The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-26
GOATS INSTEAD OF CUBANs.
How the RumOr Arose that Weyler
Was Killing OF Prisoners.

tie, at the entrance of this harbor, is a
beach termed Playa Chivo Goats beach,,
so called on account OF the many goats
which browse in its vicinity. 1t transpirec
to-day that one night last week sentry
on duty at the castle saw some whitish-
looking forms approaching stealthily. The
soldier challenged the approaching forms,
and, receiving no answer, discharged his
rife at them. The shot aroused the gar
rson of the fort the guard turned out. and
a number of other soldiers opened fire on
the supposed enemy, with the result that the
latter disappeared. The next morning an
examination was made of the Playa Chi
vo. and several goats were found dead
about the beach, killed by the rifle fire of
the soldiers, who must have done better
shooting than usual with them when en-
gagged with the insurgents. There was con-
siderable amusement caused by this fact
among the garrison of Moro Castle, and
the affair was on the point of being for
gotten when persistent runors were cir
cuated in this city that a number of in
surgents, said to be thirty-five men, had
been executed near MORO Castle during
the night The report was denied by the
Spanish officials but 1t continued to cir
culate until the Captain General not only
felt called on to make official denial,
but ordered an investigation into the ORR
gin of the repoftiz Eventually the matter
narrowed down to the following facts: Some
soldiers not on guard that night, who left
MORO Castle for Havana the morning aft
er the alarm of the garrison by the noise
of the shooting of the goats on Playa Chi
vo. were questioned by people of not much
intelligence in this city concerning the
Of Rr;,,
able to give any definite explanation of
the subject, but one of them was foolish
enough to say that he believed number of
Insurgents had been executed on the beach
during the nignt The report spread. aud
was, naturally, magnifed and zealously
circulated by the friends of the insurgents
Spaniards to attack the captain general
and to blacken his character as much as
possible But, instead of executing the
fined in MORO Castle, the Captain General
mas just liberated all those of them against
whom there was no clear proof of guilt,
and there has been no execution at Moro
Castle or elsewhere, with the knowledge of
the Captain General. since his arrival here
from Spain. In addition, General Weyler
mas most generously pardoned the Mayor
OF Managua, Senior Cr.sto, and his brother
who were recently captured by the Span
iards after having raised a numerous band
enemy. -7-tf+
The Spanish authorities have detained
Charles Mchaelson. the correspondent of a
New YORK newspaper, and his assistant
Lorenzo Betancourt, both American citizens
They are charged with having disobeyed the
orders of the Mayor of Marianao in leaving
lines at Punta Bravo and Guaiag de
Marianao The United States consul-gen-
er riia0 Mr., Ramon o. Williams has been
doing everything possible for them
A band of insurgents has attacked the
village of Jabucto. but was repulsed.
10 n
the. rails OF the railroad and derailed an
exploring engine.
1t now seems to be definitely established
that Antonio Maceo was not killed near
Placetas as was generally believed. A rela-
tive of Maceo, who lives in this city adj
mits, however. that he had heard from
good sources that the nsurgent leader Is
wounded in the arm as result of the en-
gagement at FL Cato. Among the dead in
surgents found in the hills about Candida
was man evidently messenger who had
in his pocket note addressed 10 Garlic,
one of the insurgents leaders, saying: send
me some salt This note was signed
Gomez
Advlces received here from Hoyo Colorado
say that the insurgents have hanged a
peaceable Spanard. During the different
engagements about San Jose de las LajaS
$50 horses belonging TO the insurgents were
killed or wounded. among them being the
one ridden by the insurgent colonel. Colunga.
The troops buried the bodies Of seventy in
surgents which were picked up near San
Jose de las LajaS.
The insurgents have hanged two volun-
teers
When Antonio Maceo effected his retreat
from the province of Pinar del Rio il was
announced that the only insurgents left
in that province were few scattered bands
IF marauders and bandits who could do no
damage except to small and unprotected
villages. Word has been received to-day,
however. of the complete destruction by
fire OF the important towns of Palacios and
Paso Real. both on the railroad line from
Havana to the city OF Pinar del Rio, the
o.. .t..rr MA
phur springs at San Diego de los Banos and
the village of Lanerra Dura. 1t is known
that Antonio Maceo and Maxine Gomez in
person were in camp on the night of Feb
49, on the farm of Galeon, near Alfonso
Doce. In the Sagua zone of Santa Clara
the insurgents have burned the canefields
on the plantations of Dos Amigos and Ac-
cessora, besides many country houses.
Captain General Weyler to-day paid a
visit of courtesy to the United States con-
sul-general, Ramon Williams.