Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-12-17
LURED TO DEATH.
Antonio Maceo the Victim of
Spanish Treaohery.
Invited to a Conference, He and His
Staff Are Ruthlessly Shot Down.
The Story Denied by Span
ish Oficials.

Jacksonville, Fla. Dec. 14.-Gen. An
tonic Maceo, the famous Cuban leader,
is really dead. having been treacherous-
ly murdered by Spaniards December
while on his way to attend a conference
to which he was invited by the marquis
of Ahumeda, acting captain general of
Cuba, while Gen. Weyler was in the
field. Saturday noon letter was re-
ceiyed by Col. j. A. De Huau, the head of
the Florida junta, from his secretary
correspondent in Havana, giving a de-
tailed account of the assassinat ion of
Gen. Maceo and his entire staff, with
the exception of DR.. Zertucha, who was
Maceo's physician. The letter came
from a reliable source in Havana, but
the correspondents name. of course,
cannot be made public, for, as Mr.. Huau
said: ''The writer would be shot with
in an hour by Spanish authorities If
they knew who gave away details of one
OF the most horrible atrocities ever
chronicled in modern warfare"
Led Into Trap.
1t appears that the marquis of Ahu-
media, who is officiating as captain gem
eral of Cuba during Weyler's absence in
the field, sent letter TO Gen. Maceo
inviting the Cuban leader to a confer
ence near Punta Bravo, stating he de-
sired to confer with him as to some
means of stopping bloodshed and the
great waste of human life, and to get
ting his views on the subject. Maeeo,
who was the soul of honor, never for
moment thought treaehery was iI-
tended, especially as the invitation came
from such prominent Spaniard as the
marquis of Ahumeda. and he imme-
diately returned an answer. saying he
would be glad to meet the Spanish gem
eral. Attended by his staff only, con-
ssting of 35 men and officers, he went
to the rendezvous, little dreaming of
what was in store for him.
Ambushed.
On his arrival at the trocha, the Span
ish soldiers there, acting under orders,
actually saluted the rebel chieftain as
he passed, but after reaching the rem
devious on the east side near a hill
side, thickly wooded, the Cuban leader
was surprised to see, instead of the
marquis of Ahumeda, large body of
Spanish soldiers. who seemed to come
from every side. The actions of the
Spanish troops were so suspicious that
Maceo felt that he had been cruelty
trapped. and his suspicious were con-
firmed when peremptory orders came
from Maj. Cirujeda. who dashed up to
the gallant Cuban leader as he stood at
bay, surrounded by his staff. and de
manded his unconditional surrender.
''If you surrender" said he, 1--WE offer
90 II !.
Maceo Shot Down.
Never" was the brave reply. and
hardly had the words been uttered when
volley after volley was poured into the
little band of patriots, who. although
henmed in on all sides and outnunl-
bered almost one hundred to one, struck
spurs into their horses with cries of
Cuba libre" and rode CALAMITY to their
death. striking down as many of the
enemy as they could. Maceo is reported
to have fallen at the first fire with
bullet through the head, breaking his
jaw, while another hit him in the abb
domen. Each was fatal.
Young Francisco Gomez. son of the
Cuban commander in chief. was the
next to fall. and in few moments q
number of bloody corpses, all shot almost
beyond recognition so fierce and concern
trated was the Spanish fire, was ali that
remained of the gallant Cubans, who
had trusted not wisely but too well to
Spanish honor.
Zertucha Spared.
The fire was continued until every
man was killed save Dr. Zertucha. who.
the Cubans say. is a traitor. The bodies
Of Maceo and young Gomez were then
tied TO the tails of the soldiers horses
and dragged over the field SO as to dis
figure them, as the Spaniards did not
wish to have them discovered and iden-
titled at first.
story ohcially Denied.
Havana, Dec. Alt is announced in
official circles here that the accounts
received BY the Cuban junta detailing the
manner in which Maceo met his death
are absolutely untrue. The statement
that Maceo was assassinated through
the instrumentality of DR.. Zertucha,
who, it is claimed, led Maceo and his
staff across the trocha, where they were
met by Ahumeda and the Spanish sol
diers and murdered after being in
vited TO a conference, is officially and
emphatically denied.
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Win stay in the Field.
L. IL -