The herald., 1897-01-19
TwENTY-sIXTH YEAR. NO. III.

|
pitched battle. In connection with the
reports of the approaching recall of
Weyler. 1t Is interesting to note the man
ner In which he received the news Of the
death of Antonio Maceo, the circum-
stances of which have only just leaked
would not believe the report and an
nounced his Intention of paying no at
tentlon to 1t until he received official
confirmation.
This was brought to him while ne
was at the breakfast table, whereupon
Weyler arose from his seat and, raising
ms eyes heavenward, exclaimed: "Me
buena estrella aun no ha eclipsado"
(My good star, fortune, Is not yet
ecllpsedD. This happened at a time
when, as known to the captain-general's s
most intimate friends, he was disposed
! to resign.
| Outside assistance is what the insur-
gents stand badly In need of at present.
everything depends upon the friends Of
the insurgents in the United States. IL
| they dso not exert themselves promptly
ana EFFECTIVELY In the very near fu-
ture the dream of independence FOR
cuba may pass away for the present.
The turning point of the insurrectlon, 1t
is believed here, has been reached
1t is still insisted on in Havana that
Maximo Gomez recently wrote to the
New York Junta, informing 1t that he
must nave additional supplies Of arms
and ammunition shortly or else the in
surrection would "dle of consumption. +"
But this Is not credited in insurgent
circles
The insurgents admit that some active
demonstration upon their part will be
absolutely necessary In the near future.
II they are to retain the synpathy
aroused for them in the United States,
and 1t Is for this purpose that Maximo
Gomez was ordered to advance west
ward, and finally consented to do so
much against his will, as he Is fully
alive to the difficulties Of the task.
A friend Of the insurgents who is usu-
ally well Informed. was heard to remark
today that he did not believe the main
body of insurgents would advance fur
ther westward than the city of Colon.
In the western part of Matanzas prov
ince, as Gomez would be taking too great
risk with the resources at his com
mand. Nevertheless the gentleman
quoted said, it would perhaps be best
for him to do so in any case, as It would
tend to revive the dropping spirits of the
insurgents. who. In addition to Maceo
have lost number of other important
leaders. In these conditions a really en-
ergetic general, with 10000 men under
his command might be able to make
short work of the insurrection. but
Weyler Is not of the class OF men who
accomplish anything brilliantly.
There is considerable complaint here
among newspaper correspondents and
others in regard to the alleged tampering
with mail matter upon the part OF the
Spanish authorities here, and 1t Is be-
lieved the attention Of the United States
authorities will be called to the matter
The gunboats Centinela and Relam-
pago left Manzanillo on the night Of Jan.
uary 18th with the object of going up the
river to Canto to Fort Guamo, in compl-
ance with the orders Of General Bosch.
At 10 o'clock on the morning of January
nth, both gunboats were near Mango
landing. when an explosion of a torpedo
which had been well placed in the river
sunk the Relampago Those of the crew
who survived swan toward the shore,
but were fired on from the banks. At
this critical moment boat was launched
from the Centlnela which rescued the
men In the water In view of the instruc-
tions and the fact that the commander
OF the Centinela and nearly all of the
crews of both gunboats have been SER
iouSly wounded the expedition had to
return to Manzanilo.
Senior Martinez of the Relampago was
seriously wounded in the explosion, as
we'll as Assistant Engineer Jacob Dun
ham, Gunner Francisco Martinez and
three seamen, while Paymaster Antero,
Chief Officer Masquero, Engineer Para
della and also the pilot and four others
were slightly wounded Six of the Off
GERS and crew were killed outright and
all Of the rest received wounds of more
or less severity.
On the gunboat Centinela, the COM
mander, Senior Puerta. was seriously
wounded, while one Of the crew was
killed and Corporal Manuel and six of
the crew were wounded.
CUBAN STAMPS
WASHINGTON. Jan. 1S.-The recent
claim of the Cuban junta of New York
that important letters, bearing the new
Cuban stamps, have passed through
the United States mail, has called forth
denial from Postmaster Dayton Of
New York In a letter to the Washing
ton postal officials. he says no envelopes
bearing stamps with the inscription,
Republic Of Cuba" or otherwise pur-
porting 10. be issued by the Cuban in
surgents, have gone through the New
York postofIice. Officials here doubt
that such stamps have passed through
our mails. and the say that mail so
stamped may possibly have come via
Tampa or Key West, but the postmas-
ters would probably have aske dior in
structions
The issue has never been raised. but II
is looked upon as likely that mail bear
ihg Cuban stamps would be treated as
unstamped, and the full postage collect
e0 from the receiver
PRISONERS PARDONS
NSW YORK, Jan. ia dispatch to
the World from Washington says: The
amnesty proclamation to be issued by
the Spanish government on the kings
Saint Day." January "a, it is said, gives
pardons in full to all political prisoners
now confined in Cuban jals Among
those to be released by it's provisions are:
The Competitor prisoners, Capt La
borde, VIM. Gildea, mate; John Melton.
DR.. Elias Bedia and Toboro Mata; Julio
Sanguilly, who has just been condemned
to what Is practically life imprisonment
ana whose case is now under appeal;
Henry Delgado, said to be the correspon.
dent of New York paper, who was can
tured in Cuban hospitals; DR.. Betan-
court, who was arrested recently under
suspicion of aiding the rebels and many
other American citizens said to be in
jail in various parts of the island. will
all be set free on young Alfonso's birth
day.
CASH BAIL FOUND
NEW YORK, Jan. 1S.-The Mail and
Express says: The Cuban junta has
something like $4,000 tied up in depos.
its with the United States government.
made in lieu of real estate security for
the appearance of several members of
the revolutionary party who are charged
with violating the neutrality laws, Cash
bail was given because real estate owners
were unwilling to assume the risk of be-
coming security for filibuster who
might be called out of the country just