The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-23

THE PARAGUAY OUTRAGE,
Arrival of Messrs. Bliss and Mas
terman In New YOrk-Their
Sufferings in Paraguay
The Conditions Of
their Release.

The New York Tribune of this morning has
The folio owing:-
The Two mem bers OF the American Legation
In Paraguay Messrs. Porter G. Bliss and George
+. Masterman, who we're so cruelty imprisoned
py the tyrant Lopez, arrived here on board tue
Brazil mail steamer Mississippi on Sunday.
Alter short stay in New York they will pro-
Ceed to Washington to report to the State De-
partment for trial on the charge of conspiracy
against Lopez. They were conveyed as prison.
ers from Asuucion TO Rio Janelro on board one
OF the United States vessels, and were there
requested by Rear Admiral Davis to take pas.
sage on one of the regular mail steamers for
New York, and present themselves to the Secre-
tary of State for such disposition as he might
see fit TO make OF them. Tney arrive, conse-
Quently, under charges, although they have not
been treated as prisoners since leaving Rio, nor
are they even under parole.
Mr.. Porter G. Bliss is from Western New
York, and went to South America eight years
ago with Minister Webb. He has travelled
great deal on the eastern shore of the South
American continent engaged partly In business
pursuits, but chiefly in chronological, linguistic,
and geographical researches. he is thirty years
of age. Mr.. Bliss bears evidences of the suffer-
ing be has undergone, and no one can look at
him and hear his story without seeing in gait,
gesture, countenance, and expression abundant
continuation OF the narrative OF cruelty and
outrage.
MIR. Masterman IS an Englshman who went
TO Paraguay seven years ago to join the medical
staff OF the Paraguayan army. He Is about the
handsome features, and bears a decided appear
ance of the gentleman. His dark hair turned
half grey during his imprisonment He suffered
much less than Mr.. Bliss, however, and his
health does not appear TO have been much
shattered. The following succinct narratives
of the imprisonment and sutferngs OF Messrs
Masterman and iss, for which we are indebted
to the gentlemen themselves, will be found
highly interesting.
iHere follows the narrative of the conspiracy
and arrest, as was given in yesterdays TELE.
lnrr ENyN
SuGerings and TOrture.
Mr.. Bliss thus describes his suferings and
torture:-
81 was taken in irons says Mr.. Bliss, to the
camp near Angostura, kept there under sentry
for part of the time, with every precaution to
prevent my escape. In the first place, was
rlfed of my travelling bag, and even my comb
and brush and all the little convenlencas
travelling l was also robbed OF almost every
trihe on my persen. Everything was taken
away; and l was kept, in the same suit of
clothes for three months, with irons of forty
pounds weight on my legs. One sentry kept
guard over me OF day. and two by night. was
brought up before the Revolutionary Trlbu-
nal twenty different days; on one, occasion
= was fourteen hours on stretch before it;
on another sixteen, and at other times
twelve hours. AT first l was kept in an open
field for a number OF days. We had absolutely
no shelter; afterwards branches were tied toge-
ther, and the grass in the field was cut and
placed in bunches making sort of Indian tent
about tour feet high, and in a sloping, inclined
torn, not high enough to stand in erect, and
with nothing to sit upon. In these we passed
the days and nights, lying upon the ground,
having no intercourse with anybody, sentry
with each one keeping watch over us, and not
allowing us TO communicate with anybody The
only variation we had from this horrible mo-
notopy was being brought before the Revolu-
tionary Tribunal. After about a month was
moved to another hut in order to write
pamphlet putting in narrative form my state
menis before the tribunals. There were some few
alterations after the change. 1t was one great
aleviaton TO have roof that would shelter me
better nom the lnclemency OF the weather;
MY irons however, were kept on, and all had
10 eat was a little boiled beef, aud without salt
After a time they gave me hide to sleep on.
] was not allowed any other tood than the
boiled beef; but it was great relief for me to
have something to do. Having employment
was a great relief because mad nothing to do
before but lay on my back and break straws.
Lopez made those who inquired for us believe
that we were perfectly contented and satisfied,
and getting plenty OF money, and that we would
4 not leave Paraguay on any condition. Ny irons
were removed on the 4th December, just before
/ was given up.D
Messrs Bliss aud Masterman were subjected
TO torture Of the most cruel kind, in order to
extOrt confession from them of the existence
of a conspiracy against Lopez. Mr.. Bliss thus
describes the tortufe:-
"We were tortured with contrivance to
which Lopez gave the name OF 'Cepo Uruguay
ana, / have been isticuifed in the presence of
the tribunal, and have been beaten over the
head with drawn sword in the presence of the
same tribunal. | was put TO the torture of the
'Cepo Uruguayana,' something similar to what
we call bucsing. 1t consists Of placing a
musket under the knees, and nuskets over the
neck, with thongs reaching from one to the
other, which, on being tightened, force the head
down between the knees, until the chin touches
the musket, the process COMPRISING the belly,
and causing great pain in the back and the
other parts OF the body. was subjected to this
torture for over twenty minutes. Even after ]
was brought on board the Wasp could not
stoop without having strong remintscence OF
the torture 1t made me sick for several days
Mr.. MasteImau tainted away under It,"
Relations with MIR. Washburn and
Other Foreigners.
MFR, Bliss, as will be seen, completely eXone
rates ex.Minister Washburn from the charge o
-. being a party 10 conspiracy for the over
. throw of Lopez:- a.,
III will take my oath, y he says, that to thu
very best OF my knowledge, and belief ther'
never was any conspiracy. Mr.. Washburn AM
myself have lived on terms OF the closesI lhtl
macy ever since we went to Paraguay. EVER
Every step took was known to him as Wer
his to me. We lived on terms OF the closes
intimacy with the most prominent tamille
there, with Dr. Masterman and the official
connected with MIR. Washburn, an
with the other foreign ministers ant
others. 1t would have been impossible tina
these men should have been connected witt
The conspiracy without our knowing, an
without our knowing of the slightest indication
of anything OF the kind. OF course canno
cav that was present personally with any
these gentlemen ali the time, and could not sa
that they did not do this, that, and the otlel
INT l have very good reasons for believing tbs
theTe was never any conspiracy on the part
the ave hundred foreigners that have been she
tor conspiracy. have no means OF knoWin
~ T,anv were there Imprisoned, l can sa