The Mena weekly star., 1897-01-27
CAPTURED A FORT
The Cuban Insurgents Take Pelanos and Defeat the Spanish Troops.
THE SITUATION IN INDIA.
special Representative of the Associated Press Reports That the Accounts About the Famine Are Great
 ly Exaggerated.

KEY WEST, Fla, Jan. 26.--Col. Her. randez. with 500 Cuban cavalry. en- tered Pelanos, in the southern part of Havana province, place of 1, ,0O0 in- habifants, we'll fortified with Spanish garrison of GOO men with one field niece, while the troops were at the church celebrating some local holiday. Before they could form the insurgents had possession of the block house fort The cannon was trained at the church and solid shot were sent through it's walls while cries of s.Cuba librev filled the air. Out the spaniards rushed only to fall before a volley from a strong force posted be- hind some neighboring houses. Col. Nuneio, the Spanish officer, bravely ral- lied his men, but as they formed for charge he fell with dozen balls through his body. The second in command took his place, but he, too, fell in a few seconds. The Spaniards made one more att tempt to charge the block house, but IiernaHdczss cavalry reserve dashed at them, sweeping through their ranks, cutting bloody path with their sharp machetes. They turned and again they came through the crowded ranks of the Spanish carrying death in their tracks, though many empty saddles spoke for the bravery of the Spanish troops. The Spanish then retired, a portion stabbornly protecting their rear. After pursuing taaie ssfariia1-Jiis nearly to CGiaio on the coast the in- surgents withdrew. They burned the fort at Pelanos, after securing 1.400 stand of arms, one cannon. $1,000 in gold and S5, ,000 in paper money besides ammunition and many valuable papers belonging to the Spanish commissary department.
 1 dispatch from Mexico says that travellers from Cuba confirm the report of the capture of Santa Clara by the Cubans and also bring news that the Insurgents have been fighting in the near vicinity of Havana, and, a few days ago, wrecked g passenger train within two miles Of that city. The capture Of the town of Agutec by the Cubans was declared brilliant piece of work. Three thousana SpanisrGs held the place, but the CaOaaa showed better meneralship At santa Clara the CubaBs took end held 1he town just long enoUgh to ruin it.
 The Famine in Endia.
 LoEDoH, Jan. 2G.-Aceording to the special representative of the Associated press. who is travelling through the famine districts of India with the gov arnments party of inspection, reports from Kolhapur that the reports which have been sent to the United States qnd England of the acnte famine said to sxiat in the southern Maharatra states have been exaggerated, SD far aa his Observation has extended. < scarcity 75 grain docs prevail in the extreme sastcrn portion of this region, but the R..ggsieae R..ggsiele there were able to escape want by migra ting, most of them to the fer tile Kaneon plains and elsewhere, where the shortnesa ol the grain sup ply isnotf felt Rice also is plentiful and means and measures for the relief of the hungry arc pronounced adequate where needed. The maharajah, in an Interview on the prospects of his peo- pie escaping starvation, said that his state expected a famine every five years and was therefore not taken un- aWares or unprovided when it came. They were prepared to spend five lacs of rupees for relief in his territory.