Evening journal., 1897-01-15

NEW YORK, Jan. 15.-News which, If
:1rrect, is more important than any since
he death of Macco has been received in
Cuban circles 1t was that the town of
santa Clara sometimes called Villa Clara,
lad fallen to the insurgent arms but that
II the charge which resulted in victory,
he intrepid cavalry leader, Quintin Ban
lcra. was slain. Gomez, it was said, is
low pushing on toward Havana with an
lrmy of 5000 men,
This news was not given out at the Gu
IAN junta. 1t came from private sources.
Il is not yet confirmed from official
iources, but that is not strange, consider
ng that the death Of Bandera is a blow to
Inc Cubans which almost offsets the cap
.ure of Santa Clara The first news of the
icath of Maceo came in the same way, and
was a long time before the truth broke
through the trocha of official denial. The
lcws comes with circumstantal detail
most convincing. Besides, the dispatches
rom Cuba for some time have forecasted
exactly such a stroke.
The commander Of the garrison at San
a Clara was the governor general of the
province, Major General Luque. He had
garrison Of 5000 men, but now had only
1000 Gomez had n total of nearly 5000
men, but he had arms for only about 5000.
On Jan. Gomez decided to invest the
own 1t is not large town, the popula-
ion being not more than 30, 200, but it
VAS well fortified.
Luque Reported Wounded.
The infantry, under General Rabi, was
sent to the west of the city. The cavalry,
If which there were 1000 well equipped
men, under General Bandera, were sent to
ihe other three sides, its main strength be-
ng concentrated Immediately TO the east.
Luque sent out expeditions, and there
Ncrc lively skirinishes on the 9th, the Ith
and the Sth.
A Spanish sergeant who had deserted
.amc into the insurgent lines on the night
IF Jan & He said that General Luque had
ocen wounded in one of the skiI1nishes.
Ic had gone out to inspect a barricade on
;hc outposts and had fallen to a stray shot.
The sergeant said that the whole garrison
had been thrown into a panic by the
wounding of their leader and by the fact
hat they were surrounded.
General Gomez decided that the time to
strike had come He knew the fortifca-
tons We're well nigh impregnable. He
knew there was a cannon in every redoubt
and plenty of ammunition. He knew that
his men would have TO face citadel at the
northwest corner of the city go feet high,
rom the top of which the Spaniards would
operate a gatling gun as well rs keep up
ierTifc rifle fire.
But he knew his men were brave, and
he recognized fully the effect of victory on
The Cuban cause.
So orders were sent out Rabi, with his
infantry, was to attack the town from the
vest mt daybreak. Bandera, the dashing
negro cavalryman was to wait until the
attention of the garrison was concentrated
On the attack from the west and then hurl
his 1000 men on the works infront Of
him.
Jan. opened clear and cool, as nearly
all days do in Cuba at this season. Genera
al Rabi led ont his men in the gray of the
morning. It was TO be only feint with
him. but his men did not know that They
were in the manigua, the rough country,
where cavalry and artillery cannot go.
They opened fire, and keeping under COW
az as much as possible, crept closer and
,loser to the city Behind stockades and
sarthworks the Spaniards returned the fire
eight cbeerily, we'll knowing that Rabi's
rifles were like so many popguns against
thoir strongholds.
But those no looked TO the east just as
The sun was rising saw dimly the horses
Of the cavalry officers galloping from bat
salion to battalion IT was "A level country
level for Cuba. Bandcra, the negro war
rior sat silent with his staff in front of
the main works.
Bandera Rode to Death.
As in every previous engagement, he
had removed the glittering stars which de-
noted his rank, so that the enemy could
not pick him out, for Bandera always led
his men. He had ON his rough suit of duck
and his blue and white sash. So far as
known he rode the ugly but mettlesome
and sure footed sorrel horse that had car
ried him all through this war
At last the black face of the leader
hlazed with the excitement of conflict.
The moment had come. He felt that he
carried Cuba's future in his strong right
hand, which grasped the machete.
"Al machetel AL machetel" he cried,
putting spurs into the plucky sorrel.
Then, in Spanish; For free Cubal AvengS
the death of Maceol'
He dartcd forward, his staff at his side.
Away to his right and away to his Let
rolled the cry: ''Al machetc Al machete
For free Cuba Avenge the death Of Ma
ccol"
There was the clatter Of horses hoofs
long rows Of horscmen each striving to b,
first ht the outworks. Spanish rifles begar
to crack here and there along the line o
fortihcations Then the shots came faster
and faster until a line of flame appeared
in front of each work. Now the cannon
belched, and up in the citadel the gatlinl
gun hurled its leaden rain.
In the face of the awful fire not Gu
ban faltercd Bandera kept in the lead
His horse leaped over the nearest earth
works He slashed at the fleeing garrison
with his machete. His men were right be
hind him. Horses fell all about him
wounded and killed, throwing their rider
headlong.
Bandera Mortally Wounded.
Suddenly Banderas machets fell from
his hand. He leaned forward on the sorrel
He swayed for a moment and then top
pied over
Members Of his staff stopped and dis
mounted. They CROPPED their way in tn
smoke to their chieftain and found hin
wounded i'm the abdomen. His surgeon