New-York tribune., 1896-12-13
WAS MACEO MURDERED?
,rpORT THAT HE WAS BETRAYED BY
DR. ZERTUCHA. HIS SURGEON.
ALLEGED THAT HE WAS INVITED TO \ CON
rrprNCE BY THE MARQUIS OF AHUMADA--
HE CAME. AND WHEN REFUSING TO
SURRENDER WAS SHOT DOWN
WITH Ills STATE.
WITH Ills STAFF.

Jacksonville, Fla. Dec 12-Thcre can now be
.sralv any doubt of Maceos death. J. A. Huau.
ut for the Cuban Junta at Jacksonville to-
So, raceived a letter from a friend in Cuba con-
srr,inr the report and giving particulars.
,,,oeo died by the treachery of the Spaniards
md his own staff surgeon. DIR. Zertucha, who
,,,raved him. The letter TO Huau says that on
December 4 Maceo received a request from
,,orouis Ahumada, acting Captain General OF
cuba for a conference. with view to ending
.,s war Suspecting nothing. Maceo. with. his
.,oe of thirty four repaired to the appointed
,ocs where they were surrounded by 6oU
carish soldiers who murdered every one in
la blood. save the traitor Zertucha. The Span
,ords assert that they know nothing of the
hrr,al place OF Maceos body, but believed
% have buried it in the woods
Sadness prevails in Cuban circles here Mr..
uuau Is not prepared to say who will be ap-
o,rted as Maceo's successor. but thinks it will
~ Pins Ravera a brave and intelligent soldier.
r NJ De Huau gave out the following for
publication;
"a letter received by a prominent Cuban in
this city gives the detailed account of the as
sass,nation Of General Maceo and the entire
s,,x with the exception of Or. Zertucha. who
uas Maceo's physician. The letter came from
O trustworthy source in Havana, but the corre-
snondents name is withheld for the obvious
rssson that the writer would be shot within an
hour by the Spanish authorities If they knew
who gave away the details of one of the most
horrible atrocities ever chronicled in modern
warfare
From the letter it appears that the Marquis
OF Ahumada. who officated as Captain-Generai
Of Cuba during Weyler's absence in the field
sent a letter to General Maceo inviting the
Cuban leader to a conference. Maceo, never for
a moment thinking that treachery was Intended
especially as the invitation came from such
nrouinent Spaniard as the Marquis of Ahumada.
Immediately returned an answer saying that
he would be glad 10 meet the Spanish general
and accompanied only by his staff no went to the
rendezvous. little dreaming Of the awful fate
that was in store for him.
"On arriving at the trocha the Spanish SOL
ders there acting under orders. actually sa-
luted the rebel chieftain as he passed and after
reaching the rendezvous the Cuban leader was
surprised to see. instead Of the Marquis OF Anu
mada q large body of Spanish soldiery, who
seemed to come from every side The actions OF
the Spanish troops were suspicious that
Maceo felt that they had him cruelty trapped
ard his suspicious were confirmed when per-
officer to surrender.
Never was the reply. and hardly had the
words been uttered when volley after volley
was poured into the little band OF patriots Who
although hemmed in on all sides outnumbered
almost 100 to /. stuck spurs to their horses and
with cries OF Cuba Libre' rode gallantly TO their
death
"Maceo Is reported to have fallen at the first
fire with a bullet through his head. breaking his
law Another hit him in the abdomen. Both
were fatal Gomez was the next TO fall and In
a few moments a number Of bloody corpses.
shot almost beyond recognition were all that re-
NAMED Of the gallant Cubans who trusted to
Spanish honor
"Only one member of the staff escaped, and
that was DR.. Zertucha. The letter says the
corpses were buried on the field and every pre-
caution taken to keep the details from being
made public