Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-04-28

VIC SbhPhOu VIM
DIR. Charles A. Peek. who arrived ut New
Orleans few days ago, publishes letter in
the Picayuae giving an account Of his arrest
and imprisonment in Cuba After brief in
iroductory the letter continues.
GA the 9th of March, left New York in the
brig Dunkirk, for the benefit of my health, in
company with Mr.. Lorenzo de Zayas, with
whom designed forming business connec-
ton in Puerto Principe, with the full determi-
nation to take no part in any fillibustering or
revolutionary movement on the island, deter
mutation to which l most rehgiously adhered
while there. had certificate of citizenship,
under signature and seal of the Hon. William
l.. Marcy, Secretary of State, and duly au-
thenticated passport from the Spanish Consul
in New York. On arriving at Nuevitas on the
18th, was at first refused permission to dis
embark, but finally, after giving security not to
interfere with political matters on the island,
permitted TO land, and furnished with
pass to Principe, distant about fifty miles by
railroad proceeded thther, complying cheer
fully with all laws aud regulations, Of which
could acquire any knowledge, paying al neces-
sary taxes, reporting my arrival TO the authori-
ties, &c. 4 e 1874 . ~
As soon as health would permit me, after re
covering from the effects Of travelling, arrange
ments were made for the prosecution of bust
ness, and in accordance with the established
usages and customs Of the place. had scarcely
been there a week, when one night, at ii
o'clock, was required by four Government
officers 10 go and open my Office that they
might search luggage which was there, and
which had already been subjected to the critical
examination Of custom house officials Being
satisfied after their search that nothing was
Tod Tho ayt "a
was a call BY an officer, few days afterwards,
with the notification of q fine having been i'm
posed on me for having changed my lodgings
without informing the police. Fortunately my
lodging had not been changed at all, and
was again left in peace. The next curious
matter was my receiving information through
m anonymous communication that underneath
my name on the police registry were the words,
Keep a close watch on this gentleman"
On Sunday March rs, while walking in the
street with my partner, an officer on horseback
rode up and accosted him as follows : Is your
name Lorenzo lie Zayas!' at Is" "Ther you
are prisoner. You are incommunicated you
cannot speak one word; come along" He was
taken TO prison, kept one day and released with
ont having word said to him and without
knowing why he was arrested or why he was
discharged.
On the 4th of April government officer en-
tered the office, where we were employed upon
work we had engaged to do and said to my
partner: Translate into English all ] say.
You and this man are prisoners; it is the order
Of the Captain General that You be taken at
once to Havana. You cannot leave my sight,
but you can have the remainder Of this day to
arrange your affairs" l asked the cause of the
arrest TO which the officer replied, II don't
know" | asked him how long should be de-
tanned in Havana, and received the same an
swer | then sent friends to the Governor of
Principe for information, with no more salts
factory results. That afternoon we were con-
fined in the barracks of the Saliva Guardias a
military police organization, with free egress
from one room (which seemed to be a kind Of
nursery for aeas, spiders, and other vermin,) to
the stable and horse yard.
At four o'clock next morning we were con.
Quoted to the Nuevitas railroad. In Nuevitas
we were delivered over to the Governor to be
kept safe until the next day. He caused us to
be put in the Jail under guard Of soldiers
Here the keeper locked us in and went away
with the key So that when we had something
to eat brought to us by our friends, it could no
be given to us without sending person to fine
him, which took about an hour. We break
tasted that day at IL o'clock, and were it no
for the provision of friends outside, | should
probably not have breakfasted or dined tina
day at all During the whole time while under
confinement, except when on the steamboat
from Nuevitas to Havana we were obliged tc
furnish our own food and 10 have beds brough
into the prisons at our own expense.
At Nuevitas | sent for the American Consul
Mr. Richard Gibbs, before whom i made pro
test in the name of an American citizen agains
all powers, authorities, and persons, that were
holding me in bondage, and a declaration tina
held them responsible for whatever expense
or damage 10 m yself might result from it. Th
protest was immediately forwarded TO Col. Ro
bertson, Acting United States Consul at Hav
ana, and by him transmitted to the Department
Of State at Washington.
At four o'clock, on the 6th / was again sum
moned to go on board the steamer Pelayo fol
Havana. / was furnished with a forward-decl
passage, among horses and dogs and negroes
and what was still worse in the scale of exist
ence, the mercenary soldiers Of Spain, while the
officer in charge provided himself with confor
table quarters in the after-cabn. Being much
ont Of health, sent to the officer to know where
could find bed to lie down upon. The an
swer was that at night berths would be put up
on the deck-until that hour / must lie where
could find place. ! accordingly selected a
place on the upper-deck when fell asleep and
contracted cold, from the effects Of which,
owing to the delicate state Of my lungs, ] have
not yet recovered. Once or twice, for having
wandered too far towards the afterpart Of the
boat, ! was gruffly ordered forward by under
lngs on board, and, as nearly as / could Judge
from my slight knowledge of the Spanish Ian
g,uage. insuled in manner altogether uncalled
for. At night, being unable and not disposed
to sleep in the place provided, ! was, BY the
kindness Of a friend furnished with berth in
the after-cabin. Upon arriving at Havana,
was taken to the palace or prison which ever
it may be called) Of the Captain General, who
could not be seen at that time and from thence
TO the Saliva Guardias Barracks, where | was
again confined under guard Of soldiers.
As soon as circumstances would permit, on
the evening of that day. succeeded in getting
the American Consul informed of my where.
abouts, he himself having been all day unsuc-
cessfully trying to obtain such information
lie Immediately called upon me, and through
his influence, as ! believe, my case was expe