Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 October 1897 — FIVE THOUSAND DIE OF HUNGER [ARTICLE]

FIVE THOUSAND DIE OF HUNGER

Terrible Mortality at Las Palacios, Pinar del Rio Province. Five thousand concentrated people have died of hunger at Las Palacios, a town in Pinar del Rio province, Cuba, in seven months. Insurgent Brigadier Castillo has sacked the town of San Jose, in Havana province. The garrison made no resistance, but a strong Spanish force came to aid the town and a fierce combat in the outskirts ensued. The insurgents defeated the Spaniards, inflicting heavy losses. Col. Jose Loreto Cepero, who was captured and kept in Cabanas prison for some time and is now fighting for'Cuban liberty, attacked the Burgbs battalion near Santa Clara, defeating the Spanish, who lost forty-eight killed and ninety-seven wounded. Col. Sanchez and four other officers were killed. Cepero afterward attacked a Spanish factory at Cienfuegoa, taking all the merchandise needed. It is said at Havana that some volunteers have agreed to assassinate Sagasta, and that three men have sailed to Spain ~fbr that purpose, the cause being the recall of Gen. Weyler.