The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-25
HOW MACIiO DIED.
His Physician Gives the Details of
Iiis Emll.

/
| New York. December 2i.-Thc Herald
this morning publishes the following letter
from Maxine Zcrtucha, dated Melena del
| Sur cuba. December 10;
II have been Informed Of the reports
current in the United States regarding the
death of my old chief and friend. Major
General Antonio Macoo. owe 1t to myself
| to state how the event happened.
Major General Antonio Maceo at S .. m.
| December 4, accompanied by part Of his
general staff crossed the military line be
tween Mariel and MaIana at ;ho former
| polut At 9 o'clock the following morning
we Joined twenty-five cavalrymen belong
| lng to Colonel Iaritos command. We
| started toward Baracoa.
| During our march some eighty r.en Of
Lieutenant Colonel Acosta's command were
| Incorporated with our ranks Together we
went at O'Clock that night To the grazing
farm lpotreror) Of san Pedro, between RIM
con and Covea. There We met the forces
under Brgadier Sanchez and Colonel Del
gado. numbering some 400 men, all cavalry
ut was O'Clock in the aftcrn oon Of the
next day WHOM word came to our camp
that the enemys forces were moving in
our direction, following The trail. We pre-
pared Cor an engagement.
The left flank was commanded by the
general of the division. Pedro Dial The
| right was under the command of Colonel
| Delgado and Lieutenant Colonel Acosts
i Brigadier Sanchez took command ot the
| center. The fight was underway when Cen
eral Maceo. accompanied by Brigalior Miro.
| his adjutants. Justiz and Sauvan. and NY
| self started toward The battlefield. Nuceo
! took his position az point outside the
space of actual operations, but all OF The
1 onemys FIRE suddenly centcring upon that
} point. it was lead rather than air that We
[ broathed.
/ General Miro was to the right and to
( the left Of General Maceo, lie raised fis
! sword saying to Brigadier Miro, This goes
| we'll and fell. as II struel; by lightning.
| from the horsc he was riding IN the
ground ! was on the spot at once cHamln-
| ing his wounds.A Mauscr bullet had entered
/ the right side of the chin. causing a irdc-
ture of the lower jaw in three places COM
| ing out OF the left side OF the neck. The
bullet m its course severed an artery which
caused death In minute. The moment
! Naceo was wounded | called to his assist
ance those who accompanied him. Bullets
were showrring over my head as ! stood
| ontrcnched behind the generals horse. At
! that moment young Gomez appeared Le-
lore me. lie had been wounded IN the
shoulder during an engagement. Ills arm
| was in sling, He said TO me, I will help,
doctor.
I'VE again raised the body OF Maceo and
placed it upon the horse. Young Gomez
took hold OF the horses bride, while
held the general by the feet. Then we
| started toward a gate. which was the out
let to the enclosure we were in. Gomez
was then pierced by another bullet. com
pletely shsttering his elbow. He sank 10
The ground, ] went 10 his assistance, and
General Maceo's body fell from the horse.
What to do then | knew not Tho enemy
was close upon us beseRched Gomez TO
let me carry him out. but nothing availed.
Then, almost crazed jumped on the gem
erals horse and started toward our forces.
which, owing TO the incidents OF the en- .
Rarement. were at a fair distance off