Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1898-06-27
F~ERGUSSoN'S BLUNDHR.
He Adds Great Anxiety and Sorrow to
his Coincidence.
CAPT SAL LUNA SAFE.

Last Saturday afternoon there we're
rumors In circulation that Capt. Max
Luna, Of Troop r., OF the First Volunteer
cavalry. was one Of the killed in the
bloody engagement on Cuban soil last
Friday morning.
The official report Of Gen. shafter pub.
lished in THE CITIZEN failed to disclose
the name OF Capt. Max Luna, and 1t was
strange that such alarming report
would be put In circulation without
some kind Of a foundation.
However, late that afternoon, Hon Solo
mon Luna came In from his home at Los
Lunas and solved the source from whence
these startling rumors had come by ex-
hibiting the following dispatch TO him
from Hon. II. B. Ferguson, delegate to
congress:
Washington, June %.
Hon. Sol Luna, Los Lunasi
Captain Max Luna was reported killed
In battle yesterday, bravely fighting for
our flag. Your loss should be solaced by
the fact that your nephew fell In the
front rank facing the enemy, BY the side
OF the gallant Roosevelt, adding glory 10
the name, and 10 his race, and bringing
distinction and honor 10 New Mexico.
Extend my heartfelt sympathies to all
members OF your family.
II. B. FERGUSON.
Not content with bringing sorrow 10
the household Of Solomon Luna and OF
the aged grandmother Of the alleged
dead captain, q telegram Of coincidence
was also forthwith sent to the prOspec-
tive widow. Mrs. Max Luna.
THE CITIZEN was absolutely positive
that Delegate Ferguson was too hasty-
had committed a very serious blunder In
his anxiety to condole, and 30 informed
Hon. Solomon Luna, telling him that
Gen. Shafter would surely know II one OF
his captain officers was killed, and that
the Associated Press would not overlook
such an important death rs the captain
OF a troop.
Hon. Solomon Luna was somewhat sat
isled that the delegate had erred, but the
aged grandmother was not, and to ap.
pease her, with other relatives, Mr.. Luna
was put TO the expense Of taking the
party TO Santa Ne last Saturday night 10
see II GOV. Otero had received any direct
information confirming the killing OF
the captain.
The governor had moi. and on reaching
the capital the bereaved kinsfolks, who
we're mourning a relative still lighting
for the stars and stripes, were 30 In
formed.
City Marshal Fornoff was going TO
Santa Re Saturday night, and The CITI-
X detailed him TO investigate the re-
ports. Yesterday morning he wired the
following:
SANTA FE, N. NJ, June 20
The Daily Citizen. Albuquerque, N. M;
Sol. Luna has received another mes
sage from Ferguson confirming the first
report OF Max Luna's death.
FoRNoFF.
II would seem from Mr.. Fornof's tele-
gram that Delegate Ferguson, still con-
ndent OF Capt. Max Luna's death, al
though he is at Washington and should
have Investigated more closely. con-
tinued his coincidence In q second dis
patch to the Luna family.
However, THE CITIZEN still had faith
In the official report Of Gen. Shafter and
the news as sent out by the Associated
Press, and 10 reported these facts 10
Max's many friends in this city.
Later yesterday afternoon, The CITI-
zEN received the following telegram con
arming what this paper had declared
that Capt. Max Luna was still alive:
SANTA FE, n. NJ, June 20.
The Daily Citizen, Albuquerque, N. NJ;
Capt. Max Luna, Of Col. Woods cav
airy, Ia not among the killed or wounded
Capt. Luna, OF the Cuban army, Ia re,
ported among the party OF Cnbans killed
The only American officer killed Is Capt
Capron. FORNoFF.
IL is quite evident. all around, thai
Delegate Ferguson intended we'll, but
his execution was bad, for the reason
that he should have thoroughly inyestl
gated such a serious matter before wir
ing his coincidence, and thereby saved thu
strain and anxiety through which tn,
immediate relatives and wife Of Capt
Max Luna have gone through the pas
twenty.fOur hours.
Hon Solomon Luna. who Is the repub
lican national committeeman OF New
Mexico, returned to the city last nigh
and made a call at this office this morn
ing, when he exhibited the two telegram
OF Delegate Ferguson and also a tele
gram from the New York Journal deny
ing the killing Of his nephew. Capt. Ma
Luna. He is pleased over the report
now from the battlefield OF Cuba, and 10
day Is receiving congratulations over tn
good account Capt, Max Luna Is giyinl
Of himself a. the head Of Troop Y, Firs
volunteer cavalry.
ATTENDANCE OF NORMAL NECESSARY
teachers Should Not be Employed UnleS