Evening journal., 1896-01-16
Distresa In NIntnnzas.

HAVANA, Jan. 16.-The devastation
wrought by tho insurgents throughout the
island Is beginning to tell It's tale.
The distress in the province Of Matanzas
and other devastated places Is very great,
and the local authorities In various dis
tricts have been granted the necessary per-
mission 10 collect funds by public sub
scription for the relief of the sufferers All
the soldiers and employees OF the different
branches Of the government have agreed
TO give one days pay each month TO relieve
the distress.
The prices Of provisions etc, are rising
rapidly here and the expense of living Is
fully 90 per cent more than IL was month
ago. AT the rate things are going the city
Of Havana win soon be the most expensive
place in the world TO live in.
All telegraph and railroad communica-
tion between here and Bciucal was cut of,
and it was not until an orderly reached
Havana with dispatches from the front
that even the authorities here were aware
Of what had been going ON, II was then
reported that General Lindres with a
strong force Of Spanish troops, moved upon
Beiucal when hc heard that Gomez forces
had attacked that town and were repulsed.
The insurgents, not satisfied with this re-
pulse, prepared 20 make second attack.
BY that time the garrison had been strong
ly ro-onforccd and the Spanish troops,
commanded by General Linares had, un-
known TO the insurgents taken up well
chosen and concealed positions. The in
surgents were allowed TO approach within
"A short distance Of the town, and then the
garrison opened fire upon them. This was
the signal for the Spanish force TO unmask
its batteries, and heavy artillery and
rifle fire was poured into the insurgont
ranks. The enemy, taken by surprise,
came to halt, feebly returned the fire Of
the Spaniards then wavered and eventual.
ly broke and fed.
Gomez's Narrow Escape.
The insurgents arc said to have been
commanded by General Maxine Gomez i'm
person. The loss of tho insurgents is re-
ported TO have been heavy. This is the
semiofllcial version of the affair
General Linares is reported to have
started In pursuit of Gomez, but the in
surgents nre mainly mounted, and the
Spanish troops in that vicinity are nearly
all infantry and artillery.
1t became known that General Gomez
had a narrow escape from being captured
shortly after he crossed the borders OF the
province OF Havana for the second time.
lie was in the noighborhood of Las Man
gas mt the head of a small escort, when he
suddenly marched almost into a Spanish
blvouac and was surrounded by Spanish
nfantrymen with fixed bnyonots, who
pressed forward upon the general and his
companions, hoping to effect their capture
Gomez spurred his horse, emptied his
revolver right and left, and then, drawing
his machete, he literally cut his way
through and out of the ring OF Spanish
soldiers, killing five men with his own
hand and getting away with his escort
without a scratch SO far as known.
Back to Pinar del Rio.
Later ncws Of General Gomez was re-
ceivcd from San Antonio dc los Banos
southwest OF Beiucal whore he was re-
pulsed. Moving apparently toward La
Ceha. his force has burned the railroad
station in Seborucal and when last heard
from was moving so rapidly that it Is not
thought likely that the troops under Gen
cral Linarcs will be able to catch him.
From the direction he Is taking he may
contemplate an attack upon Guanajay,
capital OF that district of Pinar del Rio
Many families have already left Man
agua i2 miles from this city. fearing that
the insurgents may mako another attack
upon it, and large numbers Of people con
tnue to leave the other towns around Ha-
vana for this city, apprehending being
robbed by the Insurgents
AT Guarciras south Of Colon, the insur-
gents have burned the plantation of Ia
Vega and other caneflelds, and they have
caused enormous loss by similar tactics
They have also destroyed by fire the large
store and tobacco warehouse, containing
500 bales of tobacco, belonging to the
Ortiz company.
Gomez seems 20 be everywhere, accord
ing to the report of his activities General
Suarez Naldes supplements the report that
Gomez I'm person led the second attack ON
Beiucnl, which was rcpulsed by General
linares with another report that his col
unn overlook Gomez at the head of 5000
insurgents, moving from Nercda Nucya
toward the border of pinar del Rio The
insurgents made stand and engaged
Brigadier Gencral Cornell, who led Naldcs'
vanguard. After an hours hard fighting,
the main Spanish column coming up, the
Cubans retreated, and their position was
taken. The hot fire which they had been
pouring into the Spanish ranks was stop
ped by the artillery of the Granada regi-
ment
Big Fire at Great Harrington.