Evening star., 1897-02-25
AROUSED TO ACTION
Spain Decides to Make an Inquiry
Into the Ruiz Tragedy.
GOVERNOR FONSDIEVELA ACCUSED
Said to Have Beaten the Prisoner
to Death.
ATTITUDE OF GENERAL LEE

MADRID, February 25.-The premier.
Senor Canovas del Castillo; the minister for
foreign affairs, the Duke of Tetuan, and
the minister for war, Lieut.. Gen. Azcar-
raga. have had a long conference on the
case of DIR. Ricardo Ruiz. a citizen of the
United States. who died recently In the
prison of Guanabacoa. near Havana
The semi-oficial Epocha referring to this
conference, says the government is pre-
pared to make an inquiry into the matter.
adding that if DR.. Ruiz was ill-treated the
guilty parties will be punished
Spanish OffcinI Accused
KEY WEST. Fla, February pa pas
senger from Havana, who has Just landed
here from the steamer Olivette informed
the correspondent here Of the Associated
Press that DR.. Ricardo Ruiz, the American
citizen who was found dead. apparently
beaten to death m a cell of the prison of
Guanabacoa. was killed by Fonsdieyela
the Spanish governor of Guanabacoa.
The passenger explained that Governor
Fonsdievela visited DIR. Ruiz in his place
OF confinement and violently questioned
him.
Ruiz resented the governors brutal man
ner, and this so angered Fonsdievela that
he seized a club, struck the unfortunate
man on the mead. and so caused his death
Gen. Lees Attitude.
HAVANA, via Key West, February 81
There is anxiety in official circles as to
the outcome of the strained lations exist
Ing between United States Consul General
Lee and his government on account of the
confinement incommunicado SOLITARY con-
fnemenD here for nearly twelve days of
Charles Franklin Scott, an American citi-
Of fraa -i,rIf
General Lee on Wednesday night author
lied the correspondent of the Associated
Press to say that he had not asked the
United States government to send warshios
to this port on account of the death of
DIR. Ricardo Ruiz. apparently from vio-
le1 ce. in the prison of Guanabacoa, but the
fact seems to remain that the United
States consul general did ask the State
Department to advise him whether it would
send a war vessel to Havana If one was
necessary to enforce the demand for the
release of Scott from solitary confinement.
To this Secretary Olney made cyasiVe
answer. The general asked for definite
statement from the department, and ii is
not known whittier he has has not re-
ceived a reply to his last message.
In the face of all diplomatic fencing. the
Associated Press correspondent Is in
position to say that General FtZhugh Lee
has threatened to resign if he does not
receive the support of the United States
government in his efforts to insist upon
the rights of American citizens being re-
spected.
1t is understood that the Spanish gov
ernment has decided to order strict in
quiry to be made into the death of DR..
Ruiz
Report of Cisncros' Death.
No confirmation has been received of the
reports sent out of Puerto Principe by the
&C Crrespondent there of La Lucha of the
death of the president of the Cuban re-
Col, pofa
Marquis of Santa Lucia, who is said to
have expired from sickness and old age
combined.
The whereabouts of Gen. Maximo Gomez
are not made public, If they are known to
the Spanish officials, but private dispatches
from Santa Clara say that numerous bands
of insurgents, some say numbering 5000
men. have been seen passing over the rail-
read line between Cienfuegos, on the south
coast, and Santa Clara, going by forced
marches in the direction of the province
of Matanzas. destroying the railroad lines
and culverts as they pushed westward.
Gen. Calixto Garcia, with some 1900 in
surgents, is reported to be operating in the
vicinity of Puerto Padre and Baracoa, on
the north coast. The steamers Julia and
Manuela, coasting near Baracoa, have
been fired upon and obliged to put out to
sea.
Particulars have just been received here
OF a spirited engagement between Span
ish and a Cuban force on the outskirts
OF Sankikra City. The fight took place on
February 49, and was one of the most in
teresting recorded since the campaign
opened.
Severe Spanish Defeat.
Sixty local guerrillas and sixty mobilized
havana firemen, under Capt Blanco, left
the Puiido plantation near San Antonio,
to reconnoiter the surrounding country.
Shortly after leaving their headquarters
the Spanish force referred to exchanged
sfots with the insurgent outposts The
Spaniards thereupon advanced, and the
Cubans apparently retreated. In reality
they led the government force into a cley-
erly prepared ambush near the Goyo Ruiz
ranch. In pursuing the insurgents the
Spanish guerrillas and firemen entered
narrow marrow path bordered on each side by
thick bushes. Suddenly about 200 insur.
gent cavalry and 100 of the enemy's infan-
Try, under the leadership of Garciaes and
Mendetie attacked the Spaniards with
&c brandishing their machetes in the air
Inc sun was shining brightly and reflect.
ing the cleaning weapons of the fnsur
gents, gave the latter the appearance of
hands. i 'heif
A scene OF terrible carnage followed and
some stubborn fighting was witnessed
lhe spanish vanguard eventually broke
ana ned, throwing the main body into CON
FUSION In the midst CT which the Snan-
iards fired wildly at each other as well as
the insurgents, while others threw awaV
their arms and fled. finally being oyertaken
by the insurgents and put to the machete
The Spanish commander, Capt. Blanco
made gallant effort to rally his forces
Revolver in hand, he called upon the ter
ror-stricken soldiers to face the enemy
threatening to shoot those who turned
their backs to the foe, but the insurgents
by this time. had taken all the fight out Of
the guerrillas, and pH.hing could make
them face again those terrible machetes.
But the bravery of the Spanish officers
was deserving of the highest praise. Lieut..
Guedes, when Capt Blanco fell shot
through the thigh. succeeded in gathering
together the bulk OF the fugitives. formed
them into some kind of order and man
aged to retreat with them to the nearest
Spanish fort.
Sergt. Bravo of the Spanish troons. al.
though wounded, kept on firing until he
was seized by an insurgent, who called
upon him to cry viva Cuba Librer' To
this the Spaniard bravely replied with a
shout of viva Espana.'
1t cost him his life, for the insurgent
with one blow of his machete, severed the
gallant sergeant's head from his body
Corporal Antorio Gaviella. a Cuban of
the guerriilas. who was captured by the in
surgents, refused to cheer for Cuba, and
was shot by his captors This is the fate