Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-08-14
CUBAN INSURGENTS
MAKING IT LIVELY
Successful Raids Have Been Made
on Numerous Towns Held
by the Spaniards,
sOmEz AND WEYLER DUE TO MEET
Cubans Took Stores and Secure Sup
plies With Comparatively Lit
tie Trouble From the
Enemy.

Havana, Aug. 1.-THE insurgents dy-
tainted a culvert near Esperanza
'ailroad station of the city of Santa
lara on the night of July 20. The cul-
'ert was completely destroyed, traffic
stopped and all Geographic communi-
alton cut off. The authorities sig
ialed by Photograph to Cienfuegos for
'clief. The next night, while local
volunteer forces were patrolling the
own, they anne suddenly upon a
group of insurgents in the center of
bne of the principal streets. The
challenge was given and the insur-
Eents replied with "Vivi Cuba libre,"
and opened fire. The authorities are
entirely at a loss to know how the in
turgents entered the town and sue
seeded in getting by the fort, garri-
soned by the Third regiment of local
guerillas, which was Mt the extreme
end of the street. A panic ensued
among the residents, women, child
zen and the aged fleeing pell-mell
through the streets and begging for
protection, while the men either took
sides with the insurgents or joined
he Spanish forces. The stores were
looted, the invaders providing them
selves with food, clothing and cash.
The military commander ordered the
garrison to help the patrolmen in the
attack upon the insurgents. who were
intrcnched in Broadway. The latter
Nere finally repulsed. the regular
troops losing one killed and twelve
wounded, among the latter a lieuten-
ant and a chaplain. The insurgents
eft four killed and took away about
twenty wounded. The general belief
5 that some of the inhabitants helped
The insurgents to enter the town.
Gomez and WeyIer May Meet.
According 10 insurgent proclama-
ions, General Gomez is due in Matan-
:as about the time General Weyler will
arrive there. The chances are there
will be some heavy fighting. There is
4 possibility, too, that Weyler's and
jomez's forces may come face TO face.
The insurgents % only stopped all
raffic on the railway line in Matanzas
md Santa Clara during the last week.
,ut attacked several towns garrisoned
~ Spanish troops. July q a large band
;nNered Encrusyada a carried off
whatever they wanted. They ralded
md burned stores and when they re-
ired drove away with them a large herd
II cattle. The Spanish commander Of
The town, Simon Guenec, shut himself
dp in a church with his soldiers. The
men In the fort fired indiscriminately
Without exposing themselves. Thirty
tx hours after the insurgents had left
he town.. a column OF troops started in
pursuit. Encrucyada has a population
4 about 5000 and 10 situated on the rail-
DAD line.
The insurgents entered Esperanza. a
abroad town of about 1900 persons.
There they met with some resistance
md there was considerable fighting in
ne streets. According TO official ac-
counts the insurgents left twenty killed
when they finally retired. The COM
lander OF the town was seriously
wounded. He admits that h insur-
cents raided several stores. Bolandron,
mother small town about eight leagues
| from MatanZas. was also raided.
Bold Raids by Insurgents.
In Havana province, Sunday, insur-
rents attacked Santiago de las Vegas.
live leagues from the capital. A band
was playing in the park at the time
md most OF the citizens were out prom
snading. A panic was threatened, but
The Spanish officers kept their heads
md took prompt steps 10 repel the In
,urgents. There was brisk firing In the
streets for a time, Blu eventually the in
,urgents were forced 10 retreat. Sev-
sral on both sides were killed. Tbs in
surgants remained close enough all
night TO keep UP a fire on the fort.
Four hundred insurgents under Gen.
sral Castillo were not abl TO enter the
town, but kept w a heavy fire on the
forts all night. He also used dynamite
with great effect, throwing bombs into
the town and destroying several pub
Nc buildings. Three bombs were fired
from dynamite guns which We're landed
by a recent expedition. The Spaniards
Aid not venture out Of the town. The
authorities determined, on the following
morning, TO be revenged on someone and
arrested the family Of Morales y Botel-
as. because the daughter OF the house
MAS the fiancee OF Castillo's lat chief of
stan. Mr.. and Mrs. Morales, their
daughter and two other children were
taken outside the town, ordered to kneel
Eown and were fired upon by a squad
Of Spanish soldiers. Morales, his wife
and one child were killed at the first
golley.
Advices from Pinar del Rio state that
the insurgents are becoming active in
the province. In consequence OF recent
:aids, General Weyler has ordered that
military lines around Havana be tight
sned and that all cultivation and prop
lrtles about the ines be al once de-
ttroyed.