The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-12-10
SOME MORE FIERCE FIGHTING
IN ONE ENGAGEMENT THE SPAN
-. ISL TROOPS LOST SIX
-t.t HUNDRED MEN.
WILL ASK FOR A WARSH|P ESCORT
Owner of the Three Friends Says That a
Recent Decision of the Supreme
Court Allows Him to Carry
Arms to Cuba.

Key West, Fla, Dec. 5.-Following
reports have been received from Pinar
del Rio:
The column of Col. Bantos, while re-
connoiterng in the vicinity of Sabana
Maize, succeeded in routing number
of groups of insurgents, destroyed plan
tations of Importance and burned 500
country houses inhabited by insurgents,
who fled, These groups of insurgents
were pursued into the forests and hills
of Pinar del Rio province and utterly
defeated, many of the positions captured
by the Spanish forces having been re.
garded heretofore by the Cuban insur
gents as impregnable. Artillery and in
fantry fired with splendid effect upon
the insurgents. The losses of the troops
are given as four killed and twelve
wounded. The losses of the insurgents
are reported to have been considerable.
Gen. Hernandez reports another en-
gagement lasting four hours in the Plena
Blanca hills. Artillery was used during
| this engagement with considerable eff
feet The insurgents left nine dead ON
the field. The Cubans used dynamite,
but without apparent results. The
troops lost two killed and thirteen
wounded
| The insurgents last night attacked the
trocha near Artemisa. They were quick
ly repulsed without confusion ensuing.
The Spanish commander had the artl
lery plying on the insurgent forces, and
the firing quickly ceased. One officer
| nd af IN fprt W. H..
ed The attacking party is estimated
to have numbered about 300 insurgents.
| A most important and terrible battle
is reported in private letter to have Oc-
Cured at PafaciOs, province of Pinar
del Rio. 1t is said that the forces of in
surgents strongly fortified at Terra
heights, were attacked by Spanish col.
umn. Fierce fighting, cannonading and
musketry continued all day. the insur-
holds. The troops were unable to cap
| ture the Notifications made and besides
sustained a great loss. The next day
the Spaniards were reinforced by Cen
Inclan, who renewed the attack. The
Spanish troops were determined to take
the stronghold, and simultaneously adj
vanccd upon the Notifications. The in
surgcnts were finally dislodged from their
position.
1t is said the Spanish lost 600. The
mortality was very great on both sides.
So fierce has been the fighting in this
vicinity that the living have been unable
to make adequate provisions for the
burial OF the dead, and consequently the
stencil which arises from the :. field of
carnage is said to be terrible in the OK
IRENE. .'''.
The recent reports of the attack Of the
insurgents upon Guanabacoa is said TO
have been false alarm. -'' T
WILL GO INTO COURT,
Cincinnati, Dec. "a special to the
Commercial-Tribune from Jacksonville,
Fla, says:
Owner Bisbee of the tug Dauntless has
wired his attorney, now in Washington,
to take steps at once to confer with the
attorney general in regard to securing
clearance papers for. the Dauntless. If
this is refused. he will bring mandamus
proceedings there and also bring suit for
damages against the collector here. If
the clearance is granted the Dauntless
will start ut once for Jamaica for banan-
as. Next week it is expected that Judge
Locke of the United States court will re-
lease the Three Friends on $4,000 bail.
If this is done, j. NJ. Burrs, attorney for
the owners, is going to try TO get cargo
of arms and ammunition to be carried to
Cuba and delivered to one of the Cuban
generals.
But before do that expect to go to
Washington and call personally on the
secretary of the treasury and call his at
tention to the fact that the ruling of the
supreme court in the Horsa case gives
me the right to do this. / can demand the
necessary clearance papers for such a
trip"
1t is rllmored that the Cuban junta in
Florida is supporting him in this novel
scheme.
REPORTED THAT MACEO FLED.
Cincinnati Dec. "a special to the
Commercial-Tribune from Jacksonville,
Fla, says:
A telegram from Havana was pub
lished here today that Maceo had fled
from Cuba to the United States to
avoid conflict with .Weyler.
Mr.. H. A. Hyau, the leading member
of the Cuban circle here. said tonight: