When he arrived before the town, he sent word to the mayor that he was about to open fire with his dynamite-gun, and he requested that all the women, children, and non-fighting men should be sent out of the city.
In accordance with the rules of civilized warfare, he sent a permit for these people to pass out of the town in safety.
He waited several hours for a reply. None being sent, he ordered his gunners to send one shot over the city.
This having been done, and still no answer coming from the Spanish commander, General Gomez sent a fresh messenger, asking the mayor, for the sake of humanity, to send the women and children out of the town as quickly as possible.
To this the officer in command sent the reply that Gomez could begin to fire as quickly as he pleased, for not a soul in Arroyo Blanco should be allowed to leave the town; he intended to keep the women and children within the walls, to suffer whatever fate was in store for him.
The women and children pleaded to be allowed to leave, but the Spanish officer was determined to keep them, and they were obliged to stay.
On receiving this cruel answer, Gomez opened fire, using his dreadful dynamite-gun. For several days he laid siege to the town, without gaining any advantage.
The Spaniards tried to get help from the main army by signalling with the heliograph. This is an instrument by which rays of light are thrown from a mirror, and flashed from one point to another. It is much used in war.
The Cubans, however, prevented the heliograph from being used, and hoped that they had the Spaniards cut off from their friends.
By some means the news of the siege reached the main army, and three thousand troops were sent to the relief of Arroyo Blanco.