The New York herald., 1868-11-27
CUBA.


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| An Asnerlcan's Estimate Of the Situation In
the Enst-The Searo mt Paerto Principe
Oncr0us Taxation tho Cause Of the Revolt
Details of the Seizure Of Arms or the Brig
Jenny Clark.
HAVANA, Nov. II. 1868.
Your correspondent, writing from Nuevltas under
date OF the 18th, says-There Is very great alarm
and excitement hero and 1t Is difficult to get at the
true condition Of affairs The Cubans talk OF patriot
ism, free Cuba honor, thirty-three millions OF taxes
and imposts annually, Of despotic officials and
drones sent here from Spain 60 eat up the substance
OF the people, while the Spanlards are equally earn
est In their talk OF anarchy thieves punderers rob-
bers, adventurers in debt and assassins. After a
careful study of the situation conclude the follow
ing to be, as near as possible, correct:--
The rebels or insurgents number about 10000 men.
The trouble commenced in the Bayam0 district about
taxes. The leaders are men OF property ana risk
their all. They hold all Of the eastern end Of the
oisland from Puerto Principe to Santiago de Cuba,
with the exception OF the pors of Nuevitas Jidara
and Baracoa; but all communications with the in
terror are cut or from these ports. It ia known
that between this point and Puerto Principe, forty
i've miles. there nearly 1000 men, old and young,
Of the best families Of thar city. Among them are
many planters and owners Of large estates; no ne
groes or rougn characters Of any kind. The govern
ment has but few troops and those are held In the
towns ana ctes there being none to spare to attack
the insurgents
On the 9th inst, . rumor was current and gener-
ally believed that the city Of Puerto Principe having
$4,000 inhahitants. was to be attacked. The Gov
churches, broke up the doors and windows and for
tined himself The shops and stores were all closed,
| ances Of q deserted city. No enemy came Since
then many citizens have been arrested they being
taken from their homes and estates In the country.
Unn In
del Risco married to an American lady, taken from
his sugar estate, where he was engaged in his ordi-
part Of the suthcrties has Ind the eect Of driving
many men to the field.
was gotten up in this city, The town was partly for
titled cannon placed in position and merchants and
dealers were kept mp nearly all night delivering pro-
visions, wine and aguardiente.
On the 10th the railroad train LEFT here Mt two r. NJ
with freight and about forty passengers. When
distractions on the road. He succeeded in
hating the train as 1t arrived where they lay when
the cars were Immediately surrounded by about 200
men. Tue passengers were ordered out and Informed
In very polite manner that they need not fear In
jury. Two Spanish oficers, one sergeant and four
merchants were made prisoners. The balance were
told that those who wished to return to Nuevitas
wonid nnd hand car about mile back. such were
furnished with passports and arrived here about
seven p NJ. The others who wished TO 20 to Puerto
Principe did 50 on foot with such conveyances
they could obtain. The train was left on the road,
small portion OF the track having been torn up to
prevent its moving. No outrages were committed OF
gentleman from New York who was on the train
states that the insurgents were well armed ana
equipped, and though covered with mud. as the
whole country is under water, their appearance and
dcpor' ment were those OF gentlemen. Their object
In stopping the train, as they stated, was TO obtain
| despoticaly aad unjustiy imprisoned. There does
not appear 10 DC any regulation or organization
although the insurgents claim there rs. The re-
| ports OF outrages and brgandaye are false The
negroes are quietly at work on the various planta
tions and no attempts are made TO disturb them.
A Spanish ofiicer recently informed me that ut
| the attack on Las Tunas they carried whitc
| nag with blue star In the centre. At another
| time they had blue nag, with an image Of the
Virgin Mary. gentleman who arrived here last
evening from Principe, coming through the IN
anrgcnts' lines, informs me thar The Governor has
liberated all the prisoners taken within the past few
| days, and that the Spanish merchants who were
taken or the train the 9Th have been freed by the
rebels. The government here is powerless, the
troops are shut up In the towns and dare not go
In this port there are three gnboatsAfrica, Conde
venedeta ana ISABEL Francaise. The marines and
sailors, 20 the number or about eighty men, are dis
embarked every night aId assist the troops In
guarding the town.
IL has leaked out that the troops have suffered
heavy reverses In the Interior and for this reason
they have shut themselves up In the towns await
relniorcements before opening any campaign against
The British brig Jenny Clark arrived here nom
New York on the 2ath OF October, and commenced
dscnargDg on the 31st On the I'd OF November there
were unloaded from her what purported 10 be nve
erces OF rice. but on examination they were found
W bWenty rlucS anu zu,UVu DxilS lHt NcS-
sci was Immediately placed under the guns OF one
oil the national vessels and s still kept there aud the
captain (R0bers) and the crew not permitted 10
have any communication with any person. The
British Consul Immediately attempted ~ telegraph
70 the Consul General 81 Havana, but the Governor
at Puerto Principe would not permit the despatch TO
go through. At the latest moment there seems to
be a cessation OF hostties The rebels have got
nearly all the rolling stock OF the railroad In thor
possessions. There s no communication with the
interior save BY horse and through their lines.
Tho Capture or q Train and t:ovcrnnent
Arms Near Nuovifas-iebel stories Re-
viewed-The Meteors seen at Trinidad No-
ven,bsr td-rhe Arrival al Minister Rosc-
crBns.
HAVANA, Nov, n. 1893.
FROM reliable source learn that the object oi
the insurgents In stopping the train the 9th inst,
between Nuevitas and Puerto Principe ~ mentioned
IN my letter OF the 17th to capture the and
munitions brought for the government by the steamer
Columbia, which arrived here on the III and were
transhipped to the Moctezuma and placed on the
cars at Nuevitas They had due notice Of their CON-
ing, and at distance Of six miles from Nuevitas
they took up quantity OF rails and placed q red
| nag on the track the usual signal OF danger.
when the train stopped the few officers ana sol.
| d,ers on board we're Immediately made prison
ers and their arms taken from them The insurgents
then took possession Of the arms (which tey were
IN search, and also the correspondence and con-
siderable sum ofsmoney belonging 20 the govern
mene ana designed for the payment Of the troops.
ygnila ror,xos a