The herald., 1897-08-13
Inside the Defenses OF
Havana
RAN AWAY FROM MATANZAS
LEAVING MANY DEAD SOLDIERS
BEHIND
Confirmation of the Reports of Two
Important Battles Won by the
Cuban Insurgents
Associated Press Special Wire.

: NEW YORK, August ia special to
+ the Herald from Havana, via Key West
= says: Further details have been re-
> ceived of the battle near Aquacate,
which is near the Matanzas line. The
fight, it was first reported, was in Ma
side. There is no doubt of the result
of the battle, however, and conserva-
tive estimate places the number of Span
ish killed at 200, while the rebel loss was
comparatively triflng.
Preparations for Gen. Weyler's arri-
val at the palace were made on Mon
day. but he has only just returned, from
the field. He left Matanzas on Sunday
and reached Aquacate the next day. 1t
was there that a rumor came that he
was wounded in the big fight near there,
but the statement proved to be false.
The excitement in Havana is intense.
The uncertainty regarding the new Min
istry in Spain is partly to blame and on
top of this there comes news of a big
insurgent victory between Aquacate
and Madruga and also of pitched bat
tie in the vicinity of Sagua La Grande
The advance guard of Gen. Gomez has
crossed into Matanzas. Whether he is
close cannot be ascertained with GER
tainty, but it is reported that he de-
clined the fight at Sagua La Grande
The largest battle that has taken place
in several months was the one fought at
Aquacate. 1t is known that the battle
was the result of an attempt to capture
General Weyler or kill him. The Cap
taln-General had made preparations to
return on horseback from Matanzas to
Havana. Along the road he had posted
three columns of Spanish soldiers. Gen.
Castillo learned of his plans and gath
cred force of fully 1900 rebels. This
force he buried against the Spanish lines
near Aquacate, where General Wey-
Ter was supposed to be. General Cas-
tillo commanded the insurgents in per-
son and the Spanish were under General
Molina. The Colonel was reported dead,
but later accounts are to the effect that
both Colonel Aldea and General Mo-
lima were wounded.
The battle began about o'clock in the
afternoon and continued until night set
in. The Spanish were ranged along the
road and the rebels approached them
from the rear. coming from the hills. A
body of cavalry was Stationed about
quarter of mile down the road to cut
off Weyler if he should be there and
attempt to seek safety. The details of
the actual fighting are meager, but many
reliable persons who passed near the
place, which is beside the railroad. state
that from the carriage windows they
could see many dead soldiers along the
10 h1fc ,.J q
When darkness came the Spaniards
retired to return the next morning with
heavy reinforcements, but the insur-
gents only opened fire for about half an
hour and then disappeared. They di-
vided into small bands and subsequent
pursuit was futile.
| Information has also been received
of the big fight near Sagua La Grande.
1t is said the town was attacked and
that portion of it was burned But
this has not been verified. Correspond
ence from the field however, proves that
| there has been battle there, Gen Com
ez in person, it is said, directing the
insurgent operations.
After the fight at Aquacate General
Weyler fell back upon Guanabacoa. Just
across the bay from Havana. The rebel
chiefs, Col Arguanaran and Gen Rod
riguez, were in the district and Gen.
Weyler expected raid.
Gen. Weyler arrived at Guanabacoa
with 1000 men. Five miles from GUIANA
bacoa Gen. Weyler was attacked by
rebel force under Gen. Rodriguez Gen
! Rodriguez's plan was to force Gen.
Weyler to give fight andlp pursue him into
the hills, where the Captain General
stood a good chance of being either
killed or captured. The rebels fired sew
eral volleys from the hills along the
roadside killing seventeen and wound
ing a large number of the Spanish. but
Gen. Weyler refused to give fight and
kept on his march to Guanabacoa, driv-
ing 800 head of cattle that he had COL
lected along with him. Gen. Rodri-
guez followed in Weyler's rear to with
in sight of the town. After the rebels
withdrew the Spanish troops commence
ed heavy fire, the noise of which
awakened and frightened the residents
of Guanabacoa.
A train running from Mariana, in Ha-
vana province, was fired upon recently.
The American Vice-Consul, Mr.. SPRING
er, was on the train. Bullets struck
near him, but he escaped unhurt.
FAILED TO GET OUT
JACKSONVILLE, Fla, August 12.-
The slippery Dauntless has made an
other attempt to get out and the Will
mington had to fire gun to stop her. She
waited until the City of Brunswick, a
| big passenger steamer, came along
when she got on the outside, close to her
and moved along as noiselessly as pos
sible Just as she passed the Whining
ton the Dauntless slipped back a little.
by some mischance exposing her stern.
Instantly there was commotion on the
Wilmington. Without a hail a puff or
smoke burst from her forward gun
while the heavy report came over the
water. A second later, added to this
there were two hoarse whistles and the
Dauntless' officers knew that the effort
was a failure.
OBSEQUIES POSTPONED
MADRID, August 12.-The obseouies
Of the late Premier Canovas have been
postponed until Friday, and in accord
ance with the expressed desire of the
widow the admission of the public to
the mortuary chamber has been stop-
ped. Michel Angilolli, alias Golli, will
be tried by court-martial at Verseara
Saturday.
4 WOODFORD EN- ROUTE
Il LONDON, August 12.--General Stew