The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-31
MANY WOMEN AND
CHILDREN KILLED
Some Women Saved For a Fate
Worse Than Death.
Acts Which Cause Spain's Boosted
'.Chivalry and Honor" to Become
the Scott of the Entire Civilized
World-Leper Hospital Burned and
Many Persons Cremated-Fright-
full Stories From All Quarters.

New York, Jan. 3O.-A special from
Key West. Fla, says:
A horrible story comes from Rene
6ios Near Placetas the insurgents had
a large hospital, where were quartered
sick and wounded soldiers. Near the
insurgent camp was also located the
well-known leDer hospital of Cardos,
in which were about 20 unfortunates.
Guarding the insurgent hospital was a
company of Cuban amazons, number
ing 20, under command of Senorita
IneZ Alvarez, whose father and broth
ers had been butchered by Spaniards,
and who had taken up arms for re-
venge.
The hospital was in a solitary loca-
ton, and was thought TO be sa1e from
Spanish molestation, but colonel OF
a Spanish re giment De Bourbona, oper-
ating in that district, learned OF the
hospitals location and sent 500 men
to destroy it. The Spaniards attacked
at night and fired the buildings. The
inmates and amazon guards awoke TO
find the flames roaring about them. Tne
sick and wounded soldiers could not
escape, but the amazonS rushed out,
only to be greeted by murderous tres-
The amazons fought bravely, but they
were only a handful compared to the
Spaniards, and were soon shot down.
Many of these were butchered, except
eight, whose peculiar beauty led the
Spanish commander to order them
saved for a fate worse than death In
the hospital there were more than ~
sick and wounded soldiers, six surgeons
and ten nurses. Not one of these eS-
capped, and including the amazons,
nearly $50 people fell victims to Span
ish thirst for slaughter.
Returning, the Spaniards passed the
leper hospital which they set on fire,
and nearly all of the inmates perished
in the flames.
Another frightful story comes from
Matanzas province. One of Weyler's
flying squadrons discovered a. batch of
Cuban hutS near the great cave OF
Mazote, a famous natural curiosity in
Matanzas. The SDaniards proceeded
to fire the hutS. and while so engaged
were fired on, four of the troops being
killed. The shots confused the Span
iards and gave the Cubans, about 40
in number, including women and chill
dren, time to escape to the cave of Ma
zote.
The Cubans, who were led by En-
rique Rodriguez and his five grown
sons, barricaded the cave and deter
Inln6Q 10 Sell lllclT lives QedIly.
The cave had been hardly barricaded
when the Spaniards arrived. They de-
manded that the CubanS surrender,
and this being refused. attempted to
break down the barricade. The CubanS
fired, killing and wounding several
Spaniards. The SpaniardS then man
aged to build a great fire against the
mouth of the cave, and with rifles and
machetes ready waited for the flames
and smoke to drive out the Cubans.
Facing cremation, the helpless CubanS
broke through the wall of fire only to
be greeted by murderous volley. Rod
riguez and his five sons were killed.
The Cuban women and children rushed
through the flames, but their clothing
ignited and IL were burned to death.
Six children, ranging from to 8 years,
were also cremated.
In all over 80 Cubans died by Spanish
bullets, machetes and fire. Not a man
escaped. The survivors were Sonora
Rodriguez, several other women and a
few children. They were taken to Ma
tanzas City and lodged in prison as
enemies of SPAIN