Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-01-23
EVERY ONE ON THE VESSELS
Was Either Killed or Wounded
by Insurgents
IN THE CANTO RIVER FIGHT
Spanish Garrison Has Close Call and Only
Escape the Cubans
BY THE TIMELY ARRIVAL Of TROOPS
Madrid Chamber of Commerce Protests
Against Weyler's Order to Destroy
Plantations and Buildings-In- s,... ~.
surgents Shot to Death.

Havana, Jan. 22-Upon the return to
Manzanilio of the gunboat Centiiiena, af-
ter the sinking in the Cauto river of her
consort, the Relampago by the explosion
of torpedo planted by the rebels. or
ders were given for a force Of Spanish
troops to proceed to Guamo to relieve
the besieged garrison there which had
been the object Of the naval expedition.
but which has been frustrated by the
loss Of the Relampago and the death or
wounding of every man on that vessel,
and the Centinella, either through the ex-
ploson itself or the subsequent rife fire
from the rebels who were ambushed on
both banks of the river.
The relieving expedition was under the
command of Col Tovar who. with his
brigade, marched on the bank OF the
Cauto river meeting detached parties OF
rebels at various places along the route.
At Bayamo the insurgents were gathered
in strong force, but after short engage
rnent were driven from the town. The
Spanish force proceeded for 9Guamo,
where they found that the insurgents,
who had been attempting the capture of
the fort, had disappeared.
1t was learned that the rebels had at
tackled the fort on January g.. They were
in two columns, one operating from the
4eft Dank DelnS feQ by HaDl.
Many attempts were made to carry the
fort by assault, but in every instance the
garrison compelled the enemy to retire.
The insurgents had artillery and the
projectiles from their cannon unroofed
the fort, but did no serious damage to the
heavy walls of the structure.
Finding themselves unable to capture
the Spanish position, the rebels deter
mined to attempt to compel its surren-
der by cutting off the supply of water.
In pursuance of this object trenches
were dug in front of the place from
which the garrison obtained it's water,
and a detachment of rebels were placed
therein to prevent the troops opproach-
ing
The garrison, however, had sufficient
water to last until the rebels, evidently
hearing of the approach Of the REIN
forcements, raised the siege and retired
Some time before the enemy disappeared
they blew up with dynamite a barge
that was employed as a pontoon for the
passage of troops across the river.
The siege lasted fourteen days. The
garrison lost three killed and eight
wounded, while twelve were made sick
by the close confinement within the walls
OF the fort, the scant rations and short
supply of water.
A Spanish brigade under command of
General Molin, which has been operat-
ing in the vicinity of Zarabanda. in the
province of Matanzas. has had an en-
gagement with several combined parties
of rebels. The official report says the
rebels we're defeated and routed. In
their flight many Of them threw Them
selves into the Habana river and fifteen
by sinking in the mud. The troops lost
two killed and seven wounded.
General Weyler is now at Palos, In the
province of Matanzas.