Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-04-10
TAKING OF A CITY.
The Detailso of How Gen. Gomez
Captured Santa Clara.
Arsenal and Forts Surprised--Gomez
Himself, First to Enter Town.
Arms and Ammunition Seized Received
with Cheers by the People.

New York, April 9.--The Mail and Elk
press SAYS: The most important event
try Of the insurgents into the city OF
Santa Clara. The true facts of this
first capture of one of the fortified capi.
tails of Cuba by the rebels have beer
learned by The Mail and Express from
Cuban who had them at first hand il
Cuba. He describes the incidents as
follows:
Gomez was encamped about min,
miles from Cruces With force of about
5000 men, and he learned that Pandc
was coming from Sagera With about
an equal force; he therefore made VI
his mind to meet him on the way and
have a tussle with him. Accordingly
he prepared his forces in such a way
that if Pando. as he expected, should
take the natural road to Santa Clara
he would surely cut him to pieces. but
it seems Pando suspected that they
were laying a trap for him, and instead
of going direct to Santa Clara he took
a roundabout course to Cienfuegos
where he established his headquarters.
fact he concluded that it was possible
for him to capture Santa Clara. as the
forces protecting the town were not
sufficient to cope with his 5000 picked
and determined men.
He had two objects in view when
he decided this: First. to ration his
troops, who were in need of clothing
and provisions, and second. to strike a
blow which would have tremendous
effect in the United States and in Spain
especially in the latter country. by
practically demonstrating the capture
of some important place. even without
the elements of strength deemed neces-
sary for that purpose.
THE way he accomplished his OBJ
ject was this: After surrounding the
city with his 5000 men and cutting off
all the communications of Santa Clara
with the outside country he placed his
men in such positions that at q given
signal they might simultaneously rush
into the city by six different entries
The signal was to be the firing of shots
in the interior of the town. After is
suing his orders he placed himself at
the head of 1000 men, and at - o'clock
city. On reaching one of the IA forts
surrounding the city he was challenged
by the sentinel, and he sent out one of
his men, Spaniard by birth. with q
strong provincial accent, in order tc
besuile them into installing his mer
Tor regular Spanish troops. This man
replied to the challenge, crying:
SPAIN.
What regiment?'
The man named one | don't rcmem.
Der which. At all events, his reptile.
were satisfactory, and he was allowed
to pass; and the whole body in silence
filed into the city. Their entry did not
cause any surprise, because there were
so many Spanish troops coming ana
going in and out of the city at all hours
OF the day and night that they mistook
them for their own troops.
AS soon as Gomez arrived at the
'Recreo' square, which is situated ir
the very heart of the city he stationed
ms men around the quadrangle form
ing the square with orders not to fin,
until they We're given the quicn vive
and then to all fire together. at the
same time Gomez ordered a part of hi.
forces to cut off the electric lights ano
break up the telephone switch which
connects the forts with one another
1t seems that the artillery park on
arsenal was located in the first floor Of
the building occupied by The Audi.
encia tsuprcme court. in front OF the
Recreo square, ard that it was placed
in such position that the approach OF
Gomez could not be observed until h,
had actually encircled the square. once
his extraordinary movements were
noted, tire Spaniards Immediately chal-
ienged him, and with yells of Cuba
I-ibrc. Viva Cuba Librc,' the Cuban
troops opened with Nolley fires.
The Spanish We're instantly panic
stricken. The soldiers sitting round auG
louhging in the portico rushed to thcil
arms ana tried to repel the attack. but
tney were not match for the darine
1eitows who attacked them and the,
were literally hewn down with ma.
cheter: - were killed on the SPOT anc
ABOUT - wounded more or less seri.
ousiy. When the boys rushed into tn.
place they thought only of overpower.
ing the guard, so their surprise and io>
may be imagined when they found ;
Pile of over 200 boxes of 1000 each o
bennington and Mauser cartridges. Tn,
boxes were carried out and placed i.
the center of the square and q strons
guard was placed over them until tn,
arrival of the pack mules. on which
they were carried away
While this was going on around tn,
square, the other rebel forces sta
TONED outside of the town, when the,
heard the signal shots, made a head
iohs dash into the city and without an,
obstacles took possession of The Who'll,
town They overran the city: estab
iisned patrols to calm the peaceful cit
iAehs, especially the women. assurin.
them no harm would be done to them
opened the stores and took from then
Whatever they were in need Of. PAWN.
ao' every article they took and. i,
!act' behaving in the gentlemanlv an,
~, manner customary to them
ne ohlv damage done to the Mae,
'..e 10 two small stores on tn,
outskirts, owned by Cinnamon. who re-
.useu 10 open the doors. and beside
."suited the soldiers by calling then
'''eNes and murderers The store
were burned to the ground.
III may be surprising that tho
aid not fire upon the rebels. but III
easily explained. AS already stated
me repeis in the town had eytinyu;sba
me electric lights and cut Tho ta,a
phone wires which communicated -,