The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-25
SPANIARDS WORSTED.
FAILURE TO CAPTURE A FILL
CLUSTERING STEAMER.
Rebels Place Dynamite Under Rail-
way Track, and Send Many Span
iards Closer to Heayen Than They
Would Otherwise Have Been.

New York. Dec. PA Times special
from Key West. Fla, says:
A private dispatch received here last
night from Santiago de Cuba confirms
the statement that the Spanish were
worsted on the southeast side of the
| island in their attempt to capture a
| filibusterin- steamer and its cargo. A
| special train left that city very secretly
at noon, bound for town several
| miles distant near the sea coast, to
| bring back to the hospital a large
number of wounded Spanish soldiers,
injured By the Cubans in dynamite
explosion.
A Spanish major had been sent with
a small force to capture the steamer.
He found his force inadequate. and
telegraDhed for reinforcements. The
Cubans at a small garrisoned town
near Chillian heard of this, and put
a dynamite mine under the track, ex-
ploding it Just as the train bearing
troops was over the spot. A terrific
explosion took place, lifting the train
bodily from the track and completely
wrecking it. Many Spaniards were
killed outright, and others were badly
injured.
SIMPLY MOVED DOWN.
The officers got their men together
after they recovered from their de-
moralization, but the CubanS opened
a savage fire upon them from the
bushes, moving them down with hand
grenades and bombs. as we'll as bull
let's. The survivors took to their heels,
pursued by the Cubans almost to the
city walls. About 100 Spaniards were
killed or wounded. and four officers
were captured, besides large quantities
of arms and ammunition and one can
non. The wounded will be brought to
Santiago, after which the worst cases
will be removed to Havana.
The filibusters' cargo. consisting of
large stores of arms and other neces-
saries, was successfully landed. Cap
tain Agricola OF Gomez staff COM
manded the party covering the land
ing. The Three Friends landed its
cargo near there last week, as did also
two other flibusters. Several Spanish
vessels have lately haunted the wind
ward passage, looking for the, Three
Friends. but she succeeded in avoid
ing them, both coming and going.
IN GOMEZ CAMP
News from Gomez camp reports his
force in fine condition and anxious to
try conclusions with the Spaniards.
They recently got large and needed
supply Ol llS lilCu WSIC
never in such good condition before.
They are generally incensed at the
murder OF Cubans by Spanish guer-
rillas,. and they thirst for a chance to
encounter any of their country's enc
mics.
In Havana the departure of Weyler
for Pinar del Rio has caused great
surprise. as it was given out that he
intended going toward Cardenas to
fight General Garcia and to stop Co
mezs forward movement. The change
is taken to indicate that serious news
has been received from Artemisa, fore
ing Weyler to go there instead of leav-
ing General Agricola to fight it out.
General Rivera has completely duped
the Spanish officers as to his move
ments and plans, and hence Weyler
was wired to extricate them from their
dilemma.
Two Spanish vessels suddenly sailed
last night, and it is rumored that they
are after another filibustering steamer.
Spanish officials intimate that several
big moves will be made as soon as con-
gress reassemble at Washington, in
order to prove that Spain has ability
to cope with the insurgents.