ANTONIO MACEO

Antonio Maceo, Cuban patriot.

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, December 12, 1896.

ANTONIO MACEO.

   What finally appear to be authentic details of the battle between the Spaniards under Major Cirujeda and the Cuban insurgents make it almost certain that General Antonio Maceo has been killed. It seems that on the night of Dec. 4, he and twenty-six men went around the northern end of the western trocha by boat, passing in front of Mariel without being seen by the Spanish sentries. The party landed at the point selected in safety and joined 2,000 insurgents who were encamped on the Habana side of the trocha. When Major Cirujeda's command appeared, Maceo divided his men into two wings in order to surround it. While standing alone with his staff for a moment, watching the battle, he was struck by two bullets and almost instantly killed. When the insurgents heard of his death they became panic stricken and fled without attempting to carry away the body. After the battle some of them returned and took it away.

   The death of Antonio Maceo ends a most remarkable military career. In the ten years' war and during the present revolution he fought the Spaniards with great bravery and skill. He had participated in over a thousand encounters in all, and up to the time of his death had received twenty bullet and four machete and sword wounds. That he was not killed long ago is something truly marvelous, as he never failed to take the front. Had he been less brave he might have been still alive.

   General Maceo was born in the city of Santiago de Cuba on July 14, 1848.

Both his parents were mulattoes. His mother was twice married. By her first marriage she had four sons, and by the second she had seven, Antonio being one of them. Her second husband, Marcus Maceo, was killed in battle during the ten years' war. His last words to Antonio bade him continue the war for the freedom of Cuba, and most nobly did the son carry out his  father's dying command. Of the other brothers four also died in battle.

   Antonio Maceo first took the field in 1868. He early distinguished himself by his extraordinary courage, and was made chief of a small band of patriots. He was rapidly advanced until he became a major general, the highest rank in the Cuban army. He displayed his ability as a commanding officer by routing some of the ablest Spanish generals.

   At the close of the ten years' war Maceo refused to agree to the terms of peace, and was the last to hold out. Finally he agreed to leave Cuba, under condition that it should be known he protested against the peace. In June, 1878, he sailed for Jamaica, and in the same month came to New York. Soon after, it is said, he secured employment as a hostler at West Point for the purpose of picking up military knowledge from the books and drills of the cadets. Afterwards he went to Honduras, where President Soto, a great friend of the Cubans, made him governor of a province. On Soto's fall Maceo returned to Cuba, but was soon deported to Spain. He returned to the island later, but was again expelled. He settled in Costa Rica, and was there when Marti prepared the present revolution. Hearing that he was in correspondence with Marti some Spaniards in Costa Rica tried to kill him at the door of a theatre. He was slightly wounded, but escaped, after killing one of his assailants.

   In March, 1895, Maceo landed in Cuba with others, including his brother Jose, who was afterwards killed in battle. At the very outset he was surrounded by a far superior number of Spaniards, and only escaped by his reckless courage. On September 15 he was proclaimed a lieutenant general by the Cuban assembly. Since then he had been well known because of his defeat of Campos and several other important victories. His last display of military daring and genius was his march to the western part of the island, his two invasions of Pinar del Rio, his battle in the Rubi hills and his crossing of the trocha.

   The death of Maceo is a severe blow to the Cuban cause, but it by no means assures ultimate Spanish success on the island. Gomez and other able generals remain, and the insurgents are likely now to do more desperate fighting than before to avenge the death of their great leader.

Capt. Gen. Valeriano Weyler.

WEYLER RETURNS TO HAVANA.

Spanish Residents Decorate the City In His Honor.

   HAVANA, DEC. 13.—Captain General Weyler arrived once more in this city on horseback accompanied by Lieutenant Colonel Escribano and others of his staff, and a cavalry escort.

   The streets of Havana were thronged with people and the houses of the town had been gaily decorated with bunting in anticipation of the captain general's return. The plazas Armas, in front of the captain general's palace, was packed with a vast concourse of people.

   The Marques Ahumada, vice governor general, accompanied by the colonel of his staff, met Captain General Weyler at the entrance of the city.

   Immediately after entering the palace Captain General Weyler appeared on the balcony, bowing his acknowledgments to the vivas which the multitude in the square were shouting for Spain, Spanish Cuba, the king, the queen, the army, the navy and the volunteers.

   Captain General Weyler made a brief address in the course of which he said:

   "I have only directed; the army has done all."

   Marquis Ahumada offered his congratulations on the death of General Maceo.

   There has been another attack by an insurgent band on the town of Guanabacoa in which the insurgent leader Angueren was wounded. The attack was repulsed without serious damage.

Major Cirujeda to Be Promoted.

   MADRID, Dec. 12.—Dispatches from Havana chronicle fresh victories over the insurgents. The queen will receive the wife of Major Cirujeda, who commanded the troops which killed Maceo. Major Cirujeda will be promoted to be a colonel.

   Many towns in Spain are offering swords in his honor.

Putting In a Metallic Circuit.

   On account of increasing business the Empire State Telephone and Telegraph company has just completed an additional copper metallic circuit between Cortland and Syracuse. The Little York, Preble and Tully offices are now connected by a metallic circuit. Work is being rapidly pushed on the Glen Haven line with the intention of making that metallic some time during the winter.

HIS SKULL CRUSHED.

Eugene D. Ryan of Virgil Hit by a Flying Piece of Timber.

   Eugene D. Ryan, a prominent resident of the town of Virgil, received painful, if not fatal, injuries this forenoon. He was engaged in sawing wood with a buzz saw when a large stick flew in some way, hitting him in the head, crushing his skull and rendering him unconscious. Dr. Emory of Virgil and Dr. H. T. Dana of Cortland were called. Mr. Ryan resides one mile east of Virgil village.

