The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-01-03

VI tuC uClStNulNtAuhtbtbs
HAVANA, Jan. 2.-An engagement
between the Spanish troops and insur-
gents has taken place ut El Estante,
south Of Alfonso XII. and not far from
the frontier OF the province OF Havana.
The official announcement says that
the troops captured the insurgents po-
sitIons, but that the loss to the enemy
IL not known. 1t Is admitted that two
Spanish officers and four soldiers were
killed and 10 were wounded. The in
surgerts, following their usual tactics,
did not accept n decisive engagement.
but after the skirmIsh proceeded west
ward, devastating the country as they
marched onward. The authorities here
in announcing this skirmish added the
significant statement that the troops
were moved closer TO the province or
Havana" which would seem to indi-
cate thnt the Spanish forces are once
more In retreat.
Later in the day II was announced
that further fighting between the In
surgents and Spaniards ls taking place
In the vicinity OF Ell Estlnte, which
with the announced movement OF the
OF Havana" leads people here to be-
lIeve that the insurgents have been In
pursuit OF the Spanish troops in that
vicinity. The latter nre commanded by
Colonel Gnlvis, who was also in COM
mnnd OF the troops first engaged In the
vicinity OF FL Estante. which seems TO
be q confirmation OF the supposition
that the Spaniards were worsted and
that the Cubans are making for the
frontier OF the province OF Havana. In
spite OF all tho statements to the con-
trary.
In view OF the fine work and rapid
progress OF the insurGent cavalry, Gen.
Campos has ordered the Spanish OIL
cinIs In nll the disturbed districts 70
seize all the horses they can lay hands
on in order to prevent them from fall
ing into the hands OF the enemy. But
It is believed that the Cubaus are al
ready well mounted, and supplied with
horses as they need be, and there are
people who claim that this order might
have issued with better advantage some
months sooner
Doing Great Damage.
The damage being done by the Gu
bans is terrible. They have burned the
best part OF the town OF Jaguey and
the cane fields OF Per In Rosario and
Australia in that district and in the
Navarrette district the plantations OF
VInas. AIendeZ. Garay, Escalcnt and
Haza have been destroyed by the torch
es OF the Spaniards' enemies.
In addition, the Cuban forces have
burned many houses in the Cardenas
district OF the province OF MatanZas.
and have set fire to and destroyed many
cane fields in the Union de Reyes, Bue-
ma Vista. Jaguey Grande, and Macuri-
les districts.
In addition. the village of La Yagua,
whose inhabitants did not receive the
insurgents as well as the latter would
have liked, has been blotted out by
fire. Between La Yaguh and Cumana-
yaguay alone. five railroad bridges and
three Culyerts have recently been de-
stroyed by the insurgents.
But the insurgents are not paying at
tention to the plantations exclusively.
The houses OF the Weather classes and
the stores OF the invaded districts gen.
orally are being sacked unless rarsonI-
cd by the payment OF money in proper
ton to the value of the property. The
friends OF the insurgents here claim
that this is perfectly fair, as the plant
crs are the chief support Of the Spanish
government system here. and that In
iessening 'the revenue contributing
power OF the planters they are only cut
ting Oft the source OF supply OF the
Spuniarda.
Cable communication with Trinidad.
Tunas dc ZazR, Jucar0, Santa Cruz and
Mnnzanlllo, nil towns on the southern
coast OF the island, was inauGuratcd to-
day.
Nervous spantaris.
The news that the insurgents were
still on the borders OF the province OF
Havana has increased the feeling OF
nervousness which has prevailed here
from the time they entered the province
OF MntnnEnS. and no explanations which
the authorities can furnish seem nbtc
TO Gispel the popular impression that
there has been no real check OF the In-
surgent advance and that all the efforts
OF the Spanish troops to drive them out
OF Ma:anZas have proved more than
fruitleSE,
AS already cabled. every man who
could be spared from tho regular ana
volunteer forces has been sent TO the
front; but this does not seemed to have
changed the situation, Und the military
authorities continue working night ana
day in their efforts to plccc Havana In
the hest possible position to resist
siege. But the sentiment Of the popula-
tloR, as already noted has gradually
uhdcrgonc change favorable to the
Insurgents cause and nobody would
be astonIshcd to find that It huS taken
n more decided form than passive Hym-
pnthy. The police are carefully watch
Ing the quarters Of persons supposed
TO be in sympathy with the insurgents:
but this has not prevented numbers Of
young men from escaping from the city
and making their way to the inSur~
gent CAmpB.
In addition to the trouble threatened
from the direction OF the province OF
Mntnnzas, there In fear of more trouble
from tho direction Of the province OF
PIna- del Rio. on the other side OF Ha-
vnnn. Although all news on this sub
iect Ia carefully guarded, It IS known
that the insurgents In that part OF the
country are rapidly increasing IN num-
bcr and during and nobody would be-
ngtonIshcd to hear that nm insurgcnt
force Will advance upon Havana from
l'lnnr del Rio So COON as the main body
of the inl urgcntE under Gomez and Mn-
Geo IL ncnr cnouEh'to Havana TO war
rant such movement.
s-=rr=sa.aa--s-=s
on 80 Havana.
News received to-day leaves no doubt
that the insurgents nre In large force
In tho province of Havana, and arc
ynr,nd nynr "A wide AnnCC their rCnr