Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-04-18
CAPTURE OF SANTA CLARA
Interesting Story Told by an Eye
Witness.
illustrates the Splendid Audacity -
the Rebel General GomeZ--In-
surgents Protected Life
and Property.

New York, April 1.-THE story OF the
taking OF Santa Clara city by the army
of Gomez is thus related by an eye Wit
ness:
Gomez was camped about nine miles
from Cruces. with a force of about 5,00'
men, and he learned that Pando wa.
coming from Sagera with about al
equal force. He, therefore. made up his
mind to meet him on the way and have
a tussle with him. Accordingly he pre-,
pared his forces in such a way that il
Pando, as he expected. should take the
natural Dad to Santa Clara, he would
surely cut him To pieces. but it seems
that Pando suspected that they were
laying a trap for him, and instead Of
going direct to Santa Clara, he took a
roundabout course to C~lenfueEos, where
he established his headquarters.
LAS soon as Gomez found out this fact
he concluded that it was possible for
him to capture Santa Clara. as the
forces protecting the town were not suf.
ficient 10 cope with his 5000 picked and
determined men. He had two objects
~ NV - Nv ii'h AlllNs lISAs "
ration his troops, Who Mere In great
\ "~eo or clothing II provisions, and
second. To strike a blow which would
nav" a tremendous effect I'm the United
states and in Spain. especially i'm tn,
latter country. by practically demon.
strating the capture of some important
place, ven without the clements of
strength deemed necessary for that pur.
pose.
The way he accomplished his cbjeci
was this: After surrounding the city
with his 1000 men and cutting off all thr
communication Of Santa Clara with the
outside country. he placed his men il
such positions that at a given sigma.
they might simultaneously rush into
the city by six different entries. Ths
signal was TO he the firing Of shots IL
the interior IF the town. After issuing
his orders he placed himself at the heat
of 1000 men and at II o'clock at mid.
night he directed his steps to the city.
ON reaching one Of the fourteen forts
surrounding the city he was challenge
by the sentinel. and he sent out one Il
his men, a Splniard 10y birth, with a
strong provincial accent, in order II he.
guile them into mistakinG his men f0i
regular spanish troops. This man re-
piled TO the challenge, crying:
SPAIN
What logimcnt?'
The man named one. His reptile.
We're "a jisfactory and hp was allowed ID
pass; and the whole body in silence filed
into the city. Their entry did not cause
any surprise. because there were "a
many Spanish troops coming and going
in and on; Of the city at all hours OF the
day and night that they misJoCk them
for their own troops.
"As soon as Gomez arrived al the 'Ro-
creo' square. which is situated in the
very heart OF the city. he stationed his
men around the quadrangle, forming
the square. with orders to fire until
they were given the 'quion viVe.' ana
then to all fire together, At the samc
time Gomez ordered a part of his forces
TO cut off the electric ligh.s and break
up the telephone switch which connect
"a the forts. II seems that he artillery
park. or arsenal, was located in the
first floor Of the building occupied by
the Audicncia' supreme c2urO. in frost
OF the Recreo square, and that it was
placed in such a position that the az
untfI he had actuaifv crc'rcfcr m"
square. once his extraordinary move.
ments were no,ed, the Spaniards imme-
dlatoly Challenged him. aud, with yells
Of cuba libru, viva Cuba liiIe" the Gu
ban troops opened with volley fires.
THE Spanish were instantly panic
stricken. The soldiers sitting round
and lounging in the portico rushed t.
their arms and tried to rcpel the attack,
hut they were not A match for the dar-
ing fellows who attacked them, and they
were literally hewn down with the ma
caotes. Thirty-twO were killed on the
spot, and about thirty wounded more or
less seriously. When the Cubans rushed
into the place they thought only Of over
powsring the guard. 50 their surprise
ana JOY may be imagined when they
found j pile Of over 200 boxes of l,o0t
each Of remington and mauser car
tridges. The boxes were carried out ana
placed in the center Of the square and q
strong guard was placed over them unit
thu arrival Of the pack mules, on which
they We're carried away.
While this was going on around tbs
square, the other rebel forces stationed
outside of the town, when they heard
the signal shots, made a hoadlong dash
into the city; established patrols to calm
the peaceful citizens, especially TIL.
women, assuring them no harm would
be done to them: opened the stores anC
took from them whatever they were il
need Of, paying for every article they
took, and, in fact, behaving in the gen.
tlemanly and honest manncr custom,
AIRY to them. The only damage don
to the place occurred in two small store.
IN the outskirts. owned by Cinnamon
who refused To open the doors. and be,
sides insulted the soldiers by calling
them thieves and murderers. The stores
were burnt 10 the ground.
The rebels remained in the city from
midnight TO 4 a. m. and during all tina
time they were joyfully received by
their friends and sympathizers. These
did nothing but cheer Gomez, shoui
Cuba libre,' etc. Even the women anC
children Joined in the demonstration.