The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-08-20
He Entraps a Spanish Train
in Pinar del Rio.
SHOOTS THE MILITARY ESCORT.
Weyler Sends Troops From Havana
to Find the Lost Train.
] ne Rescue Force Is Attacked by
Maceo. Who Burns the Trapped
Irain-Aii This Takes Place Near
the Irocha-Cubans Buy a Fast
Steamer.

Copyrighted hy the Associate, Press.
havana. Aug 11---Ine mystery OF a miss
tES EniAt2ry passenger train when was
a1a hers axss Sunday has been solved. and
= furnishes another instance OF the Au-
aaclty of tha Insurgents and og the srati-
BED state OF affairs existing In the PROV
saee OF Ptnar del RIO. On Sunday last a
train having on board a number OF civilian
passengers and a strong escort o. troops.
consisting OF q regular ear and aFmored
c&Ts Ter the military escort. left ConsNo-
laelon del Sur. Plnar del Rio, for tals cisy,
and should have arrived here the same day
But the train did not appear, the railroad
authorities became alarmed and the mill
tary authorities were notified. Apparently
however, the latter were very slow in TAX
ing action. In any case. throughout Men
day the military authorities professed ao-
so.ate ignorance Of the whereabouts oE the
train. although It was understood that IN
QsgfrE@S of some description had been made
along the line. nat without any DEFINITE
result. The failure 20 obtain the necessary
information caused the railroad people 20
renew their representations 10 military
headquarters. and eventually. on Tuesday.
several exploring parties, CONSISTING of
cavalry scouts. reported having heard
heavy firing yesterday between Bacunasa
and Tacou. The latter town is about one
third the distance between Consolacion
del Sur and Havana. and nos far from the
important town og San Cristobal- Con-
solacion del Sur Is only a short distance
from Pinar del Rio. capital Of the province
OF that name Later the scouts reported
that the passenger coach. together With
the military cars, had been deraLed be-
tween Bacunaga and Tacou. and il ap-
peared az II severe fghting had taken
place between the escor. OF the train and
the insurgents, who attacked il.
This news stirred ap the military au-
thorities sufficiently TO cause them to send
relief trains loaded with troops toward the
scene. These forces. consisting OF the
Arapiies and Basbastro batt2lions. un-
der the command OF Col ArJoua, have just
returned. The troops brought with them
the passengers, who are over forty-eisht
hours late. and the survivors and wounded
Of the military escort OF the train. The
latter, II appears. were running between
Canacagua and Tacou when, near the
point known as kiiometer ii3. the train
was compelled TO slow up on account or
an obstruction across the line, and AS X
did so a smart rife fire was opened upon
the train from both sides OF the road,
while a party of insurgents we're seen TO
march out OF concealnent behind the
train and place heavy distractions across
the road Other insurgents occupied them
selves actively in removing the rails De-
hind the obstruction. thereby catching
the military train in a trap from which
II could neither advance or retreat The
troops promptly returned the ire OK the
Insurgents who kept well under cover.
The firing lasted three hours, according
to the official statement. At the eud OK
this time the insurgents are said TO have
been repulsed. II IS announced that the
military escort. upon the arrival OF the
relief train. burned the military passen-
ger train and returned 10 this city vita
the Bashastro and Arapiles battaltons.
trnofic!al versions Of the affair, however.
claim that the train was derailed and sub
sequently burned by the insurgents, and
that the escort OF the military tram were
rescued just in time 70 save them from be-
ing exterminated by the enemy. As II
MAS. six soldiers OF the escort are admit
ted 10 have been killed. and twenty-ore
soldiers were brought here wounded. Ihe
Lieutenant Is expected 10 de
Later details confirm the statement
ihat the train was deralled by the lnsur-
gents. who dynamited Is and afterward
destroyed the cars completely. Ihe de-
fense made by the escort - said 20 have
lasted practically three days, although Il
is not claimed that the firing continued
al that time.
The Insurgents who attacked the military
train we're in strong force. and 1t devel-
oped later today they also tried 10 ay IA
rsftn the relief train. but without sIecl-
Col Arioua reports that in retiring
with the rescued escort OF the train ne Was
attacked by Antonio Maceo and a force
OF $500 insurgents. Artillery FIRE, howev-
er. was opened upon the enemy. and the
latter retreated. The insurgent loss is not
known. The Spaniards claim the inslir-
gents did not burn the military train IN
Ill after the relieving column OF troops
had retired
Washington City. Aug. IA cable mes
sage nas been received st the state denarf-
r7ent from Consul General Lee az Havana,
DENYING the report that Fearce ATKINS. %
Chicago had been killed IN cuba lie SAYS
that Atkins was seen In FtnaF aei $40
~ tae fs. frst-. several days after hls
dear Ia! oesn reported IN the Jnsed