, 1896-11-30
A SPANISH BUTCHERY.
HELPLESS OLD MEN. WOMEN AND
CHILDREN SHOT DOWN
WITHOUT MERCY.
Some of the Methods Adopted by Wey-
ler's Men in His Cuban Warfare
Bodies Of the Victims Left for the
Vu7tures-A Spanish Account
Paints a Gloomy Picture of Maceo.

Key West, Fla, Nov. 29.-Unable to
crush the %insurgent armies, Captain
General Weyler has. according to Gu
ban advices. renewed his war on non
with savage energy. 1t is
that he, some weeks Ago., is.
sued a secret order to his commanders
in the various provinces to clear the
country of non-combatants."
This order had been interpreted by
the Spanish commanders as an edict
to MASSACRE old men, women and chill
dren, and the result is an appalling
of butcheries.
Colonel Strutch, who has been oper,
ating in Pinar del Rio at the head of a
thousand men, seems to have been
mcIt active in carrying out Weyler's
edict. On November IS he and
command started on a raid.
They visited Rio Hondo. Palacios,
Real and other small towns in
the southern portion OF Pinar del Rio.
At every place Colonel Strutch gave
troops license to loot, burn and
murder. and the result was that every
hamlet visited was destroyed. During
the raid the Spanish troops made pris-
cners of over 300 C,ibans, the great
majority of whom were women and
young girls. These unfortunate were
forced to follow the troopers. On the
night of November %, Colonel Strutch
and his men drank heavily and then
followed inc Of the most horrible oc>
of the war. In1amed by
drink, the Spanish soldiers rushed
upon the helpless prisoners. Colonel
.trutch significantly told his men that
1t was no use to be longer bothered by
the Cuban cattle" The soldiers i'm
mediately began firing on the old men.
women and girls. volley after vol
ley Of lead was fired at the covering
and shrieking creatures. until moi one
was left alive.
The bodies Of the victims were left
for the vultures. and Colonel Strutch
his command back 10 head
quarters and reported to Captain Gem
eral Weyler that several insurgent
had been rafded and over 800
rebels killed.
Colonel Strutch and many OF his Of
received furloughs in considera-
ton Of their services and returned to
Havana. Since going to Havana, Col.
Strutch has, it Is said, openly boosted
Of the awful slaughter of innocents.
From other provinces come stories
Of massacres OF innocents, but none SO
we'll authenticated as the one related
Weyler's edict, Offering par
don to those who surrender, Is proving
to be simply a device to lure Cubans
to death.
MACEO'S ARMY.
Havana, Nov. 29.-The intendant
has dictated rules to the custom house
designed to prevent the ex-
r~ortation Of any kind of leaf tobacco
from amy port in the provinces OF Ma
tanzas, Santa Clara. Puerto Principe
and Santiago de Cuba.
Prominent merchants OF Pinar del
Rio affirm that Antonio Maceo's situa-
ton is desperate. His forces, they say,
are half naked and are compelled to
wander continually without rest. They
are badly nourished and many Of the
whites in his command have consump-
tNon. Maceo's encampments are said
to be like hospitals. Many Of the ne.
groes, It is alleged, are thin and fever,
and smallpox are causing
great mortality. Maceo's men are re.
ported to be in a condition OF great
fatigue and their enthusiasm Is dying
out, the prospect Of General Weyler's
invasion causing dkmay as to the ad,
hesion of the insurgents to the cause.
The chiefs murmur and the hopes OF
victory are turned into the certainty
of the complete destruction Of the
forces.
These merchants add that General
Weyler Is expected to deal a mortal
blow to the revolution in Pinar del
Rio by the end Of the year.
Several well known fnsurgent lead,
ers have dynamited a military train
running along the trocha from Juraco
to Moron in the western portion OF
Puerto Principe. Several cart were
smashed and the insurgents then at
tackled an iron-plated car in which
vas the trains escort of Is men and
ofncers, including a captain and an at.
hcial Of the railroad. An anmored en-.
CINE was sent In pursuit Of the col.
umn. Colonel Arminan arriving upon
the scene. the insurgents ~retreated
leaving eight killed and carrying Of
their wounded. The military escort O
the train had one odicer and eight sol.
diers wounded and two killed. A tele.
graph itneman wa also wounded.
The details Of the story Of the youth
Youch, DO alleges that Maceo Is using
his prisoners like mules, ~ beasts q
burden. IL that IL Of these prhsonerv
were drowned while wading . river.
ROSES. OARNATTONs and N4RYa