Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 September 1895 — CUBA’S BIG VICTORY. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CUBA’S BIG VICTORY.

THREE HUNDRED SPANIARDS MEET DEATH. General Maceo'* Patriots Achieve 9 Great Triumph—Dynamite Is Used with Terrible Effect Bartolome Masso Elected President. Killed by Hundreds. News of a battle in which the Spanish were defeated by the Cabans was received in New York by President Palma. It came in a letter, written Sept. 14. by Pedro Rovira, a Cuban private, who deserted the Spanish ranks at Pera Lego, when Campos was defeated. In a later engagement Rovira was captured by the Spanish, court-martialed and sentenced to receive 400 lashes and to be shot. The sentence was carried out while Rovira was shouting for Cuban liberty. On Aug. 31 the Spaniards captured Francis, and Gen. Jose Maceo fortified his few men in a plantation house near the Casambra Hospital. The Spanish were slowly closing in on him some days later when Gen. Oebreco and a Cuban column came to his relief and made the enemy evacuate their position. A hot, engagement followed, in which the Spanish regained their position, but were unable to hold it long, as Gen. Antonio Maceo suddenly appeared on the scene, and, with Cebreco and Col. Mieunlnit, succeeded in wresting it from Cnnalle and Gariko, who commanded the Spanish. This battle lasted from 5 o’clock a. m. until 0 o’clock at night, when it whs discontinued until the dawni

of the next day, Sept. 1. The Spanish then commenced to retreat until they reached the Igubanabnno field, where they were able to use their cavalry, which was impossible on the mountains of Santa Maria. They did not gain any advantage, however, and after burning their provisions they continued to retreat to Mountanin, which place they entered in scattered groups. The Cubans had no cavalry, but made effective use of dynamite bombs, which, the letter states, struck terror to the enemy. In the engagement the Cubans’ loss was forty men, wounded and killed. The Spaniards last over 300 men, forty horses and a large store of provisions and munitions of war. The Spaniards after the buttle sent a cable to Spain headed, “The defeat and capture of Jose Maceo,” and also asked for the reward and the advance of the officers in the engagement. Cubans Elect a President. Letters received at Tampa, Fla., by prominent Cuban leaders state that on Sept. 10 a Constitutional convention was held at Najasa at which Bartolome Masso was elected President of the Cuban republic, Marquis of Santa Lucia Minister of the Interior, Thomas Estrada Palma Representative of the Government in the exterior and Maximo Gomez General-in-ehief. Some time ago when delegates were called Santa Lucia was mentioned as President of the convention, and the impression prevailed that he was the destined Constitutional President. Masso was horn sixty years ago at Manzanillo. He is highly connected anti thoroughly educated. lie left Manzanillo Feb. 24 last, and was considered as the head of the revolution in the eastern department. When this occurred Calleja sent a committee of prominent autonomists and some chiefs of the former revolution to dissuade him, but he was not pliable. The committee went again, reenforced by ex-resident Sportono, who, during his term, published a decree to put to death any person who should propose anything but Cuban independence. Masso received him, but learning his purpose, told him to leave the camp immediately or his own decree would be enforced. News has been received at military headquarters in Havana of a desperate fight at Mefi, near Palma Sola, province of Santa Clara, between 300 insurgents, led by Bermudes and Fleites, and a detachment of Government cavalry under Capt. Riestra. The vanguard of the cavalry, consisting of a sergeant and seven privates, were first surrounded by tha

insurgents, and in the engagement every one of the vanguard was killed. By this time Capt. Riestra, with the main body of cavalry, thirty in number, came up and engaged the insurgents, whom he forced to retreat, leaving three of their number dead on the field. Their wounded they carried off with them when they retreated. As the cruiser Barcastegui, which was sunk by tlio merchantman Mortera Wednesday night, constitutes a danger 1o vessels leaving or entering the port of Havana, it has been decided to break up the hull of tlie vessel with dynamite. The divers have refused to work upon the wreck on account of the danger from sharks and because of tlio insufficiency of their outfits.

OLD SPANISH FORT, SANTIAGO DE CUBA.

THE BARCAEZTEGUI.