The herald., 1897-12-20
For Tempting insurgents to
Submit
RUMoRs ARE STILL CURRENT
THAT THE PLUcKY COLONEL Is
YET ALIVE
An Insurgent Attack on Fort Hero
ically Repulsed-Blanco's Plans
Don't Work
.ssociated Press Special wir,.

Associated Press Special Wirs.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 19.-The follow
ing cable advices were received at the
Spanish legation today:
HAVANA, Dec. 19.-Absolutely trust
worthy reports permit us to affirm that
Ruiz was shot with Aranguren on Fri
day by order of Alexander Rodriguez.
After several letters exchanged be-
tween Ruiz and Aranguren, Ruiz left
Havana on Monday to meet Aranguren,
not upon an official mission, and only as
friend. 1t is not known how Rodriguez
arrived, but the fact is that the leader
ordered the shooting of both.
The ferocity of such act and proceed
ing indicates better than anything else
the faith in autonomy, the intranssge-
ants being obliged to resort to murder
in order to prevent the disbanding of
ion, and public opinion unanimously
qualities such act as savage and un-
worthy. (Signed) CONGOSTO.
DOUBTFUL RUMORS
PARIS, Dec. ia dispatch from
Havana says that while the insurgents
report the execution Of Lieut.. Col. Ruiz
after courtmartial, rumors are also cur
rent that he is still living.
AFFAIRS AT HAVANA
HAVANA. Dec. 19.-The official state
ment as to the execution by the insur-
gents of Lieut.. Col. Joaquin Ruiz says
he was shot on Friday last by order of
the insurgent commander, Alexandra
Rodriguez, with the approval of the in
;urgent commander, Aranguren.
A Spanish detachment at Guamo, on
the Cauto river, north of Manzanillo in
the province of Santiago de Cuba, was
beseiged according to official accounts
from November Sth to Goth, and valiant
y repealed the insurgents. On November
9th fierce attack was made on the fort
by large body of insurgents with two
cannon. More than $50 cannon shots
made sieve of the fort and destroyed
factory. Finally the insurgents got
inside the wire fence around the fort
and called upon the garrison to sur
render. The garrison still refused to
listen to the demand and with heroic
pride continued the defense
The insurgents left twenty-six killed
inside of the wire fence and a quantity
Of arms and ammunition, which the gar
rison used, according to the official ac-
count. to pr,zong it's desperate defense
Gen. Aldave, while reconnoitering in
the neighborhood, found the bodies OF
the three other insurgents and many
graves.
During the siege and the attack on the
fort the insurgents lost, it Is officially
asserted, 200 killed and wounded The
garrison had only six killed and thirty
one wounded. But the fort was COM
pletely destroyed and the garrison was
without water, with pestilence all
around and only little pork for food
Gen. Blanco will recompense the gar
rison for their losses.
TIRED OF OFFICE
MADRID, Dec. 19.-Lieut Gen. Ma
rim, captain general of Puerto Rico is
about to resign, owing to the impossi-
bility Of reconciliation in the different
parties in the islands with view Of
establishing autonomy.
BLANCO'S HOPES
LONDON, Dec 20.-The Madrid cor
respondent Of the Standard says: Gen.
Blanco reports that negotiations with
several influential insurgent chiefs are
progressing so favorably that he hopes
to detach from the rebellion important
forces which are willing to accept aut-
onomy.
Senor de Lone has cabled the govern
ment that the American government
expects to command sufficient ma
jority in the house of representatives to
check all military motions until the sum-
mer recess in July next, thus securing
Spain respite for year.