Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-12-18
BAD NEWS FROM CUBA.
MaceO, the Patriot Leader Dead.

The Cuban Insurgents Say that He Was
Basely Trapped by a spanish General,
and He and His star were Butchered
i'm Cold Blood.
The rumors which came early last week,
that Antonio Maceo, the patriot leader in
western Cuba, was dead, was confirmed in
news received on Saturday, and on Sunday
the details were published in full. The
story comes from Cuban in Havana and
and was sent by him in letter written to
the Cuban junta in Jacksonville, Fla. If
true it is the story of one of the most hor-
rible atrocities ever chronicled in modern
warfare.
The Insurgent story.
From the letter it appears that the mar
quis of Ahumada, who officated as cap
tain-general of Cuba during Weyler's alb
sence in the field sent letter to Gen. Ma
Geo, inviting the Cuban leader to a confer
ence. Maceo, never for a moment think
ing that treachery was intended, especially
as the invitation came from such promi-
nent Spaniard, Immediately returned an
answer saying that he would be glad to
meet the Spanish general, and only accom-
panied by his staff of "a members, he went
to the rendezvous, little dreaming of the
awful fate that was in store for him. On
arriving at the trocha the Spanish soldiers
there, acting under orders, actually saluted
the rebel cheftain as he passed. On reach
ing the rendezvous the Cuban leader was
surprised TO see instead of the marquis of
Ahumada, large body of Spanish soldiery,
who seemed present on every side,
The actions of these Spanish troops
were so suspicious that MaGeo felt that
they had him cruelty trapped, and his sus-
picions were confirmed when peremptory
| order came from splendidly mounted Off
Ger to surrender. "Never," was the reply,
and hardly had the words been uttered
when volley after volley was poured into
the little band of patriots, who, although
hemmed in on all sides and outnumbered al
most 100 to 1, struck spurs to their horses,
and with cries of Scuba libre," rode gal
| lantly to their death.
Maceo is reported to have fallen at the
first fire with a bullet through his head,
breaking his jaw. Another hit him in the
abdomen. Both were fatal. Gomez was
the next to fall, and in few moments a
number of bloody corpses, shot almost be-
| yond recognition, we're all that remained of
the gallant Cubans who trusted to Span
ish honor. Only one member of the staff
escaped, and that was DR.. Zertucha. The
letter says the bodies we're buried on the
field and every precaution taken to keep
the details from being made public.
indignation Against the spanIards.
The story that Maceo was killed so base
| ly under flag of truce, in q manner con-
trary to all the rules of modern warfare,
has created a profound feeling of indignation
and condemnation throughout the civilized
d, world. The British foreign Office is said
% have addressed note to the government
a. Madrid on the subject. In this country,
especially, the feeling has run high. Ali
over the Union, East and West, and on the
Pacit. coast, the indignation is outspoken,
and tels of thousands of young men
would respond to call to right the wrong
and assure Cuban independence.
The Span,ards claim that Maceo met his
death in open warfare. They say that he
had left the main part of his army and had
crossed the trocla with a small force and
was trying, presumably, to join Gomez in
the eastern part of he island.
Gen. Weyler has given out a statement
denying that Maceo was assassinated, but
in terms so perfunctory and uncertain as
to create doubt of its truth.
A cablegram received at the Spanish le-
cation in Washington from Madrid says
that "Maceo's death took place IN loyal
fight at Punta Bravo, and was caused by
our soldiers bullets. This is evidently
proved by the letter written by tbs son Of
Maxine Gomez, in which he states that he
killed himself in order not TO abandon the
body of his general. The handwriting of
the letter has been verified and also every
detail of the fight"
1t is suspicious fact, however, that the
Spaniards claim not to know where Ma
coos body was buried. The suspicion is
that it was so riddled with bullets that 1t
would prove his assassination.
Is MaceO still AIIves
The unreliability of the news from Cuba
is shown by the fact that Key West, Fla,
despatch of Wednesday night says: "Pas-
sengers arriving here tonight from Havana
report that Antonio Maceo is still alive
and well and Is In the province of Ma
tanzas. These passengers say that all of
the preparations that were going on In Ha-
vana to celebrate his death were ordered
stopped since it has become known that he
is still alive. DR.. Zertucha, the alleged
physician of Maceo, who vouches for his
death, is again prisoner"