Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-11
CUBAN WAR NOTES.
INSURGENTS ARE nEsIEGING THE
PORT OF MAYARI.
GALLANT SPANISH
DEFENCE.
Series of sharp Attacks, with Cam
non, ON n Fort In santingo de Cubn
uccciyed.
Received.


HABANA, January 1O.-The insurgents
are besieging and have attacked the port
Of Mayar on the north coast Of the pro-
vince of Santiago de Cuba. Troops have
gone from Gibara, the northern port, in
the same province, to relieve the garrison
of Mayari
News from Spanish sources, just re-
ceived here, give an account OF what ap-
pears to have been a gallant defence
Of fort in Santiago de Cuba by Spanish
troops. 1t seems that the principal forti-
feation protecting the buildings of the
central plantation of Ysabel. belonging TO
Beattie & Co.. an English concern, at
Media Luna, near Manzanilla, was at
tackled by a strong nsurgent force during
the night Of January %. The insurgents
had with them, it is claimed. a rapid
fire cannon, which they placed in posi-
ton at about 600 metres from the fort,
and behind an embankment Of earth
yard thick and about IS inches high At
the same time 200 insurgents captured the
machinery-house Of the plantation.
The fort defending the latter consisted
Of a brick building, two stories high, and
i'm the form of a cross. IL was sur
rounded by wire fences and ditcbes, and
was garrisoned by ninety-six soldiers.
under the command of Captain Esteban
Benedicto Manilo. who had two lieu
tenants under him.
At 6 o'clock in the morning the insur-
gents began cannonade Of the Spanish
fort. and at 2 o'clock in the afternoon
they began an attack on il from both
sides of the river, trying TO take 1t by as
saIlt. but they were repulsed. At
O'Clock in the afternoon the Spanish re-
port continues, the insurgent infantry
made a second attack upon the fort. and
the Spaniards again drove them back.
Thereupon the insurgents resumed their
artillery fire, and kept fl up until dark.
COMMANDMENT SEVERE.
The bombardment of the fort was quite
severe. The insurgents fired sixty-four
cannon shots. and several OF the projec-
tiles exploded within the fort. destroying
its walls, and compelling the garrison
to seek refuge behind the eartbworks.
From there the soldiers continued the
fight. and succeeded in beating off the
enemy.
During January 4th the fort was re-
lieved by Captain Organ, i'm command of
the local guerilla forces Of Niquera and
a detachment Of Spanish infantry. rein
forced with two cannon. The Spaniards
then attacked the insurgents earthworks.
and are said TO have compelled the enemy
TO retire. with severe loss.
The garrison Of the fort lost seventeen
men killed and had thirty-thref 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 Ameri-
can steamer COchia has arrived here. with
1G0 boxes Of condensed milk one Of glass
ware. and twenty-eight packages of pro-
visions for the "recOncentrados."
Reports from Guantanamo says that the
planters are not grinding sugar-cane,
owing to the scarcity Of oxen.
A flibustering expedition recently land
ed IN the bay of Mayari.
INSURGENT GENERAL FUNSTON.
NEW YORK. January 1O.-Among the
passengers who arrived to-day on board
the steamer City of Washington, from
Habana was Frederick Funston a Cuban
insurgent general, who comes TO this
country for medical treatment. Funston
is also well known as an Alaskan ex-
plorer. He has been on the staff Of Gene
raj Garcia, as chief of artillery, for more
imam lWtlNt HOnlDSs ana was cdpluIeu
about four weeks ago while crossing the
railroad at Puerto Principe. He CAV. a
fictitious name. and having no papers on
his person, was released shortly after
ward.
Mr. Funston is suffering from the effects
Of a bullet-wOund i'm his thigh. He is the
son of former Congressman Funston. of
Kansas.
NEITHER SIDE WILL YIELD.
Colonel Funston says the outcome of
the struggle in Cuba depends altogether
on the United States. The Cubans will
never give up. nor will the Spaniards. lie
SAYS the insurgent soldiers and officers
are not paid, and cannot be paid in full
unless they win, in which case Colonel
Funston would receive about $1,000. He
said the food and clothing of the insur-
gents are poor, and their living is pre-
carious. but their courage and hope are
unbounded. He says that the Spanish
soldiers are not paid but were fairly well
fed.
Colonel Funston says that while a prs
oner at Puerto Principe he was we'll
treated by the Spanish soldiers, and found
no evidences Of discomfort in their ranks. |
He declares that the atrocities upon wO-
men and children reported from time to
time are invariably perpetrated by the |
guerillas, and not by the regular troops. |
on the guerillas' head the insurgents |
often take their revenge.