The Saint Paul globe., 1896-12-10
NO ACTUAL IDENTIFICATION OF
THE BODY OF THE CUBAN
LEADER.
SPAIN ACCEPTS THE STORY.
q .-YsIzLA
FICIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS OF
MACEO's END.
cUBANs DrscREDrr THE ACCOUNT.
Details Do Not Carry Out the Posi-
tive Assurance of the First Ac-
counts Given.

HAVANA, Dec. 9.-The confident
claims of the Spanish officials that they
have abundant proof of the death OF
Antonio Maceo and his young aide,
Francisco Gomez, son of Maxine Co
mez, continue without abatement The
details, which are announced today,
however, of the facts relied upon for
the identification of the two Cubans
have caused an undercurrent of doubt
in this city. Maj. Cirujeda, who COM
manded the Spanish forces in the en-
gagement at Punta Bravo on Monday,
and whose troops discovered the two
bodies and gave the evidence of identi-
fcation, consented to be interviewed
on the circumstances of the case He
said today that when the rebels were
routed, it was evident that the body
of the chief was abandoned on the
field. The Spanish column without
waiting to explore the field, went in hot
pursuit of the insurgents and followed
them for mile or more Meantime,
young Gomez is supposed to have COM
mitted suicide by Maceo's side.
While the troops were returning to
Guato, after the pursuit had ceased.
various guerrillas belonging to Mai
Cirujeda's command went over the field
where the rout of the insurgents had
occurred and searched the bodies re-
naming there for anything of impor-
tance
''The body of Maceo," Maj Cirujeda
continued was relieved of a ring.
clothing, etc. The guerrillas who per-
formed the act were, at the time. quite
unaware that the body was that Of
Maceo. In fact, little attention was
paid to the identity of the bodies 1t
was aready dark on the field, and it
was raining. Various other bodies were
also searched
1t was an adjutant, according to Mai
C1rujeda's further statement, who in
sisted that the aforementioned body
and the other, which was lying by its
side, were evidently of first rate Inn
portance, and that they must not thus
be left without Identification
Ihe two bodies were, therefore, tied
by the feet to the tails of some horses, .
Mai Cirujeda went on to relate, land
thus dragged over the ground, the in
tention being to carry them to town for
identification But after proceeding for
awhile the horses becam amesNtired with
their burden and the boe3i&Ss5Fere there
fore cut loose and left Nx x}* road
When the troops reached 4uato. MAI
Clqujeda proceeded to4Eead the ocu-
mentS which had been found upon the
bodies. After reading, these documents,
Maj. Cirujeda says, he became cenvinc-
ed that the. bodies which his troops had
abandoned were those of Antonio
Maceo and Young Gomez. But it was
then. too late to return and recover
them. Maj Cirujeda, however, ex-
presses the firm conviction that they
Of nd CnT7oz'S
With the insurgents in the battle,
Maj. Cirujeda says, was beautiful
amazon about twenty-five years old,
who urged the rebels "A la machete,
but at the same time interposed to pre-
vent prisoners from being killed.
Mai Cirujeda has taken charge of
the objects found on the body said to
be that of Maceo for further exam
ination. There were a gold watch. a
splendid pair of cuff buttons made by
Moreau TORN. Paris, with five pointed
stars on them and inclosed in a big
strapped leather case, a hunting knife
with an ebony handle and gold mount
ed. and a good waterproof coat All
OF these We're taken from the body by
the scout Santa Anna.
1t is thus seen that there has been
no actual identifications of the bodies
themselves, 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 genral public here
that Maceo is dead. It is pointed out
that he met his death in manner
similar to that of Jose Marti and Zay-
as His loss is regarded as the heay-
lest blow the revolution has received,
and it is felt that his continued life
was all that could save the insurgent
movement. He was the most striking
personal character of the outbreak.