The morning times., 1897-01-23
THE SIEGE Of FORT GUAMO
A Spanish Garrison RepuIsed the
Attacks of the Insurgents.
THE ARTILLERY INEFFECTIVE
The Rebels Tried TO Compel Sur
render by shutting Off the Water
supply, But We're Unsuccessful.
The Siege Lasted Fourteen Days.
The Casualties

Havana, Jan. 22.-Upon the return to
Manzanilla of the gunboat Centinela, after
the sinking in the Cauto River Of her
consort, the Relampago, by the explosion
of torpedo planted by tile rebels, orders
were given for force of Spanish troops
to proceed TO Guamo to relieve the be
sieged garrison there, which had been the
object OF the naval expedition, but which
had been frustrated by the loss of the
Relampago and the death or wounding OF
every man on both that vessel and the
Centinela, either through the explosion
itself or the subsequent rifle fire from
the rebels, who were ambushed on both
banks of the river.
The relieving expedition was under the
command of Col Tovar, who, with his
brigade, marched along the left bank of
the Cauto River, meeting detached par
ties of rebels at various places along tire
route At Cayamo the insurgents were
gathered in quite strong fierce, but after
a short engagement they were driven from
the town. The Spanish force then pro-
the insurgents, who had been attempting
the capture of the fort, had disappeared.
1t was learned that the rebels had at
tackled the fort on January 6. They were
in two columns, one operating from the
right bank of the river, being under the
command of Calixto Garcia, and the other
operating from the left bank, being led
by Rabi
A., .
fort by assault, but in every inst ance the
garrison compelled the enemy to retire.
The insurgents had artillery and the pro-
jectiles from their cannon unroofed the
fort, but did no serious damage to the
heavy walls of the structure.
Finding themselves unable to capture
the Spanish position the rebels determined
to attempt to compel its surrender by
cutting off the supply of water In pur-
suance of this object trenches were dug in
front of the place, from which the gar
rison obtained its water, and a deta chment
Of rebels were placed therein to prevent
the troops approaching. The garrison,
however, had sufficient water to last with
economy until the rebels, evidently hear
ing of the approach of the reinforcemcnts,
raised the siege and retired. Some tim e
before the enemy disappeared they blew up
with dynamite a barge that was employed
as a pontOon for tile passage of troops
across the river.
The siege lasted fourteen days. The
garTisonloSt three klledand eight wounded,
while twelve men We're made sick by the
close confinement within the walls of the
fort, the scant rations ana short supply
OF water.
The Spanish brigade under command of
Gen. Molin, which has been operating in
the vicinity of Zarabanda, in the province
OF MatanZas, has had an enga cement
with several combined parties Of rebels
The official report says the rebels were
defeated and routed In their flight many
Of them threw themselves into the Ha-
bana River. Fifteen were drowned and
twenty-four persisted by sinking in the
mud. The troops lost two killed and
seven wounded. Gen. Weyler is now at
Palos, in the province of MatanZas.
Alfredo Rodriguez Garcia and two other
prisoners were shot this morning at Santa
Clara for the crime of rebellion.