The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-01-21
SPANISH ATROCITIES
As Reported by an I%nsurgent
Sympathizer from Havana.
eUBRILLAs INVADE A TOWN

The Mayor Hanged In Front Of His Door,
In the Presence Of wife and Daughter,
and Helpless Women and Girls Brutality
Maltreated.
KEY WEsT Fla, Jan. 2l.-Among the
passengers on last nights steamer from
Havana was Jose Micando, from the inte-
rior, south of Havana. He reported "a fight
at Helena del Sur, in the southern part of
Havana province two weeks ago, that the
officials In Havana have not yet reported
A Spanish cavalry force Of some 600 men
camping there were surprised by 400 Gu
bans under Colonel Sanchez, one of Ma
coos old officers. The Spanish forces
fought bravely, but reiterated within half
an hour with twenty men killed. The
Cubans suffered a loss of eight. The Gu
bans pursued, but were drawn into am
bush and punished terribly, losing fifty
men. They Withdrew and the Spanish
troops re-entered their old camp, and be-
gan merrymaking in honor of their VIC
tory.
Late that night the insurgents again
attacked and surprised the camp, forcing
their way TO the commanding officers
quarters before their presence was dis
covered. Then the terror stricken Span
ish soldiers fled, finging down their
weapons, The insurgents pursued them
for miles, wounding over a hundred The
captured officers were finally released on
parole. The Cubaps were received by the
people as deliverers. After remaining
there two days they moved northward.
Three days after that q Spanish force
commanded by the guerilla, Felix des
Gras, marched in. After securing the
mayor and other officers as prisoners he
secured the leading women of the place
and then gave the town over to his r~uffianly
soldiers. For the next t~wenty-four hours
the Spanish guerillas had their own way
with helpless women and girls. Seven
men and four young lads were b~rutally
killed while attempting TO protect their
relatives. Many women died from their
treatment. Two young women killed
themselves rather than submit to the in
suits of the soldiers.
The mayor was hanged in front Of his
own door, his wife and daughter being
compelled TO witness the execution. The
captain charged that he gave aid to the
rebels. Two Of the other officials were
brutality beaten and then released with a
caution that the next visit meant death.
The insurgents have set a price upon the
AAANAo Va NAAa NnPuetAhT 1A4 II kIIBhN AAa
trial will be short.
AS the usual train left Regla at 10
o'clock, p. m. on Saturday for Guanaba-
coa the train was derailed near the switch
at Cambute. The passengers believed
that only q trivial accident had occurred,
and jumped out Of the windows. Sud
denly a number of heroulean negroes,
armed with carbines and machetes, in
vaded the three coaches, threatening to
kill the passengers and compelling them
to vacate the cars, killing a negro pas
senger and seriously wounding a soldier,
Great excitement Immediately ensued,
many Of the passengers b~eing,women and
children,
The insurgents Immediately set about
plundering and despoiling the passengers
Of their money and jewelry. They set at
liberty all excepting the officers and rail
road employees. They took from the officers
their iewelry and from several passengers
who were On the train over $1,000 in
money,