED
New YORK, Feb. 25.-Commissioner
Shields has ordered the release of all man
arrested in connection with the Bermuda
alleged tilipustering expedition, with the
exception of Gen. Garcia. Capt Hughes
and two other leaders. These will be ar
raigned before the commissioner ut once.
The prisoners were released because the
arrest was in violation of Instructions sent
out from Washington last week by At
torney General Harmon, that suspicion
merely was not sufficient ground for ar.
rests. but evidence of Intention to violate
the neutrality laws was required.
wEYLEe's ADvIcES
MADRID, Feb. 20. - Captain General
Weyler telegraphs from Havana that the
situation in the rural districts of Cuba is
such as to admit of holding the elections.
General Weyler also says the insurgent
chief, Garcia, has been captured.
ANXIETY FOR NICHOLSON
SAN Francisco, Feb. 25.Much concern
is felt by the friends of Charles Nicholson
of this city, who was arrested at Havana
today for visiting the insurgent camps.
Nicholson has been prominently connected
with newspaper work in this city for sew
eral years and is well-known throughout
California. Last November he went to
Havana IS the correspondent of the New
York journal and the San Francisco Ex-
aminer.