The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-04
CUBANS Are BUTCHEuED
Awful Example Of Spanish Cruelty
ut GuataO.
AN AMERICAN IS MURDERED
In the Hunt for Blood Spanish Sold disrs
slaughter Several OF Their Own
C0untrymeu and a Citizen
Of the United States.

Havana, Feb. 27.-The affair at Qua
tao will not down. Captain General
Weyler. after officially announcing
that nothing outside of the ordinary
combat between troops Of Spain and
armed rebels occurred, has begun an in
vestigation. He was waited upon yes
terday by a delegation of women from
the little hamlet at Guatao and the
town of Punta Brava and heard with
his own ears the story of the killing
from wives. mothers and sisters of the
dead. and listened to the appeal for the
lives and liberty of the fifteen prison.
ers. He has also received official no
tice from Consul General Williams that
among the prisoners taken from the
unfortunate town and now lodged in
Moro Castle is an American citizen,
who was shot in the arm while hiding
In his own house Ia the presence of his
wife. and though unarmed and guilty
OF no act against Spain, was taken
prisoner and held for the military tri-
bunal.
The story Of the killing of eighteen
pacificOs by the troops is confirmed be-
yond question of doubt. In the en-
deavor to prevent 1t from being pro-
claimed to the world the authorities
made the bad blunder of arresting
Charles Nicholson. correspondent of
ureter Jorenyo Re,tonconrt Thev
were taken from their beds nj . n m
ON Tuesdnv. lodged in NIoro Castle ..in.
communicate unIil "Wednesday after
noon, by which time the officials dis
covered that they had the wrong man.
All the other American correspondents
have been shadowed since. but even if
the two who did go to Guatao are
found out 1t Is doubtful II they will be
arrest would be a confession that the
first was a mistake.
r'AiAo bC ItdERh.
The affair at Punta Bravo and
Guatao. however. was within twelve
miles of this city. and two American
correspondents went to the two towns
as soon as rumors OF the nature of the
occurrence was received. The killing
took place Saturday afternoon, the
bodies had been buried on Sunday, but
the earth was still moist on the graves
when the correspondents reached the
scene. They walked about the town
which was well nigh deserted, talked
with neighbors and relatives Of the
dead. INSPECTED the houses i'm which
unarrned men had been shot and bay-
oneted to death. and women who
prayet on their knees for the lives of
husbands and sons had bee, knocked
insensibIe. The. fronts oi the houses
showed no signs Of having heen fircd
,,non 40 wo,,lI havn han, tho c.sa ~ in
si,rpents fought from tter, M outer
doors ar uindows ucrs hroka, All hut
b.lr dozen ho,,ses wers hn,cbad ronr
hut.. assnrains. no n,o,ao,t",, a,a ,r,,,,,
,,h;nh ~ rsa;,.a,.,. no,,ia - -,
~. n,,,,. h,,,Ia;,,., ,,,,;o,' -, han
haa,, ,,.o,, Co.. Sa,an ~, .,or ',t,
hna NJ, - n",a,a., NJ ..,
-. LII, uo was
~ a;,,.ans ~ his nn a' 80 s"u stua"" ses
most of whom were eye-witnesses. were
correct, ana further PROOF was furn-
ished oy spanish volunteers VINO were
present ana heIpeu lay out the dead.
The correspondents TOOK photographs
OF the streets. houses and cemetery at
Guatao. and these are indisputable
proof that no battle occurred In the
town as Is now claimed by the Span
ish authorities.
Putting together such facts as are
verified. the affair at Guatao was plain
ly nothing but a butchery. The SPAN
ish troops under Captain Calvo met and
dispersed handful of insurgents at
the eastern entrance to the town of
Punta Bravo, with no losses on either
side Some Of the insurgents having
taken the direction Of Guatao. one mile
south. the troops moved upon the town
shooting right and left as they entered,
killing the inhabitants who ran from
their houses In alarm, upon hearing
the firing. Others concealed themselves
in bedrooms and In any place which
seemed likely to help them avoid being
discovered. men and women reached
the woods in safety. About forty men
We're left in the town. some We're too
Old and intrm to run, some were loyal
Spaniards and others were Cubans. who
had taken no part In the rebellion
HUNT FOR BLOOD
The troons asamsd bspt u,or a mad
bunt for h,ood and shot down eva,v
one in sight Several Snaniords we're
found among the dead The no,,nted
euerrillus pursued fleeing inbabitants
across the fields. shooting at them. or
cutting them down with their sabres.
Others rushed into honses cluhhad
women. who impeded their entrn4,ce
shot men hiding under beds. killed one
man sick in bed, and dragged the bodies
of their victims out into the streets
Some Of the troops contented them
selves with making prisoners of All tho
Cubans they could find. After ninion-
ing the arms of an inoffensive citizen
behind his back. his captors marched
him out to the centre of the town club
bling him and making him shout viva
Espana" as he went. The cayalrymen
who killed men running across the
fields brought their bodies in, carrying
them across the horn of the saddle. ON
dragging them II the distance was
short
The bodies were laid on the grounds
in front of the main store. One troop
er who was kicking and splitting at the
body of man whom he had killed was