Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1896-12-02
TIE MOUNTAIN BATTLE.
Dynamite Mine Exploded and Whole
Companies Blown to Atoms
V~yt-r's Loss IN Killed Est'msted at over
. oOo Sp.uisrds Forced to Retreat Ia
Pas.c-Iiis Campaign Against
Nsceo Was n Complete Failure.

JA-RsoNvu.iE. Fla, Nov. 9T.-CoA
Jose Reyes, who is on the staff ot An
tonic Nacec. the Cuban chief. passed
through Jacksonville Thursday en-
-oute to New York.
Col. Reyes is just from the Province
Of Pinar del Rio. and took part in the
recent engagements between Maceos
forces and those of Capt Gen. Weyler.
In describing the battle of Rubia
mountain Col Reyes was most graphic.
''Weyler," said the colonel. planned
his attack carefully. lie divided his
forces into three columns. One under
Gen. Munoz. of LOCO men: one under
Gen. Echague. of 900 men. and the
captain general himself commanded
the third column OF 5000 men.
Maceo was aware of Ncyler's plans and
prepared TO meet the attack. He had
about 5000 men. and occupi q n strong
position. In front of our entrench-
ment there were a number of dyna-
mite mines. These dynamite mines
were in charge OF John Lind, Jack
sonville boy, who is chief electrician
of Maceo's army. The Spanish column
under Munoz advanced first TO the
attack. When the Spaniards got
in good range we opened fire
and cut great gaps il their
ranks. Urged on by Munoz. how
ever. the Spaniards still advanced. and
il seemed likely we would have TO fight
them hand to hand. when there was an
awful explosion that shook the mount
ain and entire companies OF the Span
ish column shot mp in the air. In
moment we realized that John
Lind had exploded the dynamite
mines. More than 700 Spaniards were
killed outright and twice that number
were wounded. Nearly every man
killed was almost literally torn to
pieces. and hundreds of the wounded
were frightfully mangled. The Span
iards who were unhurt fed back down
the mountain in panic. / am sure
that in the attempt TO carry the noun
tain the Spaniards lost 200 men in
killed alone.
AT night Maceo learning that Wey-
Ter would again attempt to storm the
position. decided to withdraw to en-
trenchments further west. Two days
later this second line of entrcnch-
Inents was attacked by Gen. Echague
with 10000 men. The Spaniards made
repeated charges, but in every case
were repulsed with terrible loss In this
battle John Lind used the dynamite
gun which the Three Friends recently
delivered to Maceo with terrible effect.
At one discharge / am certain more
than 100 Spaniards were killed. After
the battle had lasted nearly three
hours Gen. Echague's leg was nearly
torn off b. shell, and then the Span
iards fell back. In this second at
tempt to crush Maceo the
Spaniards lost 900 killed and 300
wounded. During this desperate
fighting Wcyler was in the rear
with 1900 of the best troops in the
Spanish army. The captain general
never once made an attempt to support
the attacking columns. Maceo's losses
in these engagements were insignifi-
cant We had 232 killed and about 4OO
wounded. Our losses were small, be-
cause we fought behind cover. aud
when one of our men was hit il was
largely by chance. Since these battles
there has been no fighting in Pinar del
Rio, and Weylers return to Havana
was the direct result of the Spanish de-
feat
When / left Maceo he was thinking
of retiring to his secret retreat in the
mountains in order TO allow his men TO
recuperate. This stronghold is abso-
lutely impregnable. 1t can be reached
| by only one route, and that
route is sown with dynamite mines.
| know that Maceo is very anxious for
Weyler to attempt to reach the strong
hold. Maceo is confident that il Wey-
Ter should do so the world would hear
no more of the captain general"
Col Reyes says that the Spaniards
have offered So 600 for John Lind, dead
or alive.