The record-union., 1897-01-15
Gomez Attacks and Takes by Storm
Santa Clara.
Probably the Host Fierce and Bloody
Battles Yet Fought, Over Two
Thousand Lives Being Lost, In
Guiding One of Cuba's Most Bril-
liant Cavalry Leaders, Quentin
Bandera - Graphic Description of
the Engagement.

NEW YORK, Jan. 14.-News, which
If correct, is more important than any
since the death of Maceo, was received
In Cuban circles tonight. 1t was stat
ed that the town of Santa Clara, some
times called Villa Clara, had fallen to
the inSurgent arms, but that In the
charge, which resulted in victory, the
intrepid cavalry leader, Quentin Ban
dera, was slain. Gomez, it was said, is
now pushing on toward Havana with
an army of 1S, 600 men. This news was
not given out at the Cuban Junta. 1t
came from private sources. It has not
yet been confirmed from official sources,
but that is not strange, considering
that the death of Bandera is a blow to
the CubanS, which almost offsets the
capture of Santa Clara. The first news
of the death of Maceo came in the same
way and it was a long time before the
truth broke through the trocha of Off
cial denial
The news comes with circumstantial
Detail most convincing. Besides, the
dispatches from Cuba for some time
have forecasted exactly such a stroke.
The victory puts the insurgents in a
commanding position, and the eyes of
the world will be upon Gomez. 1t can
no longer be said that they hold no i'm
portant town. Santa Clara is the fourth
largest city in the island, already hold
ing nearly all of Cuba excepting the sea
coast, the capture of Santa Clara puts
the insurgents on an entirely different
basis at Washington.
The commander of the garrison at
Santa Clara was the Governor General
Of the province, Major-General Luque.
He had a garrison of 5000 men, but
now had only 1000. Gomez had 5000
men, 5000 of whom We're armed.
On January 9th Gomez decided to in
wade the town, which contains a popu-
1ation of 10000, and was we'll fortified.
The infantry under General Rabi was
sent to the west of the city. The cav
airy of which there were 1000 we'll
equipped men under General Bandera,
We're sent to the other three sides, it's
main strength being concentrated i'm
mediately to the east. Luque sent out
expeditions, and there were lively skir-
mishes on the 9th, 7th and Sth, in one
Of which Luque was wounded. The
whole garrison had been thrown in a
panic by the wounding of their leader,
and by the fact that they were sur
rounded
Gomez decided at the time to strike
hard. He knew the fortifcations We're
well nigh impregnable. He knew there
was a cannon in every redoubt and
plenty of ammunition. He knew that
his men would have to face a citadel at
the northwest corner of the city sixty
feet high, from the top of which the
Spaniards would operate a Gatling gun,
as we'll as keep up a terrible rifle fire.
Pabi with his infantry was to attack
the town from the west at daybreak.
Bandera, the dashing negro cavalry
man, was to wait until the attention Of
the garrison was concentrated on the
attack ON the west and then hurl his
1000 men on the works in front of him
General Rabi led out his men on the
morning of January 18th. They opened
fire. and keeping under cover as much as
possible crept closer and closer TO the
enemy. Behind stockades and earth
works the Spaniards returned the fire.
but those who looked to the east just as
the sun was rising saw dimly the horses
of the officers of the cavalry galloping
from battalion to battalion. Bandera
sat silent with his staff in front of the
main works. There was the clatter of
horses hoofs deepening into a roar On
they went, two long rows of ilorsemen,
each striving to be first to the outworks
Spanish rifles began to crack here and