The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-09-29


Ia n Bath-Onc Of Them Sent TO Spain-The
Atrocities Under vaimasoda's Famous Pro.
Observation-Disclosures Sick Of "Brains ard
BlOOd'-The Prospects Of Peace--It Can
Only Come by MISUNDERSTANDING Doing
In the Ficid-The Destruction Of Estates
American Protection at IA Discount-A
Model Observation-Disclosures of the
SIaiter.
IA private letter received here from prominent
foreign merchant In Havana has interesting infor-
nation OF the condition OF affairs there. We are
permitted to make the following extracis:-l
HAVANA Sept 10, 1859.
While there is less turbulence and disorder here
than when the volunteers were paving the way Tor
the deposition OF Dulce matters are IN no respect
improved nor has General Rolas any more power
than had his predecessor. The Casino Espafo has
concentrated in itself all OF the mutnous and per-
urbed elements far stronger than heretofore through
union and organization. This club is one powerful
secret, all-prevading vigilance committee, hold
ing in it's hands to enforce It's wishes the
1900 or 10000 armed volunteers and having its
spies everywhere; In the various Places OF public
sort; dropping H. with social intent upon the vari
GUS places OF business where suspected pc may
be; az church; catching at a chance remark on the
street; in the offices; on the police every where.
Man Is prudent before his most Intimate friend,
and the air Of having seen ghost meets one at
every turn. The slightest suspicion, not seldom
personal enmlty, IS sufficient Some foolish charge
is rumped up and carried to the authorities, them
selves generally members OF the club. and though as
innocent as the child unborn, the unfortunate VIC
tim Is caught up at some unreasonable hour, may be
| when entering his house late IN the evening, or
| moving through lone street. anywhere. so no one
can report the fact. hurried into hack and driven
Off to prison by some creature OF the club, who has
dogged his steps for days placed accommodated;
SO only by his continued absence do his friends
know OF his fate. His nationality no more
than his innocence is protection against
the arrest several foreigners have been
as be Io1Rn eHe
ton OF his Consul, Is with an lntImation from the
Captain General that he had better for his own
protection can be Afforded HIM. There Is not day
passes In winch the comfy OF nations and the treaty
supulations in reference TO foreign residents are not
| grossly violated and no one realizes this better or
deplores 1t more than Caballero dc Rodas In case
the arrested is q Spanish subject, and innocent OF
any offence, he is ordered TO Spain by the next
correo, which signifies 'There Is nothing against
you, but the government will be conf eled TO punish
you if you remain here." Not seldom, the enlire IN.
terests OF tie victim are thereby sacrificed and lie is
pecuniarly Inlped. An amusing example OF this
| sudden punishment occurred but recently. Two
| ladies. both natives OF Spain--the one Madridna,
the other long time resident OF tue s'and-were
together in bath by the shore, not FAR from the
CITY. Speaking OF political subjects, tue lady from
Madrid REMARKED ~ nope TO see the government
torted, ii hope to see Cespedes in the Palace
occupied by De kodas" Immediately The first
| water and would have drowned her had not others
interfered Hurrylng on her garments the spanish
when the other returned to her house she found the
official already there with the orde directing herself,
her husband ana entire family 10 proceed 10 spain by
| the next mall steamer. meanwhile TO remain under
| surveillance. long time a,tache OF prominent
New York journal was thus arrested but recently,
and VIII have 10 leave the Island, and it is intimated
mat his successora far-hared young man OF retlr-
| Ing habits-is in danger. Naturally enough the
arrival OF me anticipated squadron IRON the United
states Is anxlousiy looked for, and ali foreigners
here VIII feel sense OF relief when 1t comes.
| or tue atrocities concerning which you speak no
idea OF them can be exaggerated. know nothing OF
the details rs given in the newspapers; doubtless
many OF them are incorrect but the lacG that appal
| ling parbarities are haDitual on both sides cannot
| be questioned foreigner resident near Bayamo
acknowledsma that he was personally GsIi ,reated
by Valmaseda, states mat his horrible PROCLAMATION
was literally carried out. me day following It's pro-
| mugation and before it b. came known TO the
people, body of leo troops were sent out Approach
ing ranch, The following conversation would occur
| between the commanding officer aud the citizeu:-
| OFFicEk-Why have you not the white nag over
! your house,2
OiT1zEN--I don't know what you mean by the
| white flag.
>, OFFICER ITO his menl-Takc him oat and shoot
| him; aud he was shot down like dor, In the PIES
| ence OF his terrified wife and children.
! Again, IN answer 10 The question concerning the
flag the citizen responds IF / put il up the in.
| surgents VIII shoot me-"
0FFIcER-Wny do you not come in, thcnP
CiTlzEN-The insurgents would shoot me on the
OFfIcER-Take him out and shoot him.
Again the officer inquiries for grain, cattle other
supplies. have none, says the citizen; the insur-
gents have taken everything from me.
OFFICER-fOu gave 1t TO them.
CIri2EN-No, sr, did not; they took ii by force.
OFFiOER-Shoot him.
ON approaching those houses when the men were
absent the women were called and tne fact OF absence
being ascertained, every house Immediately
burned to the ground ana the inmates men, women
little ones, children in arms ordered 10 proceed TO
mi 10 .I,efop
with no provision for food and shelter on the way
From these dreary cavacadcs many lalJ down by
the roadside ana died, and others net BY Insur
gent gangs, who matreated them for endeavoring to
reach the Spanish lines. OF The horrible out
they may be imagined, not described. Those fam
lies concerning which the Spanish papers
yaantlngly speak as coming to vamaseda !or pro.
soldiers, aud, their houses DESTROYED, have been
compelled to come TO him. so horrible was this
carnival of blood that the soldiers finally refused 10
go out. eXclaming, 1--WE are SICK OF brains and
| bood.' Thenceforward the men were brought in
| rather than shot down. Fearful as Is thus picture
II 10 that or sn eye witness, a foreigner and one
whose personal interest would be enhanced by the
success of the Spanish cause.
AZ 10 the ultimate result lt Is useless to speculate.
Everything Is hoped for through American inter-
vention. The proposition of the United states and
the response OF SPAN as contained In the NEW
YORK HERALD OF recent GATE has excited most con-
1dent expectations here 1t Is true that only IN this
ished--that il the United States guarantees any
thing, not base, on the unconditional submission OF
tne CuDah5 sue can Oniy 90 so by introducing
troops into certain prominent points OF the island
to Keep down the turbulent Spanish element which,
IN uenanee Oh Tue goYerninent Wouiu not DC uhlKely
to fnaugurate massacre OF the Cuballs ana per-
haps the Americans.
Nothing can be hoped for from the conbatants In
the field. Large relnlorcemeniS from spain, such
are promised this fall, might, perhaps scatter The
larger organized forces Of the Insurgents, but they
can easily keep up their de3uiory warfare until
another sckly season, when the Spaniarls would
again become powcrless, and before winter came
around again an equally large reinforcement would
be required again TO be ground between upper and
neither mlstone3. Meanwhile The insurgents have
adopted asystenlatlzed course OF destruction Dread
full as the idea IL, they have determined 10 make the
island desert In order that through rs sugar and
coffee it cease 10 pour its treasures into the cOl
fers OF SPAN and so euabe that Power 10 continue
the war against them. Every day we are growing
poorer for every day comes news OF the additional
destruction OF esiaies. and the bali il not told. The
great OF these burnings not reported; the
Papers, doubtless at the suggestion OF the govern