Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-30
ARANGUREN'S DEATH
CoNGOsTo F0REsTALLs ALLEG-
eddy SENSATIONAL ACCOUNTS.
BETRAYAL OF TIE IHSURGEHT.
Reported Shooting and Killing by
the Spanish Troops of an
Women.

WASHINGTON, January 2s.-Senor
| Dupuy De LONE, the Spanish Minister, to-
day received the following cablegram:
"Habana, January 20. 1sss.-The corre-
spondents of certain press agencies are
already starting off series Of horrors In
connection with the killing of Nestor
| Aranguren. Not one of them has been
out of Habana, and all they will say mas
been manufactured by rebel agents. The
facts are as follows:
"A combination OF columns that had
been operating several days defeated on
| the 9th the band OF Aranguren, OF about
| 100 men. They captured one prisoner, who
led small force as guide, and the rest
Of the troops covered all the issues OF
place called La Pilalen Monte. where
Aranguren was in hiding with his escort.
The rebels, when discovered. fired at the
troops, who replied, advancing suddenly,
dispensing tho escort, killing Aranguren
and four others. and capturing five pri-
soners, one OF them wounded. The es-
cort escaped, and with it the sweetheart
OF Aranguren.
I'm the place was found a woman,
wounded. who was not seen until after
the engagement. She was carried on
litter TO Campo Florido, in order to try to
save her by giving proper attention.
LAS a proof of the falsehood OF the
reports to be circulated there is the fact
that five prisoners have been captured
and that none Of the dead had a single
sabre or machete cut
THE documents captured on the body
Of Aranguren prove that he was Ruiz's
assassin. The saddle he used was Ruizs
saddle, and he had two buttons from
Ruiz's uniform in his pocket, as already
reported.
(signeO "CoNGOsTO."
ARANGUREN BETRAYED.
HABANA via KEY WEST. FLA. Janu-
airy 29.-The following details OF the death
Of General Nestor Aranguren, who was
killed on Thursday last. have been re-
ceived:
1T appears that the column under Colo
mel Aranjare, which had been operating IN
the Forido neighborhood Of Campo Flori-
do, captured a negro named Morales.
whom they tortured in order to extort
from him information regarding the in
surgents. For a long time the prisoner
bore the torture and refused TO make
statement, but finally, upon being pro-
missed a reward of $500, agreed to betray
Aranguren. General Aranguren, the negro
said, was in the habit Of visiting the
house of a pacifico who lived in the
Tapeste heights, near the town of Ia
peste, with his family, which consisted
of his wife, a grown daughter. Of whom
General Aranguren was enamoured, and
several younger children.
trolOnpl Araniarp with thrpo columns
led by himself and Lieutenant-C Colonies
Arece and Benedicto. the entire force
numbering about a thousand infantry and
cavalry, proceeded, under the guidance OF
Morales, TO the hut, which they sur
rounded.
1t was the intention Of Colonel Aran-
jare, after assuring himself that all or
those whom he wished to secure were in
the house, to fall upon the building and
capture the inmates alive, but Lieutenant
Colonel Benedicto, who was formerly Sc
cond in command to Major Fondevilla
advised that the inmates be killed, and
this was finally decided upon.
CHILD SHOT AND KILLED.
When the hut had been completely sur
rounded, a squad Of men were ordered to
advance cautiously, arriving near the en-
trance before being seen. A child about
years of age was playing outside the
doorway of the building, when suddenly |
she discovered the soldiers, and, scream |
ing in alarm ran toward the house to in |
form the inmates Of the presence OF the |
Spaniards. A volley from the squad |
stretched her lifeless on the ground, and |
then a general firing was ordered by the |
Spanish commander. which resulted in |
the wounding of Aranguren, the killing OF |
his servant, and the mortal wounding or |
his sweetheart and another woman, the |
latter of whom fled toward the woods and \
fell dead short distance away Aran- |
guren's sweetheart died from the effects |
of her wounds while being taken to Camp |
Florido.
Aranguren was In bed when the Span
iards arrived, and, hearing the alarm /
given by the child, ran out of the hut,
only partly dressed. crying, 81 am Aran-
guren," and apparently meaning that he |
seized him. and made a close search CT |
his clothing for documents relating to
the death Of Colonel Ruiz, which they |
secured. They also obtained a verbal |
declaration from their prisoner on the |
same subject, and then bullet was fired |
through his breast and he fell, but, not |
dying instantly, a bayOnet thrust through
the head, the weapon entering near the
mouth ended his life.
a man DtltFcu
to be the dynamiter of Arangurens band,
and two boys, who said they knew the
location of the grave of Colonel Ruiz
The boys, in charge OF Spanish
column, have left for the place where
they say the grave is located.
While Arrangements death Is considered |
a just vengeance for the death of Ruiz,
the killing Of women and children. when
they could have been taken alive, is
generally condemned.
ARANGUREN'S FUNERAL.
number OF prominent persons attend
ed the funeral of General Aranguren, |
who was buried in the private tomb OF
his family. Among those who acted as
escort to the body were three generals
OF the insurgents in the last war.
The horse and saddle of Colonel Ruiz
were seized when Aranguren was killed.