The times., 1897-05-06
THE WORK OF As5Ass|N5
Stories of Spanish Outrage and
Murder Multiply.
ANOTHER HOSPITAL ATTACK
Narrow Escape of Eaidenore Acost 4.
Sick and Wounded Cubans Killed
A Spanish Soldier Shot Dead for
Protesting.

Havana, May 5.-Cristina Herrera is a
Cuban woman, whose pitiful story affords
once more proof of the brutal warfare
carried On by the Spaniards in Cuba. She
Was living with son and two daughters
III Cuban hospital near Govea, in this
province, where she acted as nurse. The
boy name is Marceiine, and lie is only five
years cid one OF the girls, SocorrO, is
seven years OF age. The other girl, ten
years old, was named Justa. The hospital
was established by the Cuban leader Bal
demcre AcOsta, for the sick and wounded
OF his band, who were very NUMEROUS.
Acosia himself is sick with fever, and as
Cristina Herrera declares, was cared for
in the hospital, while his cousin, OF his own
name, headed the band.
Concealed between the hills, the hospital
was believed to be safe from the Spaniards,
and under that belief Acosta sent his cousin
to attack a Spanish column, which, as he
had been Informed, would pass some six
miles from there by the wagon road only
six soldiers and Capt. JUsto Torres re-
NAMED with Acosta in the hospital Be-
sides Christina Herrera and her children,
there was another nurse, named Martha
Gorrales, and about five other women
wires OF the soldiers OF the band 1t is
supposed that a spy told the Spaniards
OF the existence of the hospital
The Spanish column, eco strong, at
tackled the, place two days ago. Torres
and his five men, firing their rifles to
advise Acosta of the proximity of the
enemy, fled TO the forest. Acosta, jumping
out from his streJcher, cried TO the women
to run with the children, and stood in the
door firing at the advancing Spaniaris
His resoiutc action made the Spaniarls
believe for d moment that he had some
force to resist them a Spanish scOut
recU gniZcG Acosta and told the coin
mander Of the column, who gave orders to
capture the Cuban leader alive. To this
circlnust ance Ac0sta and some of the pa
tients owed their salvation, because the
Spaniards did not use their guns, trying
TO surround the hospital.
Acosta narrowly escaped. followed by
those who were strong enough to run.
Five women gained the forest also with
out being hurt. Christina Herrera was
not so fortunate. She tried TO follow the
others, but could not go fast beacuse
of her children. she took the Two younger
in her arms and ran with Justa But she
was overburdened and neither she nor
Justa could escape. Caught by the Span
ish soldiers, they were driven back to the
hospital to witness the fate of the sick
and wounded, who were unable to save
their lives by flight, and were slain by
the Spaniards.
More than twenty men perished in their
beds, pierced by Spanish bayonets \
Spanish soldier, a young man from ponte-
vedra, Galicia, refused to Join in the
assassination, and protested against the
crime. He was shot dead by "a lieutenant
The most cruel in the harbarous work
were the irregulars of the guerilla forces,
who are all common criminals from the
by Gen. Weyler for this war Of externina-
ton While the killing was going on
Christina Herrera and her children We're
guarded by four Spanish soldiers After
the murders were done and the house
fired, the four guards sold to the men Of
the guerilla, the young girl Of ten years
A captain won her for Sc, and outraged
her, leaving her fainting in the hands of
the So!diery. What followed is too shock
ing TO describe. The poor mother unsuc-
cessrully attempted to kin herself, and
fell in a swoon. When she recovered, she
was told that Justa had disappeared, and
with her other two children, she was sent
there she was brought to Havana, and is
now imprisoned here in the house of de-
tention for disreputable women.