San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-08-12
|NSJRGENI VICTORIES.
Reports Of Spanish Defeats
Come In Regular.
WEYLER HAS EVIDENTLY LOST
CONTROL OF, THE lELE-
GRAPH OFFICE.
The Butchers Forces Completely
Routed By Comes Men With
Their RAPID Firing Guns.
Receiving Aid From
Havana.

New York, Aug. ia special to the
Herald from Havana, via Key West
says:
Further details have been received of
the battle nearAguacato, which is near
the Matnzas line. The fighting, it was
first reported, was in Matanzas PROV
ince, but it was just on this side.
There is no doubt of the result of the
battle, however, and conservative
estimate places the number of Span
lsh killed at 200, while the rebels loss
was comparatively trifing.
Preparations for Gen. Weyler's ara
rival at the palace We're made on MonF
day, but he has only just returned
from the field He left Matanzas on
Sunday and reached Aguaeate, in Ha-
vana province, the next day. 1t was
there that a rumor came that he was
wounded in the big fight near there,
but the report 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 insurgeDt victory between
Aguacate and Madruga, and also of a
pitched battle in the vicinity of Sagua
Ia Grande.
The advance guard of Gen. Gomez
has crossed into Matanzas. Whether
he is close cannot be ascertained with
certainty, but it is reported that he d.
rected the fight at Sagua la Grande.
The bloodiest battle that has taken
place in several months was the one
fought at Aguacate. 1t is known that
the battle was an attempt 10 capture
Gen. Weyler or kill him.
The captain general has made prep
arations TO return ON horseback from
Matanzas to Havana. Officers have
posted three columns of Spanish sol
diers and he left Matazas with only
eighty men. Ger. CASTILLO learned
of his plans and gathered a force of
fully 1900 rebels. This force he hurl-
ed.against the Spaniards near Aqua
cate where Gen. Weyler was supposed
to be. Gen. CASTILLO commanded the
insurgents in person and the Spanish
were under Coils. Molinas and Aldea.
The latter is reported dead.
The battle began at o'clock in the
afternoon and continued until night
set in. The Spanish were along the
open roads and the rebels approached
them from the rear, coming from the
hills. A body of cavalry was sta
toned about quarter of mile down
the road to cut off Gen. Weyler if he
should be there, and should attempt
to seek safety. The details of the ac-
tual fighting are meagre, but many
reliable persons who passed near the
place. which is beside the railroad sta
ton, state that from the carriage win
dows they could see many dead bodies
along the road. The rebels used rap
id fire guns. Their loss was compar-
atively slight.
When darkness came. the Spaniards
retired, to return the next morning
with heavy reinforcements, but the
insurgents only opened fire for about
half an hour and then disappeared.
They divided into small bands and
subsequently pursuit was futile.
Information has also been received
of the big fight near Sagua Ia Grande.
1t is said the town was attacked and
that a portion of it was burned, but
this has not been verified. CorrespOn-
dence from the field, however, proves
that there has been a battle there,