Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-18
KILLED
Cuban Physician Struck Down in a
Hospital by Spaniards.
WHAT ONEOF MACEO'S CkPTkINSSkYS
He Considers the Insurgent Posi-
ton ImpregnabIe.
10000 MEN UNDER ARMS

-
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star
WILMINGTON, Del, November 49,
News has been received in this city of the
death OF Dr. Pedro Betancourt in Cuba.
DR.. Betancourt was caring for wounded
Cuban patriots ip hospital on the line of
march of the Spanish army, which fell into
the latter's hands about a week ago. Not
an inmate Of the hospital escaped the sword
Of the Spaniards. Dr. Betancourt was
stricken down while administering to a
dying soldier. His head was cut off and
placed on the end Of bayonet and carried
on the march by a Spanish soldier as
mark of victory.
DIR. Betancourt was tall and handsome
He was graduate of the University of
PENNSYLVANIA. and was a competent and
successful physician. He was one of the
promoters Of the pending revolution i'm
Cuba, and with handful of men made the
flrst break for liberty August "a 1894.
For several hours he held a large company
OF Spaniards at bay, but was finally obliged
to surrender on account of lack of ammuni-
tion. He was sent to prison in Madrid, but
succeeded in making his escape in No
vember 1894. He went to France disguised
as peasant, and then came to this coun-
try.
Filled with determination to again fight
big expedition that was formed in The
United States, and which came to grief at
Pennsgrove, N. j., on the night of August
% 1895.
While in this city during the famous trial.
which resulted In the acquittal of the en-
tire party, he had a presentiment that he
would die under the Spanish sword. Asked
by a newspaper man II he expected to go
back and do what 1 can. 1 know what it
will mean. l will be killed by the Span
iards; something has told me SO. But
man can die only once; why not for his
country"
The day after his acquttal DR.. Betan-
court went to New York and figured in
several unsuccessful expeditions He final
ly succeeded in reaching Cuba in June, and
decided not to go into service in the field
but to devote his attention to wounded
patriots in the hospitals, and at this hu-
name work he met his awful death last
week.
MACEO'S POSITIONS IMPROBABLE.
One of His Captains Said They Can
not BE Taken.
NEW ORLEANS, La, November 49,
Captain Toronado Andrade. one Of the
youngest and bravest Of General Maceo's
staff, and Mr.. Manuel Coronado of Ha-
vana arrived here Saturday from Cuba.
Mr.. Coronado says he left Havana to save
himself, he having been summoned for trial
on the charge of being in close communi-
cation with the insurgents and as acting
as their agent
These charges were not true, though
my sympathies are with the people," said
he. 1.-THE Cubans are fighting for life, for
liberty, for all they possess, and you know
when a man fights for that he fights hard.
The outcome, l have no doubt, will mean
victory for the Cuban armies. Further
than that 1 do not care to speak
In fn tai DO
said
General Maoeo counts in the province
of Pinar Del Rio some twenty thousand
men of all arms, which are divided in
groups of 500 and over, or less. as the case
may be, and which operate each in one
district, but in constant communication
with the general headquarters Of the main
army. Maceo with his staff and perhaps
some 1000 men has his headquarters in
the hills between San Cristobal and Caya-
bcs. The men are all well clothed and
fed. having plenty Of ammunition, and will
give an account Of themselves"
Are Gen. Maceos positions impregna-
ble?"
Eyes, consider them so. The cordillera
two hundred miles in length by sixteen
to twenty-four in width, and every hill is
stronghold.
to ], 600 feet above the sea level, are COW
cred with very thick underbrush or
'maniqua,' often in stretches by thick
forests and here and there pieces OF open
land.
The only way to get to the mountains is
by mule paths and on these no more than
two to four men can go. These places are
all held by the Cubans and are also pro-
tected by mines and traps, which are un-
known to any but the guides of the Cuban
army Should the Spaniards succeed in
getting to the top of any of the hills they
would have to pass over countless dyna-
mite mines, which are ready to be set off
by the pressing of button. The Spaniards
have only twice managed to get half way
up; once was when Gen. SuareZ Inclan at
tempted it at Taco Taco and another time
when Gen. Gonzales Munos attacked Car
cara rajicara, both attempts ending In signal
defeats for the Spaniards.
I'm this range of hills there are spots of
from one to five acres where Gen. Maceo
has established prefectures and which are
cultivated, and also where are our manu-
factories of cartridges, powder, dynamite
and other explosives. also our hospitals;
and these places it is impossible for the
Spaniards to reach without first destroying
the Cuban army"
In conclusion, Capt. Andrade said:
THE sun is rising, and every day 1t
grows brighter. I can plainly see in the no
distant future a new republic on the Amer
ican continent, advanced, civilized, In close
ties of friendship with this country
FIGHTING FOR CUBA.