The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-01-21
A GALLANT REsCUL.
HOW MAcEo'S BODY WAS TAKEN
FROM THE SPANlARDS.
Tho Cuban Chief Was Led Into Ambush.
Colonel Hernandez Tells Eow His Fren-
xied Men Forght-The Body Deposited
In Grave Known but to q Few.

sled Men Fought-The Body Deposited
In a Grave Known but to Few.
Lieutenant Colonel Hernandez, who
was in command Of the Cuban detach-
ment which rescued Maceo's body and
buried it secretly writes under date of
JAN from his headquarters, within
ten miles Of Havana, to Mr.. Huau, the
Florida agent of the junta, as follows:
dec. will be day that we will
never forget, for it was then that we
suffered great misfortune in the tragic
death (by ambush) of our noble Maceo.
This is the greatest misfortune we have
suffered since the beginning Of the war,
but it only stimulates us to fight the
harder and avenge his death. Cuba
ibrer is the only shout we have now.
"We were encamped near the fight
that day and heard the firing. Maceo
came across the trocha, unknown to us,
with only 40 men. More than 800
Spaniards, who had been informed of
his trip, ambushed him. He rode into
it and was shot at the first fire.
1--WE heard the firing, and, thinking
some Of our friends had been attacked
by Spanish guerrillas, started off to their
aid, although we had only 400 men,
When we reached the field, the fighting
was mostly over.
''We were told that Maceo was dead
and that the en- emy had his body tied to
horses tail and was taking it off. Our
men were frantic over the report and
begged to be led against the Spaniards
"We dashed forward with drawn
machetes, and what fight that was!
"The Spanish met US, and the en-
counter was frightful Our men fought
to kill only, bent on avenging Maceo.
Our trrlsty, sharp machetes fell with
regularity, and think we killed more
than 200 of the enemy.
"What is more, we had the consolation
Of recovering the body of our beloved
leader, Maceo. The Spaniards fought
hard to regain it, charging upon us re-
peatedly, but cur sharp machetes were
too much for them, and they sullenly
retreated.
"Our little force suffered terribly.
Our cavalry, which went in 80 strong,
came out with only 90 men. The in
fantry suffered almost in the same pro-
portion.
but we We're consoled by the
thought that our brave brothers gave up
their lives in a good cause and to save
the body of our lanented Maceo from
desecration by the Spaniards.
"We buried the body in a secret and
secure place. Only myself and few Sc
lected men and officers know the loca-
ton In due time the spot will be mark
ed. If it were known now, the murder
Gus Spaniards would try to get it and
parade it as showing their great triumph
Poor Maceo sleeps in peace, but his
brothers remain to avenge him, and that
they are doing daily.
1.-THE greatest desire Of our enemies
here is to make you in the United States
believe Pinar del Rio and Havana prov.
inces are without insurgents and in q
fair way to be pacified. But this is
wrong.
1.-The only pacification we think OF is
liberty gained by our trusty machetes.
The revolution in this department is
gaining strength daily and our friends
increase.
II take pains every night to burn ev-
erything come across SO as to give our
enemies in Havana good illumina-
ton New York World.