Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1897-08-20
VANQU|SHED BY THE cUBANS
fully Two Hundred of Wey-
ler's Men Fell.
iNsuRegNr LOSS WAS SMALL

Desperate but Inenectual Attcmpts
Were Made to Capture and KIN
the Captain-General.
New York, Aug. 16.--A special to
the Herald from Havana via Key West
says: Further details have been re-
ceived of the battle near Aguacate,
which is near the Matanzas line. The
fighting, it was first reported, was in
Matanzas province, but it was just ON
this side. There is no doubt Of the re-
suit OF the battle, however, and con-
servative estimate places the number of
Spanish killed at 200, while the rebel
loss was comparatively trifing.
Preparations for General Weyler's ar
rival at the palace were made on Mon
day, hut he has only just returned from
the field. He left Matanzas on Sunday
and reached Aguacate the next day.
1t was there that rumor came that he
was wounded in the big fight near
there, but the statement has proved to
be false.
The excitement in Havana is intense.
The uncertainty regarding the new
ministry in Spain is partly to blame,
and on top of this there comes news of
big insurgent victory between Aqua.
cate and Madruga, and also of pitched
battle in the vicinity of Sagua la
Grande.
The advance guard of General Gomez
has crossed into Matanzas. Whether
ne is close cannot be ascertained, but it
is reported that he declined the fight
at Sagua la Grande.
The largest battle that has taken
place in several months was the one
fought at Aguacate. 1t is known that
the battle was the result OF an attempt
to capture General Weyler and kill
him. The captain-general had made
preparations to return on horseback
from Matanzas to Havana. Along the
road he had posted three columns OF
Spanish soldiers. General Castillo
learned Of his plans and gathered
force of fully 1900 rebels. This force
he hurled against the Spanish lines
near Aguacate where General Weyler
was supposed to be. General Castillo
commanded the insurgents in person,
and the Spanish were under General
Militia. The insurgents dispersed, but
later accounts are that both Colonel
Aldea and General Molino were
wounded.
The battle began about A O'Clock in
the afternoon and continued till night.
The Spanish were ranked along the
open road and the rebels approached
them from the rear, coming from the
hills. A body OF cavalry was stationed
about quarter of mile down the road
to cut off Weyler if he should be there
and attempt to seek safety.
The details of the actual fighting are
meager, but many reliable persons who
passed near the place, which is beside
the railroad station, say that from the
carriage windows they could see many
dead soldiers along the road. The
rebels used rapid-fring guns. When
darkness came the Spaniards retired, to
return the next morning with heavy re-
Inducements, but the insurgents only
opened fire for about half an hour and
then disappeared. They divided into
small bands and subsequent pursuit
was futile.
Information has also been received of
the big fight near Sagua la Grande. 1t
is said the town was attacked and that
portion OF it was burned, but this has
not been verified. Correspondence
from the field, however. proves that
there has been battle there, Gomez
in person, it is said, directing the in
surgent operations.
After the fight at Aguacate, General
Weyler fell back upon Guanabacoa,
just across the bay from Havana. The
rebel chiefs, Colonel Arnaguara and
General Rodriguez, were in the district
and Weyler expected raid.
Weyler arrived at Guanabacoa with
1000 men. Five miles from Guiana
bacoa he was attacked by rebel force
under General Rodriguez. Rodriguez's
plan was to force General Weyler to
give battle and pursue him into the
hills, where the captain-general stood
good chance of being either killed or
captured. The rebels fired several vol
leys from the hills along the roadside,
killing Z and wounding a large num-
ber of the Spanish, but Weyler refused
to give fight and Kept on his march to
Guanabacoa, driving 300 head of cattle
that he had collected along the line.
General Rodriguez followed in WeyIer's
rear to within sight of the town. At
ter the rebels withdrew the Spanish
troops commenced heavy fire, the
noise Ct which awakened and frightened
the residents Of GuanabacOa.
A train running from Mariana in
Havana province was fired upon recent
ly. The American vice-consul, Mr..
Springer, was on the train. Bullets
struck near him, but he escaped unhurt.
Gold Discoveries.
New Orleans, Aug. 16.--A new gold
field has been discovered, but this one