Connecticut western news., 1896-03-12
SPANISH BUTCHERS.
PEACEFUL CUBAN CITIZENS THEIR
 VICTIMS.

weyier's Troops Killed Don Pedro Hnbio
 and His Daughter Without Neroy-A
 Baby In Its Fathers Arm shot-NAcso
 at Havana's Gates.
 NEW YoRK, March il.-Tho Hersid's Havana correspondent sends the following via Tampa, Fla: -
 Refugees from the country arc still bringing in stories of outraRes and cruelty by spanish troops Many are doubtless much exaggerated. but hero Is one of the truthtulness of which l am thoroughly convinoaal. It is told by woman, who was among the dearest friends of one of tho victims The woman told the facts in a voice ehoked with sohs and with tears streaming down her face Her statemenG moreover,is is amply corroborated from two other equally trustworthy sources.
 Don Pedro Rubio was tho owner of the Gato sugar estate, near the town of Cata- linn, in Havana province He was mid dlc aged man, much respected In his noigh- borhood and quite well known in the United States to which he usually made a trip onne a year. On the Cato estate he lived with his daughter, Amelia, a charm ing girl of 16 years; m infant son 2 years old, five servants and his plantation em- ployees.
 During the recent skirmishing of Ma. ceo's command in the nciahborhood of Catalina the insurgont chief had enoamp- ed on the Cato estate. Hearing of a strong spanish column under Colonel Herman dez, however, he left Senor Rubio's land and went forward. Colonel Hernandex's vanguard came up before Maoeo's column was completely under way, and some skir- mishing followed with the insurgont rear guard.
 Colonel Hernandez lost several men dur ing this firing, and some of his troops be- came enraged after Macoo had marched away. Part of his command finally broke up into small squads and began securing tho neighborhood. One such party ad- vanced toward Senor Rubio's house. firing upon it as they moved forward. Bullets began to pierce the walls, doors and win dows. The terrified inmates ran from place to plnoe inside the house, seeking protection from the rifle fire behind the portions of the house where the walls were thickest. Tho servants and plantation hands, at the first fro, abandoned their huts and rushed for rofuge to the moro substantial house of their master. Shot Dead on Ills Doorstep. Don Pedro Rubio, believing tho troops must be attacking his homo, supposinR 10
 
 upon his porch, carrying in his arms his little boy. He took of hls white straw hat, waved 1t toward the advancing lino of troops and shouted to them:
 "Stop firing. We arc peaceful oitizens. the inmates of the house and mono other. | Do not fro again"
 He had hardly spoken when the mauser rifles came to u level again, and another yolley of bullets crashed against the front of the house. The troops wore now firing at short range
 When the smoke cleared away. Don Pe- dro Rubio lay dead on his own threshold, and across his body lay his child, pierced through the thigh by rife ball. Tho troops still kept advancing In a sort of skirmlsh line, and now they charged upon the house with fixed bayonets, as though | about to take fortress hy assault. | Amelia, seeing her father and brother fall, pierced through and through. had Riv- en one shriek of agony and then desperate ly flung herself against the first soldier as he stepped across the threshold and onter- ed the parlor
 Butchers" the girl cried, "you havo killed my fatherl'i
 The soldiers advanced another pace, whom Amelin, with the strength of de- spair, struck tho first man SO sharp blow full in the face that he recled. Just be- hind him came comrade. He had seen the blow, and he saw tho poor, frightened girl, who now stood in the doorway. plead ing for mercy. There was no mercy even for her. The soldier lifted his rife, with its sword bayonet. and thrust the knifo edged point clear through the girls arm as she he'd it mp instinotively to protect herself In the same moment he pulled the trigger, and a rife ball passed through the young girls breast The Two employ ees were killed after much the same fash | ion