The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-01-11
Insurgents IN 4
STATE OF ACTIVITY
BeSIege 4 Put 0ld Strongly Al
lock q Spanish F0,L.
SpAHIARDS AAAE A GALLANT DEFENSE
CanaIeIas Returns to Spain With a Gloomy
impression of The Situation.
FiiibusterinG Expedition Recently
Landed -Gubnn Gencrnt from Kan.
sas Returns 10 This Country for
Medical Treatment-Iso says the
Outcome OF the Struggle Depends
Upon the United Ssntcx-Neithcr
Side Fnys Its Sofdicrs.
Havana, Jan. 10. 1898.


The insurgents are besieging and
nave attacked the port of Mayari, on
the north coast of the province of
Santiago de Cuba. Troops have gone
from Gibara, the northern port in the
same province, to relieve the garrison
Of 11ayarI
News from Spanish sources just re-
celVed mere give an account of what
appears to have been a gallant defense
of a fort in Santiago de Cuba by Span
ish troops. 1t seems that the principal
fortificaton protecting the buildings of
the central plantation of Ysabel, be-
longing to Beattie & Co., an English
concern. at Media Luna, near Man
"anfilo. was attacked by strong in
snrgent force during the night of Jan
uary I'd. The insurgents had with
them, 1t is claimed, q rapid fire can
non, which they placed in position at
ABOUT six hundred metres from the
Tort and behind an embankment of
earth yard thick and about eighteen
inches high. At the same time 200
insurgents captured the machinery
house Of the plentatIon. The fort de-
iendlng the latter consisted of a brick
building, two stories high and In the
form OF cross. 1t was surrounded
by wire fences and bitches, and was
gnrrisoned by ninety-six soldiers, under
the command of Captain Esteban Ben
edicto Manilo, who had two lieutenants
under him.
AT o'clock in the morning the in
surgents began cannonading the Span
,tsh fort and at 2 o'clock they began an
attack on 1t from both sides of the
river, trying to take 1t by assault, but
they were repulsed. At 3 O'clock In the
afternoon, the Spanish report con-
tlnues. the insurgent infantry made a
second attack upon the fort and the
Spaniards again drove them off. There
upon the insurgents resumed their ar
tiilery fire and kept 1t up until dark.
The bombardment of the fort was
quite severe. The insurgents fired
sixty-four cannon shots and several
OF the projectiles exploded within the
iort, destroying It's walls and COM
pelling the garrison to seek refuge be-
mind the earthworks. From there the
soldiers continued the fight and sue
ceeded in heating off the enemy
During January 4th the fort was
relieved by Captain Oryan, In com
mand of the local guerilla forces of
Niquera, and n detachment of Span
Ism infantry. reinforced by two can
non. The Spaniards then attacked the
insurgents earthworks and are said
to have compelled the enemy to re-
tire with severe loss The garrison OF
the fort lost seventeen men killed and
had thirty-three men wounded.
The Government has extended for
two months the period during which
cattle may be imported into Cuba from
the United States free of duty. The
American steamer Coohio has arrived
here with 160 boxes of condensed milk
one of glassware and 2S packages OF
provisions FOR the concentrates
Reports from Guantanamo say the
plantations there are not grinding
sugar cine owing to the scarcity of
oXon.
Ex-Mintster Canalejas returns to
Spain To-day, having formed n gloomy
impression of the situation hc.e
hlibusterlng expedition recently
landed In the bay of AlayaIi.