Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1896-03-13
SPANISH BUTCHERS.
PEACEFUL CUBAN CITIZENS THEIR
VICTIMS.

weyier's Troops Killed Don Pedro Rubio
and His Daughter without Nfercy-A
Baby In Its Fathers Arm shot-Aiaceo
and Gomes Active.
NEW YORK, March 1.-THE Herald's
Havana correspondent sends the following
via Tampa, Fla:
Refugees from the country are still
bringing in stories of outrages and cruelty
by Spanish troops. Many are doubtless
much exaggerated, but here is one OF the
truthfulness of which l am thoroughly
convinced lt is told by woman, who
was among the dearest friends OF one OF
the victims The woman told the facts in
a voice choked with sobs and with tears
streaming down her face. Her statement,
moreover is amply corroborated from two
other equally trustworthy sources.
Don Pedro Rublo was the owner Of the
Cato sugar estate, near the town of Cata-
lima, in Havana province. He was a mid
die aged man. much respected in his neigh
borhood and quite we'll known in the
United States 20 which he usually made
a trip once a year. On the Cato estate he
lived with his daughter. Amelia, a charm
ing girl Of 16 years; an infant son years
old, five servants and his plantation en-
pioyees.
During the recent skirinishing Of Ma.
coos command in the neiRhhorhoOd of
Catalina the insurgent chief had encamp-
ed ON the Cato estate. Hearing ofa strong
Spanish column under Colonel Herman
dez, however, he left Senior Rubios land
and went forward Colonel Hernandez's
vanguard came up before Maceo's column
was completely under way, and some skir-
mishing followed with the insurgent rear
guard
Colonel Hernandez lost several men dur
ing this firing and some OF his troops be-
came enraged after Maceo had marched
away. Part of his command finally broke
up into small squads and began securing
the neighborhood. One such party, ad-
vanced toward Senior Rubios house, firing
upon IL as they moved forward. Bullets
began to pierce the walls, doors and win
dows. The terrified inmates ran from
place to place inside the house, seeking
protection from the rifle fire behind the
portions Of the house where the walls were
thickest. The servants and plantation
hands, at the first fire, abandoned their
huts and rushed for refuge TO the more
substantial house of their master.
Shot Dead on His Doorstep.
Don Pedro Rubio, believing the troops
must be attacking his home, supposing 1t
TO be held by rebels, stepped out boldly
upon his porch, carrying In his arms his
little boy. He took off his white straw
hat, waved 1t toward the advancing line
of troops and shouted to them;
Stop firing We are peaceful citizens,
the inmates of the house and none other.
Do not fire again. -
He had hardly spoken when the mauser
rifles came TO level again, and smother
volley of bullets crashed against the front
of the house. The troops were now firing
at short range.
When the smoke cleared away Don Pc
dro Rublo lay dead on his own threshold,
and across his body lay his child pierced
through the thigh by rife ball. The
troops still kept advancing in a sort of
skir1nlsh line, and now they charged upon
the house with fixed bayonets, as though
about to take fortress by assault.
Amelia, seeing her father and brother
fall, nierced through and through. had CIV
en- one shrek of agony and then desperate
ly flung herself against the first soldier as
he stepped across the threshold and enter
ed the parlor.
Butchers, the girl cried, 'you have
killed my father!"
The soldiers advanced another pace,
when Amelia, with the strength of de-
spair, struck the first man so sharp blow
full in the face that he reeled Just be.
hind him came a comrade. He had seen
the blow, and he saw the poor. frightened
girl, who now stood in the doorway, plead
ing for mercy. There was no mercy even
for her. The soldier lifted his rifle with
its sword bayonet, and thrust the knife
edged point clear through the girls arm
as she held 1t up instinotively TO protect
herself In the same moment he pulled
the trigger, and rifle ball passed through
the young girls breast. The five employ
ees were killed after much the same fash
ion.