The San Francisco call., 1897-06-13
GOMEZ DEFIES
BRUTAL WEYLER
Singing Letter Sent by
Cuban Commander
to the General.
Declares That He Will Never
Surrender, Even if Deserted
by All N atiVes.
Continue Your FlendIsh Work."
Writes the Insurgent Leader,
"But Do Not Insult Me-"

HAVANA, CUBA, June ia copy OF a
letter from Gomez to Weyler has been
shown TO a correspondent in Havana. 1t
is i'll answer TO certain peace proposals
made TO Gomez from Sancti Spiritus bv
Weyler's agents.
Instead of giving an answer to your
agents." says Gomez, Il give an answer
TO you, because you are the real author of
the original proposals. You should re-
member who you are and who l am before
entertaining the hope that I am capable
of giving up this strug lie, and shamefully
accepting any kind of conditions that
would mean a continuance of the Spanish
power in Cuba. By the will of the Cuban
people took arms for a second time in
my life 10 Iiberate the island. 1 will not
abandon my resolution unless it is the
will of the Cuban people to do so.
Even if the day should come when l
should not see a single Cuban at my side
would not surrender TO you, nor to any
81 anisb general, but 1 would leave for
ever this unhappy island. l am sure this
will never occur. In this glorious fight for
freedom the Cubans are resolved rather to
die In battle than to be again slaves of
Spaniards. l shall make the same snswer
TO any other Spanish general who makes
similar proposals.
But with regard to you, I wonder how
you dared TO approach me. If you have
any conscience still you know you are in
very name horrible to the Cubans and to
any man on earth having the sentiments
of a Christian. Try to crush me with all
the power of Spain, continde your fiend-
ism work of determination against the
Cuban people, but do not insult me or
Cuba by believing US so debased as 10 be
willing 20 treat with you.''
This remarkable letter was sent to Sanci
Spiritus bv a Spanish prisoner and re-
ceived by Weyler. Gomez sent several
copies to Cuban agents in that town and
Havana. The letter bears date of May Is
and its existence has been carefully con-
cealed by the Spaniards.
WASHINGTON, D. c., June Ian
association of ladies' prominent in social
and political life was formed here to-day
to raise funds for the relief of sufferers by
the Cuban re bellion. Mrs. J. c. Burrows,
wife Of the Michigan Senator, is president
and the executive committee comprises
the wives of several members of Congress
and the Cabinet. 1t is intended TO send
Mrs. J. Ellen Foster the famous Iowa
orator. over the country 10 hold meetings
and solicit funds.
CoDsuI-GeneraI Lee telegraphed to the
State Department to-day that Vargas
Remedies, an American held by the Span
iards, had been released.
JACKSONVILLE FLA, June l2-Late
yesterday afternoon just as the cruiser
Vesuvius ha reached anchorage at the
mouth of the st. Johns River a side
wheel steamer came up and lay off the
bar. She had two tall, black tunnels and
a big head Of steam on. She seemed
heavily laden. After waiting there an
hour the Nesuvius thought it time TO
make a closer observation. The anchor
was raised and the dynamite vessel shot
forward toward the bar. The stran ger as
soon as the Vesuvius moved put TO sea at a
spanking pace. The Vesuvius put on
extra steam. The race was exciting and
crowds lined the shores to see it. The
stranger was a fast vessel and kept we'll
ahead. BY night she was out of sight.
Up TO o'clock tonight the Vesuvius had
not returned.
NEW YORK, n. Y, June I2.-The
Ward line steamer Valencia, Captain Skill
lings, arrived mere to-day from southside
Cuban ports. Shortly after noon Thurs
day, May 27, as the ship was leaving the
Hdt DOT ol UudhtahdHo, haVlhG dlreauy
saluted the forts and taken down her colors,
the Spanish cruiser Maria bore down and
fired a blank shot across the Valencia's
bows. This was quickly followed by solid
shot, which dropped close under the
stern. The Valencia then showed her
coIors and tie cruiser steamed away to-
ward Santiago. Captain Skillings, while
not willing TO make any statement regard
ing his encounter with the cruiser, said
that the Valencia was no stranger 10 the
cruiser, whose coE manuer was well aware
that size was engaged in the service of the
Ward line. 1t was publicly reported at
Santiago that the cruisers captain openly
stated that he knew the Valencia was an
American steamer, but that he fred on
her purposely 10 compel her 10 show her
20 iOrS