The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-10
How the City of Guisa Is Alleged to
Have Been Destroyed by the Use \
of a Dynamite Gun.
BOLD RAID ON CAIMANERA
SEAPORT NEAR GUANTANAMO Pill
LACED AND $4,000 SECURED.
Spanish Official Accounts of Recent
President McNinIey's Message.

KEY WEST, Fla, Dec. 9.-All advices re-
ceived here from Havana in the past week
go to shoY that several important engage
ments have been fought in the island re-
Gently. and that the insurgents have in two
or three instances, been victorious. In a
battle in the Rubi hills of Pinar del Rio
province a large force of Spaniards were
trapped and routed by Cuban rebels. The
port of Caimanera was raided by insur-
gents, much to the chagrin of the authori-
ties. Details of the capture of Guisa by
General Garcia, just received at Havana,
say that the entire garrison of the town
composed of eight hundred men, died hero
ically without surrendering. Only forty-fve
Spanish soldiers survived, and they were
made prisoners by General Garcia The
Spanish official report describes the terrific
effects of the pneumatic dynamite gun used
by General Garcia. The insurgents fired
seventy-two dynamite shots on the forts
Each shot wrought terrible havoc. The gun
was operated at a short distance from the
town. Not house remains in Guisa. All
were blown to pieces. Besides the dynamite
gum the insurgents used two field pieces,
six and eight-pounders
General Garcia sent word to the Spaniards
before the bombardment that they would be
pardoned If they would surrender. The only
answer was a shout of Long live Spain!
and general volley from all the forts. The
destruction of the town was completed in
twelve hours. Besides the eight hundred
regular troops, there were at Guisa some
three hundred others, militia and volun-
teers. The total loss of the patriots is not
exactly known, but it is large Colonel To-
var, who arrived with his column to rescue
Guisa reports that it was terrible to see the
dead Spanish soldiers, half buried under the
rubbish Of the forts
The town of Guisa had eight thousand in
habitants. 1t was only six miles from Baya-
mo. 1t had a military commander and a
government entirely distinct from those of
Bayamo. In Bayamo the Spanish garrison
numbers three thousand men, and it seems
strange that no attempt was made from
Bayamo to save Guisa from utter destruc-
ton.
to-day from Spanish headquarters that
group of rebels had entered Car
manera, near Guantanamo, favored by the
treason of an officer" CaiInanera is the port
of Guantanamo, and is situated fifteen miles
by rail from the latter place, Calman3rd is
on the bay of Guantanamo, otherwise Cum
berland harbor The insurgent force, the 9th
cial report adds, consisted of forty guerilias,
volunteers and natives of Cuba. They are
alleged to have plundered a store and to
was on wharf and which had recently ar
rived at Caimanera, from HAVANA. 1t is also
said that the insurgents killed the Police
inspectors and two gendarmes, on duty and
seriously wounded a Spanish paymaster
named Jose Vigil. More Spanish guerillas,
the official announcement concludes, have
joined the insurgents.
Marshal Blanco,. the captain general. has
ordered the distribution of rations among
the concentrates to be stopped, 100000 hav-
ing been distributed among them in lieu of
rationS.
The insurgent brigadier general, Limo
Perez, who was captured by the Spanish
troops on the heights of Banoa, has been re-
leased.
The Spanish troops at Rogue, in the dis
trict of Sancti Spiritus, province of Santa
Clara, according to an official announce
ment, have been engaged with a number of
insurgents, several of whom were killed.
The troops, it is added, also captur I'd sew
enteen Insurgents and a quantity of arms
and ammunition, while the insurgent
colonel, Saniti, and an insurgent major
afterwards surrendered to the government
force.
At the request of General Pando the gun
boats Diego, Dependents and Velazquez
have been sent to Cauto harbor to assist the
garrison.