The record-union., 1896-11-26
Not Known How Many Were Killed.
But Over 1000 Wounded.
Madrid Papers Very Bitter in Their
Criticisms of the Spanish Conn
mander's Action, and Demand
That General Azcarraga, the Pres
ent Minister of War, be at Once
Sent to Cuba to Supersede Wey-
Ter.

NEW YORK, Nov 25-The Ward line
steamship City of Washington, which
arrived to-day from Havana, brough.
some interesting news Of the engage
rlent which occurred lately near Mount
Rubia between the Spanish troops and
the insurgent forces headed by General
Maceo. Last Saturday the Govern
ment organ, La Lucha," called for
trains to convey 1000 wounded and
sick soldiers from Candelaria to Ha-
vana. This was the first intimation that
had been received that the engagement
had been serious in it's results.
One of the passengers on the City of
Washington, who for obvious reasons
did not wish to have his name men
| toned, gave an interesting account Of
how the battle was fought, and this, to
great extent, it is thought, explains
why General Weyler returned to Ha-
vana SO suddenly. Mount Rubia is
about thirty miles from Havana Cen
eral Weyler had spread his trocha
across the island in it's narrowest part,
to prevent Maceo's forces moving
| toward the east. Then the remaining
forces were divided into three detach-
ments, one of 5000 men, another of TO-
600 and the third of 10000, the latter
being led by General Weyler himself.
These detachments moved toward the
r1ountains from different directions.
| The detachment of 5000 reached the
mountains first, and after heavy fight
ing was repulsed by Maceo's forces,
|
not known how mnay dead. When the
second detachment of 10000, under Gen.
eral Echadue, arrived and began to
| storm the mountain, they found that
the enemy had disappeared. General
| Weyler, who approached from the tro-
cha, did not have a chance to smell
| powder.
| Details are lacking, but it appears
that Maceo had another engagement
west of Mount Rubia, in which 1000 of
| the Spanish troops We're wounded. Five
| hundred of the wounded were brought
| into Havana by rail and 200 by water,
| leaving 300 wounded and sick still on
! the field.
| Wlillam Brown, subject of Great
Britain, recently released from a Cuban
| d
| for the alleged offense of shouting In
the streets of Havana Cuba Libre."
ard who was week ago expelled by or
| der of Captain General Weyler, said he
did not care to go into details regard
ing his treatment by the Spanish au-
thorities, except to say that the treat
| ment was brutal in the extreme. If he
| had not had papers proving him to be
British subject he would yet be in a
| Spanish dungeon. Cuba, in my mind,
| is lost to Spain. The latter country is
now on her beam ends. and the storm
| on the little island will soon engulf
| her" he said
| Mr.. Brown declared that no political
| prisoner in Cuba knew what he was ar
| rested for until he had been in a prison
cell for some time. While declining to
| give details in his own case, he talked
freely of Spanish cruelty in other in
! stances. Some of his stories are al
most incredible. He said:
| Let me tell you something of Wey-
| ler's system. Honure Laine was cap
| tured by General Maceo of the Cuban
army about nine months ago. He was
detained but few days. After his lib
Grafton Laine returned TO his home in
havana Later he was arrested at the
instance OF personal friend, particu-
lar friend of General Weyler. Several
| months after his arrest he was tried be-
fore jury composed of Weyler's own
creatures and declared innocent. Did
| that make any difference? Not bit.
He is still held a prisoner. and his
4
General Weyler showed his displeasure
OF the court that declared innocent by
sending them into the field as a pun
| lshment. Mr.. Laine is a Frenchman
! and Is trying to get his case to the at
| tention CT the French Government
Weyler has had many foreigners ar
| rested. He detests them. Most of these
| cases nave never seen the light of day,
because OF the Spanish system of plac-
| ing them so that their respective Gov
ernmentS never learn of their subjects
misery. Finally they drop out Of sight.
1t saves the cost and trouble of trial.
The poor Cuban gets short shift It is
sufflcient to know that he is a small
| factor IN the cause. His death follows
Ii he is tried, his trial is a farce. His
| conviction is an absolute certainty, and
| by the first steamship he is sent to penal
servitude
Here IS story related by prisoner
now confined in the prison in which /
was. Colonel Moline in one of his re-
cent raids, while endeavoring to locate
| an insurgent hospital, met a fourteen
year-oid boy, Carlos Hernanda. He de-
manded from the youth the location of
| the hospital. The boy did not know.
| Colonel Moline struck him on the head
with his revolver. causing the blood to
| flow. repetition of the question
bringing the same reply. resulted in the
boys arm being forced from its socket
| by a blow by the Spanish officers re-
volver Not being satisfied, he struck
| the boy again, killing him, and reported
a gallant victory to Weyler
This same butcher, Moline, murdered
| a whole family. Gonzales by name. the
same day for refusing to inform him of
| the direction taken by the insurgents.
The acts of murder and cruelty are in
marked contrast to the Christian spirit
shown and practiced by General Canxto
Garcia. the insurgent chief, who sent the