The sun., 1897-04-13
BURNING BAHIA HONDA.
PATRIOTS DESTROY TOWN WEST
OF HiVANA.

They Have Been Fighting All tho Time In
Pinnr del Rio Since Their Lender, Rivera.
l. was Cspturcd-Moro supplies for the Gu
bans Arc sarsIy LANDED severe Heat.
HAVANA. April IL, via Key West, April 12.-
Tho important town Of Bahia Honda. near the
big bay Of that name on tho northern coast OF
the province OF Pinar del Rio, has been totally
destroyed by tho insurgents aftor lively en-
gagemcnt which resulted In the surrender of the
garrison. After taking Bahia Honda and re-
naming there for somo hours, tho insurgents set
fire to the town, and when It had been reduced
to ashes retired to the interior.
The news is carefully concealed by tho censor
at Havana, but there is no doubt about its ac-
curGcy.
Tho destruction of Bahia Honda is one of tho
most important successes OF the insurgents in
the whole war and the glory OF 1t may be given
TO Vidal Ducasse a soldier of tho aggressive
temper Of Maceo. Since the capture of Gen.
Rius Rivera, Ducassc has kept the Cuban forces
in the province constantly fighting.
The Cuban Colonel Tomas Carras has been
killed by the Spaniards in an engagement in the
province OF Havana.
1t Is reported here that another expedition
bringing supplies to tho insurgents has landed
safely in the province Of Pinar del Rio. Tho
news has created stir in the Office of the Gov
cTHor-uchcTul, anu stTOnH CpdnlSu IclulDTCe-
ments have con nsequently been sent from Havana
to San Cristobal.
The town of Bejucal, in the province of Ha-
vana, has again been attacked by the insurgents.
This is at least the fifth raid made on that town.
This time the assailants were led by Juan Del
gado, and they burned many houses and secured
large stock Of provisions. On account of tho
constant attacks Of the Cubans. nearly all tho
families living at Bejucal have fed to Havana,
and with the exception Of persons who are too
poor to travel only the Spanish garrison now re-
mains there.
All the reports from Las Villas are that in
spite Of the considerable Spanish forces there
tho insurgents fight with great enthusiasm
every day. At the hill OF Pinas, Aqua Abajo. in
that province. tho Cuban leader Monteguado
had an engagement with the Spanish forces Of
the America battalion. defeating them with
heavy loss.
The strong Spanish columns sent against Gen.
Gomez have returned to Sancti Spiritus, saying
that they do not know the whereabouts of the
Cuban General
In the hills Of FL Purgatorio. province of
Matanzas, the Spanish column Of Col. Alfau met
large body of Cuban troops which was awaitingit
in strong positions The vanguard OF Alfau had a
skirmish with the insurgents in which nine
Spanish were killed and twelve wounded, and
the Cubans had seven killed and six wounded.
Then the main body of Alfau's column retired.
The Cuban's, without abandoning their positions,
challenged the Spaniards to take the hills with
their bayonets II they dared.
The Cuban sympathizers in Havana and
those who belong to the secret revolutionary
junta are very much excited by the news
that tho traitor Miguel Beato has left
the capital to confer, as he said, with the
Cuban leader, Baldomero Acosta. Beato, as
has been reported in THE Sun, is charged
by all the Cubans here with having betrayed to
the Spaniards the prominent lawyer. Jose Con
salez Lanuza; Alfredo Zayas and others now
imprisoned at Ceuta; the patriotic woman, Ana
Sot olongo. whom the Spaniards now keep in the
House Of Detention for Dsreputable Women in
Havana. and nearly twenty others who are suf-
fcrng in Spanish dungeons. The mission of
Bcato to Acosta is believed to be some new act
Of trcachery and word has been sent to the
Cuban leader 10 imprison and court martial him.
The sanitary condition of Havana is terrible.
The heat is already as intense as in tho worst
days OF summer, rising above 1OOe Fair. This
has produced an increase in all epidemic dis
eases, and. besides. smallpox and yellow fever.
scarlet fever, and whooping cough are making
serious ravages.
The tobacco manufacturers importing
Sumatra tobacco as their stock of Cuban leaf is
already exhausted and the crop Of this year has
been destroyed by the insurgents.