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Early Incidents of the Present War: Spanish

The revolt was centred in the Santiago Province. The daily increases of both armies added importance to the struggle, without altering, however, its characteristics. Detachments of small columns of Spanish foot-men and groups of mounted rebels were moving continually about the country, and hunting for one another. There were marches and countermarches, ambushes and surprises, with occasional hard fighting at close quarters. The following is an example: THE DEATH OF THE CUBAN LEADER, MARTI.

Marti landed with Maximo Gomez on the southern part of the Baracoa district, and from the moment he arrived his purpose was to extend the war to Puerto Principe, availing himself of the military experience of his companion, the Dominican chief, who, in the last campaign, had made El Camaguey the scene of his operations. They both were near Ventas de Casanova, and, as it has been ascertained, after organizing an expedition that was to march to Puerto Principe under Gomez's command, Marti intending to go to the seacoast in order to return abroad and continue his work there in favor of the secessionist revolution. It was then that a column, commanded by Colonel Jimenez de Sandoval, left Palma Soriano for Remanganaguas and afterwards proceeded from the latter place to Ventas de Casanova. The column then marched towards the Contramaetre river, and on the road arrested a man, Chacon by name, on whom were found letters from the rebels and some money with which he was going to make purchases by order of the insurgent chiefs. Chacon gave some information relative to the enemy's location, and accordingly Colonel Jimanez de Sandoval, on the 19th of May, gave the order to march, and arrived at La Brija. The Hernan Cortes squadron, under Captain Oswaldo Capa, was in vanguard, and attacked a band commanded by Bellito, which had come to meet the column. When Colonel Sandoval heard of it he advanced up to the plain of Dos Rios, and ordered his infantry to open fire. A spirited combat ensued with fatal results to the insurgents, as while the Spanish guide, Antonio Oliva, ran to help a soldier who was surrounded by a large group of the enemy, the guide fired his rifle at a horseman who fell to the ground, and was found to be Jose Marti. Captain Enrique Satue was the first to recognize him. A fight took place on the spot, the rebels trying hard to carry the corpse away. There was also another very important incident. Maximo Gomez was wounded, which for some days led to the belief that he was dead. According to one narrative, Gomez was on the scene of the above events from the beginning of the combat, and while hurrying to recover personally the corpse of Marti, to go to Camaguey, when, passing at some distance from Dos Rios, he heard the report of musketry; he imagined what was happening, and ran to rescue the civil chief of the revolution; but when he arrived marti had been killed. Gomez being wounded, Borrero placed him on his own horse, and in this manner took him away in safety. The Spaniards, after their victory, moved to Remanganaguas, where the corpse of Marti was embalmed. From the latter town it was taken to Santiago de Cuba, and while on the way there the troops had to repel an attack from the rebels, who intended to carry off the coffin. On arrival at the Oriental capitol the remains of Marti were exhibited in the cemetery, and, in spite of the effects of rapid decomposition, which had set in, many people recognized the features of the secessionist agitator, as stated in an official attestation. Colonel Sandoval presided over the funeral ceremonies, and General Salcedo caused the dead man to be given a decent resting-place. Here are Sandoval's words on the occasion:

Gentlemen:-In presence of the corpse of him who in life was Jose Marti, and in the absence of any relative or friend who might speak over his remains such words as are customary, I request you not to consider these remains to be those of an enemy any more, but simply those of a man, carried by political discords to face Spanish soldiers. From the moment the spirits have freed themselves of matter they are sheltered and magnanimously pardoned by the Almighty, and the abandoned matter is left in our care, for us to dispel all rancorous feelings, and give the corpse such Christian burial as is due to the dead.