The New York herald., 1869-05-27
G u 3 A..


and l59 United states troops on board About eleven
ID NJ OF the oath an alarm OF fire on board was
sounded and passengers and crew were all ordered
ON deck in case 1t should be necessary to abandon
the Ship The ofilcers immediately applied every
energy to discover and subdue the fire, while the
ship was headed for the land, Cape Hatteras bearing
southwest about fifteen miles distant. After an hour
of anxious exertion the fire was subdued and the
passengers were permitted to go below.
Our informant MIR. Smith. OF the firm OF Youngs
Smith 4 Co.. rs South street, states that great
presence Of mind was displayed BY the officers and
prompt obedience by the passengers and crew. The
ship, however, put into Fortress Monroe, from
whence we have received our correspondence. given
below. IN which VIII be found the latest news OF
operations i'll Cuba.
Spanish Accounts of Matters in Cana gncy-
Tho Road to Principe Openet.-Opcrnti0ns OF
nsarGcnss-Rcporfcd Massacre by the
Spaniar;.s-yoimnteers Likely TO Take the
Field.
HAVANA, May 20, 1869.
The Diaiio de Ia Marina OF the 18th gives the
Spanish version Of affairs in Camagueay. Lesca ar
rived at Puerto Principe from Nuevtas with the
voy Of provisions on the 5th. He brought with MIN
. quantity Of rails, sleepers and parts OF the
machinery Of locomotive, necessary to reconstruct
the one IN s6Yormer place. On his arrival fabulous
prices were obtained for eatabes; for example, one
dollar for pound OF cofee, fifty cents for O small
biscuit one dollar bottle for rum twenty dollars per
hundred weight for rice and other things in proper
ton. Subsequently Lesca issued an order to prevent
speculation IN the necessares OF life ana established
reasonable and, at the same time, remunerative
prices No additional details of the encounters along
the road are given. 1t Is mentioned that Quesada
has the tact to oIer battle near savannahs so that
he can escape with his followers and that he did so
at A,tagracia. where the convoy was joined by the
column which had gone out from Puerto Principe
to meet it. AS stated, he owed his preservation to
the neetness OF his horse The point Of interest in
this statement is the admission that Quesada some
times offers battle instead Of always running away
as claimed for according to the patriot Official ac-
count heretofore published In the HERALD be was not
at the fight at Alagracla
train left Puerto Principe on the 10Th for Nuevi-
tas, drawn by O locomotive, and arrived ON the
18th, being detained in repairing the road ana
bridges, which the insurgents were constantly de-
sroying both before and behind the train. 1t started
back the day. 1t is stated that on the 18th,
the time the train left Lesca went out with column
composed OF infantry, cavalry and artillery, to at.
tack the rebel camp at Ceuta that, on his arrival
the rebels ned, abandoning their Notifications.
However. as Letona had previously reported his
occupation OF that place. the statement is probably
Incorrect. Alter the convoy had gone out from
Neuvitas 1t came upon figure with the hide and
form OF COW, and upon IL pacard with the fol-
lowing, IN large letters:-"When this gives milk
the engine will pass with the train.n IL was sup
posed that desperate effort would be made to
destroy the convoy. Letona Is on the line Of the
road moyng from point to point evlden his
Bayatabo, three miles from Minas, the insur-
gents had established what was known as
large number OF families were closely watched
to prevent their presenting themselves TO the
General On the approach OF the troops under Le- |
tona they set fire TO the encampment and abandoned
It. A large number Of the women and children |
casa 70 % nas where Is ,s statoned strong
may be set down at 900. The General had assigned |
them ground on the lands Of the Marquis Of Santa
Lucia upon which 10 build huts.
The spanlards report that the insurgent force OF |
Camaguey does not exceed 5000 men; that they are |
badly mounted and worse armed they having in |
their various forays lost many horses. They are in
want OF salt, rice and nour, now sustaining them
abundance, seasoning them with lime Juice. the |
heavy rains, however, Will soon deprive them Of
Napoleon arrange and his brother were still prison.
ers The sentence OF death passed upon them had
been commuted to perpetual imprisonment through
tne influence OF Cespedes and their brother Aurella,
1t was rumored that sibanicu, Cascorro and Guai.
marc had b. en- to be burned by the insurgents;
but this s creditabe. Aguera was at the latter
place. number or rebels had arrived iD Camaguey
from Cnco villas. In speaking OF the operations |
Dfdrio admits that no action decisive in It's char.
acter has taken place. and that the loss Of the troops
In the various encounters would foot up as high as
1000 men. Before the nsurrection the population |
OF Camaguey was 10000. or tins number full 2h, 900 |
have abandoned their homes and taken to the fields |
and forests.
The captain OF spanish coasting steamer brings |
the almost incredible report that The troops came |
upon an encampment or women, children and old |
persons ana general massacre followed. The
force was OF Lescas command, and q serious dnl-
Guilty had arisen between him aud Letona on account
OF tile aliar.
The United States gunboat penobscot, Lieutenant
Commander Eastman, arrived here on Monday, hav-
ing lett Nuevitas on the 15th. The commander con-
firms the arrival or a train from Puerto Principe,
which was guarded on Its way down by 1000 men
walking alongside Of the cars The rebels were very
active all around destroying the bridges and doing
all possible 10 impede the progress.
Advices from Glbara, Puerto Padre and Manat
confirm the reported presence there OF the nsurgent
chiefs Marmol Marcano and Bratta. The steamer
Triunfo recoltly took 10 the former place two com
panes OF the Guides Of Madrid ana the battalion OF
foot artillery, and the MocteZuma took the Fifth
battalion Of modified volunteers and some compa.
MES 0i the Sapoes regulars. AS soon as the insur
gents heard C their landing they set fire to the towns
OF Santa Barbara, san Andres and Manlahon. They
also destroyed Two sugar estates. The prompt
movements OF the troops prevented the destruction
OF the large store houses at Puerto Padre. The
ior some months past and the arrival OF reinforce
ments there VIII doubtless give an impetus 10 opera
lions. An expedition ls reported landed In Glbara
and another on the south side.
There was rumor very generally current among
the Spanaris upon the wharf yesterday that yarna.
fall back on Manzanillo.
A German gentleman, who arrived on Saturday.
the 18th, from Trinidad, reports that Just before lie
left about fly wounded soldiers ana volunteers had
been brought IN from outside the town. Another ac
count states that OF force OF 200 which went out
only sixty had returned.
The question OF giving the command OF the voun-
teers to regular army olcers is being agtaed some.
what In the Havana press, and Is regarded as the
incipient step towards preparing the volunteers for
the ned, 10 which point II must inevitably come.
La poz de Co1a states that 1t has received sugges-
tions from different parts OF the island recommend
Ing the appointments referred 10.
At the late private meeting OF wealthy Spanards |
referred TO III recent despatch the question OF the
received.
IL has been generally understood OF late that the |
t n',,a & in" t d wSn m noyae W suspend puoca-
TINS may he the ultimate result, that journal will
continue for the present.
The Gorrion, armed vessel formerly the Conan |
ditarfol arrived on the 18th, with two English |
wreckers, the Geneva and Julia, In tow, they having
been captured some time since near Cape San An