THERE WILL BE SKATING

If it Ever Gets Cold Enough on the Traction Company's Rink.

   The Traction company has been experimenting with its new electric pump at its rink upon the park grounds and the pump works to perfection. It throws a three and one-half inch stream of water and has a capacity of from 800 to 1,000 gallons of water per minute. The rink basin has been well supplied with water and the dam at the lower end has proved to be tight. It was not the intention to pump the basin full at first, but to put in sufficient water to make fine skating and yet not so much but that it could freeze clear to the bottom. Then when the ice gets rough from use, flood it again and add a couple of inches of fine ice to the top and so on till the basin is full.

   The skating house at the rink has been put in good order and will be in charge of G. F. Beaudry who will look after the refreshments and furnish skates to those who wish them. The admission to the rink will be the same as last year, five cents.

   A story has been in circulation which we are authorized by Superintendent

Mooney to say is utterly false and wholly without foundation in fact. It was to the effect that the Traction company had secured possession of the cove adjoining the millpond on Clinton-ave. and when their rink was ready proposed to forbid any one from skating upon the pond, with the idea of driving skaters to the rink. Mr. Mooney characterizes this rumor as a most ridiculous report. He says they will make their rink as attractive as possible and try to make it a favorite skating place for all lovers of that healthful sport, but they have never once thought of such a thing as attempting to drive any one there through the enforced closing of any other place.

   Skaters may go where they choose for all of the company.

BREVITIES.

   —A trial term of county court will convene at the court house on Monday.

   —Mrs. Lucy Hicks of Cincinnatus was in town to-day and selected a fine Pease mahogany piano at Mahan's.

   —Rev. Geo. McAfee of New York City will occupy the pulpit in the Congregational church to-morrow morning.

   —Clergymen holding half fare permits on the Lehigh Valley railroads are requested to renew their applications for '97 at as early a date as possible.

   —Rev. W. H. Riker, pastor of the Free Methodist church, is in Ithaca today and this afternoon is in charge of the quarterly meeting service of the church there.

   —The time of the funeral of Mrs. Julia A. Hubbard, formerly of Cortland, who died yesterday in Elmira, has been changed from 9:30 A. M. on Sunday to 9:30 A. M. on Monday.

   —It is stated that a prominent citizen of Farmer, N. Y., won a number of bets of ten dollars each on election, and the next morning went around to the houses of the losers and presented the winnings to their wives.

   —The Gillette Skirt Co. [temporarily located on Port Watson Street] seems to be booming. Additional help has been employed, so that now every one of the ten machines in the factory is in operation, besides several other employees engaged in special work.

   —New advertisements to-day are—A. Mahan, Pianos, page 6; C. F. Brown, Snap Shot Views, page 6; L. N. Hopkins, Palms for Christmas, page 6; Warner Rood, Fields & Hanson's Drawing Cards, page 5; Graham & Chatterton, Closing Out Sale, page 4.

   —The Syracuse Courier this morning issued a handsome Holiday edition of twenty-four pages. The extra pages are largely devoted to the industrial interests of Syracuse. A colored supplement with appropriate design is one of the features. The edition is a credit to The Courier.

   —The Newark Courier says people never commit a greater wrong than when they repeat to others what somebody has said about them. They never tell what was said in connection; they never explain all the circumstances under which it was said. Generally, such remarks are merely idle, unmeaning talk, or they are honest, even kind criticisms.

   —Emmet Card of East Homer was up in police court this morning on the charge of public intoxication. He pleaded not guilty to the charge, saying that he was irrational yesterday afternoon and that it was one of his "old spells" which he was helpless to prevent. On advice of his counsel he asked for an adjournment until Dec. 22 for examination.

   —Cornell university's registry shows a registration of 1,763, as against 1,654 at this time last year. This means between 1,800 and l,900 students registering before the end of the year. The number of entering students offering both Greek and Latin shows an increase of 15 per cent over last year. The faculty numbers 175. A new scholarship is announced in honor of the late Prof. Oliver.

   —The STANDARD is indebted to Hon. Chauncey M. Depew for a bound volume containing six of his latest and best public addresses, and also for a pamphlet containing separately his address at Galesburg, Ill., at the celebration of the thirty-eighth anniversary of the debate between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas. The next best thing to hearing one of Mr. Depew's speeches is to read it.

Cortland Opera House on Groton Avenue.

A Merry Show.

   What is claimed to be one of the merriest shows on the road comes to the Cortland Opera House next Wednesday, Dec. 16. This is an excellent reputation for a company to bear, but when one looks over the roster of Fields & Hanson's Drawing Cards it is said that there will be little wonder at the claim. Every artist in the troupe has passed an apprenticeship of some years. They claim to furnish an entertainment replete with clean wit, startling novelty, bright humor and quaint comedy. The headline of the show is that singing comedian Joe Flynn, who has an entirely new budget of pretty little things for his admirers. Then there is Annie Hart who has long held the sobriquet of "The Bowery Girl;" Dryden and Mitchell, the versatile comedians, in their original conception of the sport and the Celt; Blacksom and Page, the operatic comedians in their amusing concert "Just From the Track;" Stinson and Merton, the original comedy sketch artists; Fred Valmore, the original exponent of "The Instrumental Man;" Senator Frank Bell, who will discourse on the merits pro and con of the silver question; Genaro & Bailey, a novel sketch team, and those comedy bar entertainers, Zazelle & Vernon among the strongest in their profession.

   The above roster of comedians is new to the frequenters of vaudeville in Cortland.

Editor's note: We welcome CC reader Lauryn Abdo.