The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-04
cALvo'S RED HAND IN CUBA.
THE AFFAIR AT GUATAO INDEFEN-
sIBLE BUTCHERY.

correspondents of American News
papers Verify the Reports of the
,Iassacre-One of the Victims of
the spanish Bullets an American
Citizen Now i'm Moro Castle as n
PrisOner-NO Resistance Made to
the Troops by the Cubans.
Havana. Feb. 27.-The affair at Guatao
yrfu not down. Capt Gen. Weyler, after
o47cially announcing that nothing outside
of the ordinary combat between troops
of spain and armed rebels occurred. has
begun an investigation. He was waited
mon Yesterday by a delegation of women
from the little hamlet of Guatao, and the
town Of Punta Bravo and heard with his
own ears the story Of the killing from
the wives, mothers and sisters of the
dead. and listened to the appeal for the
lives and liberty of the fifteen prisoners.
He has also received official notice from
Consul General williams that among the
prisoners taken from the unfortunate
town and now lodged in Moro Castle is
an American citizen, who was shot in the
arm while hiding in his own house in the
presence of his wife, and though unarmed
and guilty of no act against Spain was
taken prisoner and held for the military
tribunal.
The story of the killing of eighteen pa
cifciers by the troops is confirmed be-
yond a question of doubt. In the en-
deavor to prevent it from being pro-
claimed to the world, the authorities made
the bad blunder of arresting Charles
Nicholson, correspondent of the New
York Journal, and his interpreter, Lo-
renzo Betancourt. They were taken from
their beds Tuesday morning at 2 o'clock
and lodged in Moro Castle, lin COM
municade" until Wednesday afternoon
by which time the officials discovered
that they had the wrong men.
All the other American correspondents
have been shadowed since but even if
the two who did go to Guatao are found
out 1t is doubtful If they will be arrest
ed, for the reason that another arrest
would be a confession that the first was
mistake. The authorities also know
that 1T is too late to prevent the story
going to the states that they had no case
against the men who went to Guatao
There have been stories of other affairs
of similar nature to that at Guatao,
in various parts of the island, but owing
to difficulties placed in the way of cor
respondents, 1t has been next to impos-
sible to verify them and the assurances
of the officials that they were untrue
We're given full weight. The affair at
Punta Brava and Guatao, however, was
within twelve miles of this city, and
two American correspondents went to the
TWO towns as soon as the rumors of the
nature of the occurrence was received
The killing took place Saturday after
noon. The bodies had been buried on
Sunday, but the earth was still moist
from the graves when the correspondents
reached the scene. They walked about the
town, which was well nigh deserted, talk
ed with neighbors, and relatives of the
DEAD inspected the houses in which un-
armed men had been shot and bayoneted
70 death and women who prayed on their
knee Knees Tor the lives of their husbands and
sons mad been knocked insensible.
Inc fronts of the houses showed no
Signs or having been fired upon, as would
nave Deen the case If the insurgents had
Iought from them. No outer doors or
windows were broken. All but half a
dozen houses were thatched roof huts, af-
Iordlng no protection and from which no
resistance could be made. The only build
ing which could have been used for de-
Iense-the stone church-had not been en-
tered, There was every visible evidence
mat the stories of citizens, of wives, and
OF mothers, most of whom were eye wit
nesses, We're correct, and further proof
was furnished by Spanish volunteers,
VINO were present and helped to lay out
the dead. The correspondents took pho
tographs of the streets, houses and ceme-
tery at Guatao and these are indisputa-
De PROOF that no battle occurred in the
authorities
Putting together such facts as have
Deen Verihed, the affair at Guatao was
plainly nothing but a butchery. The
Spanish troops under Capt. Calvo met
ana dispersed handful of insurgents
az the eastern entrance to the town of
TGnta Bravo, with no losses on either
slqe Some of the insurgents, having
Iahen the direction of Guatao, one mile
south, the troops moved upon the town.
shootng right and left as they entered,
ana killing the inhabitants who ran from
4fnelr nuts in alarm upon hearing the
Others concealed themselves in bed
rooms and in any place which seemed
nRely 10 help them avoid being discover
gu Many men and women reached the
woods in safety. About forty men were
ieIt IN the town. Some were too old and
HlLrm TO run, some were loyal Spaniards,
ana others were CubanS who had taken
no part in the rebellion. The troops SEEM
ca oent upon mad hunt for blood; and
Suot down every one in sight. Several
NPTSnlards ram were found among the dead;
me mounted guerillas pursued fleeing
!htHdpltants across the fields, shooting at
mem, or cutting them down with their
sa3res. Others rushed into houses,
tnuoDed women who impeded their en-
rance shot men hiding under beds, killed
pAe man sick in bed, and dragged the
SSoules OF their victims out into the streets.
oQLne ?ne OF the troops contented themselves
MMItu making prisoners of all the CubanS
IRey could find. After pinioning the arms
~ ~ an lnonensive citizen behind his back,
MS captors marched him out to the center
~ lhe town, clubbing him and making
MN Ti. shout VIVA Espania," as he went.
Inc cavalrymen who killed men run
ttlIng across the fields brought their
ooales in, carrying them across the horn
81 81 the saddle or dragging them if the
Instance was short. The bodies were laid
On the ground in front of the main store.
0ne trooper who was kicking and spit
{Ing at the body of a man whom he had
hliiIeq, 3dise was stopped by an officer, who
'old him not to abuse the dead.
one OF the inhabitants of Guatao was
1I1adislao Quintera, an American citizen.
ne ne had not been fighting with the insur-
gents, and had no arms. He hid in his
mouse, and though his wife, with a two
month s old babe in her arms, threw her
tsn tsn IN front of the soldiers, they forced
Jhelr way in and shot Quintera, the ball
passing through his arm. He was made
prisoner and is now in Moro Castle His
VIE and mother have made full state
ments of the affair to the American con-
ton. -
Twelve bodies were left in the street
~ the Inhabitants to bury. One other,
caat OF milkman, who was shot on his
S99Il; While filling milk cans in front OF
ms n,s mouse, and wounded, and who was
P9ersued into the house, and finished, was
~ where he died. 1t was buried back or
me house The twelve bodies were buried
~ me cemetery at Guatao. Five addi-
t,l,ohal bodies identified by neighbors as
nose of peaceable residents of Guatao