The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-02-16
With DYNAMllr GUN.
General Gomez Bombards Cuban
Town of Arroyo Blanco.
Spanish Would Not Let Non.
CONTESTANTS Leave.
Many innocsnts We're Undoubtedly KILLED
by Bursting Shells.

by burStlng Snell&
New York, Feb. 16.-The Herald this
morning publishes the following. dated
Jan. 80. from its special correspondent.
George Bronson Rea, at the headquar-
ters of General Gomez, Arroyo Blanco.
Cuba:
Gomez il besieging the town Of Ar
royo Blanco. situated between Sancti
Spiritus and Seigo de Vola- On the at
ternoon of Jan. 27 Gomez decided to lay
siege to the place. The active work was
confided to General Francisco Carrillo.
who, with the infantry regiment Of
Remedies and the dynamite gun, direct
ed by Mr.. Fredericks, took up their posi-
ton around the town during the same
night.
At 2 o'clock on the morning Of the 28th
work was commenced by building a
breastwork to protect the gun, which
was completed and the gun placed in
position about 600 yards from the forts
before dawn. The garrison and inhabi-
tants awoke to find themselves cut off
from all communication. except by the
heliograph tower, situated on the sum-
NIT of a high hill to the south of the
town.
The town is defended by IA forts. gar
risoned by about $50 Spanish regulars.
under Captain Escobar. The majority
OF the Inhabitants, numbering in all
about 1000, are families of Cubans, who
are at present with the insurgents. Two
sisters and niece OF the late Cuban
general, Serafin Sanchez, are also re-
siding there with their families.
Before commencing the bombardment.
General Carrillo sent q note to the may
OF, advising him that he was about to
open fire with the dynamite gun. Ac-
cording to the rules OF civilized war
fare, he also sent q permit for all the
non-combatants, men. women and chill
dren, TO be allowed a safe passage from
the besiegsd town.
After waiting until 8 o'clock a. m. of
the 2sth. and not seeing any disposition
on the part Of the Spanish commander
to answer the note. he ordered Mr..
Fredericks to fire bomb as q warning.
The protectile fell near one of the FORTS
without causing any material damage.
After this another note was sent to
Captain Escobar, asking, In the name of
humanity, that the women and children
should be allowed to leave the town.
| But this officer hoping that by refus-
| ing this humane request the Cubans
would desist in the bombardment, abso-
lutely prohibited the exit of non-com-
| batants from the town.. His answer to
| the note was that he would not allow
! soul to leave the place, and that the
| Cubans could commence the lombard
ment when they pleased; and. II he was
to die, everybody must share the same
fate.
| This attitude on his part might be con-
sidered heroic If all the inhabitants
shared the same opinion. but the ma
! jority of them have pleaded in vain to be
allowed to be placed outside the lines.
| The Spanish authorities will attempt
| to deny this attempt. and, to counteract
| any such movement. have the original
| documents that passed between General
| Carrillo and his chief touching this
| point. They are both signed and au-
thorized by General Gomez to be pub
lished.
| General Gomez is greatly incensed at
the conduct of the Spanish commander,
and, although he has not said anything
that would lead me to form this conclu-
sion. yet, from the stern faces of himself
and his staff, firmly believe that If they
take Escobar prisoner his body will hang
from some guasama tree. Although a
Spanish officer, Escobar is q Cuban by
birth, and this fact will go hard against
him if he should fall into the hands of
the insurgents. In due justice to the
Spaniards, 1t must be said that on simi.
lar occasions they have never refused
to allow the exit Of non -combatants
from besieged towns.
The second day of the siege General
Gomez. accompanied by the members OF
the government and all the cavalry
numbering In all about 1900 men, made Q
hostile demonstration by marching
around the outside Of the town.
The garrison, expecting an assault
opened a rapid fire, which was contested
by the Cuban infantry stationed in q
small brook. This movement Of Gomez
was. no doubt. intended to impress the
garrison with his strength. and to influ
snce them to surrender, but no apparsn
result was achieved.
On the morning Of the 30th the first
bomb exploded, and destroyed another
fort. The second bomb exploded In the
middle Of the town. and q number Of in
nocent lives must have been sacrificed
to the Spanish commanders barbarity.
i Ine talnihoS nave Oten coInpeiIeu q
take refuge in the church ana the edifics
adjoining the hospital, as these tive
buildings are the strongest In the town
and consequently. the ones the Cuban,
have the greatest interest In destroying
but they are compelled to desist from
firing, fearing to cause the death of sc
many innocent people. From persona
observation i am convinced that IL the
Cubans had clear field, NE tSwn woult
soon fall ipto their hands.
Cspgratslstiens For Miss Anthe,y.
Rechest1g, Feb. 1s.-Miss Susan b
ANTHONY yesterday received con
gretulatory notes from all over tn,
country, n being her 18th birthday
Among these who remembered her ar,
Elizabeth Cady Stanton Of New York
Rachael Foster Avery Of Philadelphia
Jane n. Spofford Of Hampton Corners