The New York herald., 1871-12-18
GU B a.
Tie Scene Of the Alleged Dissertation by
the Havana Students.
Uew Innocent Boys were Butchered BY Brutal
voluutscrs-The Latest News from the seat
Of Insurrection-Spanish courtesies to
United States Naval OfficsrA


Of Observation-Disclosures courtssiest to
United States Naval OfiosrA
HAVANA Dec. 10. 1871.
Although this city Is apparently quiet after the
recent excitement, yet the arrival OF American
vessels ofwar and the reports that war vessels OF
other nations are ordered here the published tele-
graphic extracts Of those parts OF the Presidents
Message relating to Cuba, the news OF the indignant
reception In the United States OF the particulars Of
The massacre OF the unfortunate and innocent young
Students and, furthermore, the rumors that troops
are expected from SPAN to garrison Havana, and
thus gradually Gisarm the volunteers-an tend to
keep up an unquiet state OF feeling and sense OF
general uneasiness permeafes the foreign residents
more especially Americans, for should there result
any dniculries between Spain and the United States
they would be In most unpleasant position.
The government here is endcavoring to deny the
outrageous and bloody mutinous conduct OF the
volunteers, declares That everything proceeded In
order ana that no excesses were committed. The
OPINION OF all foreign residents ID unanimous In re-
gard TO late events, convinced. as they are, that
NO crime, political or CIVIL had been committed
by the unfortunate Students and tnat their
lives were sacrificed TO satisfy the clamor OF the
volunteers and tne pressure exercised by them over
the authorities In view OF the many conflicting,
and, IN some cases, horribly absurd and wicked
rumors repeated to your correspondent concern
ing the acts or the students within the cemetery,
and with the desire, now that the passions have
somewhat camed down, Of putting the real facts OF
the so-called ''uesecration' before the readers or
the HERALD, your correspondent one day this past
week proceeded 70 the cemetery to inspect the tombs
Of Gonzalp Castanon ana glcardo Guzman.
TUE GRAVES OF cAsTANoN AND GUzMAN.
The Havana Cemetery Is at the end OF La Gale
AncDa del Norte, al the outskirts OF the city. At
tacheo 10 The cemetery Is ST. Lazarus Hospital and
the residence OF the cure in charge OF the cemetery
Part OF the hospital was used 10 instruct the
students OF the Royal Havana University practl-
cal anatomy. Upon arriving at the cemetery your
correspondent found the large iron gate locked.
The cure promenadlng In front Of his residence,
and Immediately sent q boy, with u tremendous
large key, to open the gate This introduced him
into the principal cemetery, which consists OF q
patio yard. about six hundred leet long and four
hundred wloe, enclosed In wall twenty feet high
and nine feet thick; In these walls arranged the
nbOhes. or ovens, iu tiers OF four, one above the
other IN perfect symmetry. Each niche ia about two
and half feet high and little two feet wide.
Each one has its number; many have marble slabs,
with small wooden frame, and glass to protect the
inscriptions and wreaUhs from the rain. The major
Iy are entirely plain This prlnclral yard or enclo
sure contains about two thousand five hundle ed
inches. Attached to this principal Yard are ten
Others, separated from the first one by large iron
gate, which was locked, but was kindly opened by
orders OF the cure, upon your correspondents re-
hundred feet long and about six:y-rwo feet Wide,
enclosed in walls OF the same height as the principal
yard, and about twenty eet thick NicheS are like
wise symmetrcaliy arranged in tiers OF four, and
each enclosure has from seven hundred to eight
non Is In the third patio on the wall to tue right
after entering, aud is marked No. 47S. 1t resembles
,s the resi- & Of the inches ane has plain marble slab
non IN black letters the rest OF the space Is cover
cd with wreaths or artificial flowers Of inmortelles,
evergreens beads and crosses and ribbons; the
whole Is covered with y tnin glass, set
IN slight wooden frame. This glass COW
orlng has Tour irregular scratches, no doubt
enected with diamond ring. No other marks
OF .'desecration,n proclamation, or violence TO the
niche could be discernei, no deamatory inscription
could be seen or any traces OF any; nothing what
ever that would attract the attention OF q casual
scratches be detected. Tnere, wellwalled, was
hidden what remained OF Gonzalo Castanon; no one
morar had BEEN 1etached om s Ys paee
Likely the 'desecprtIUnn consisted In carrying on
some wreashs which adorned the outside OF the
nlche6fs it Tor this that eight young students one
u them, Laborde, only fifteen years and four
rncnuf old and the Oldest only eighteen years have
r5e.ved violent deathsg Thllty are stn working
with the chain-gang breaking stones anu repairing
streets Of ihs city. numerous families are thrown
into everlasting grief and mourning and the past is
past and iii soon be forgotten, SO say the Havana
Journals. From the niche OF Castanon your corre-
spondent proceeded to that Of Ricardo Guzmsn. 1t
Is OH the same wall, marked with No. 567; has only
tne inscription visible s.Ricardo Guzman Ell bueno,
the rest OF the marble slab is covered, ike Cas-
fafons, with riopons, crosses, &c. On the outside
Of the niche On m nan hangs Wreath % o. him I'm
Inches vide. with the following printed fnscrp
uon:-"Recuerdo de grattud de Eduardo Olmedo.n
Not scratch ueaces this niche and IL Is without an
TUE MILITARY SITUATION.
Regarding the situation OF military affairs and the
tend to prove that the insurrecton still survives ana
Is progressing, with slight advantages gained by the
giley. In soriie lately made Oy Colonel Morales de
los Rios near Las Iunas, Vicente Garcia, the famous
and intrepid CuDan chie attacked and cut or Dios'
entire rear guard, composed OF eighty men. Other
engagements are said 10 have taken place In the
hrst named district but all details are carefully
withheld by the government gentleman recently
arrived from the interior OF Camaguey-nOt at-all
Cuban sympathlzer-relates that the condition OF
Affairs has not at all improved for the Spaniards:
that the insurgents under General Ygnaci0 and
Eduardo Agram0nte are doing much damage 10 the
small columns Of Spanish troops harassing them
continually ana gradually diminishing tneir mum.
bers. Some small bodies OF mobilizados or mob0ts,
have been entirely eobpied up, and only Jew per.
Al Tie military hospital OF Nuevitas there are over
Fix hundred wounded and SICK soldiers The ma
Jortty suffering from the endemic diseases OF this
island, from the faigues OF the campaign and local
feyers. Tne hospital at Puerto Principe crowded
with over one thousand soldiers suffering similarly.
The Havana daiies continue TO report news snow.
Ing the least sign OF advantage 10 the Spanish arms.
For instance Palmarelo's column, operating be-
sween the 18th and 2Sth ul.imo made one prisoner,
armed with o revolver, destroyed three small
ranches ana captured uVe perB0nS-WOmen ana
children. On inc 20 Inst forces belonging 10 the First
battalion oil the Iarragona regiment fought group
Or eight or ten rebels. dispersed them and wounded
one. telegram comes IRON Santiago de cuba
10 the effect that Morales de los Rios mad engaged
the hand oi Fajardo in the Gorro and Guira noun
sains had wounded three ana dispersed the band
ttley would have dispersed on their accortD,
besdes IN other operations elected seven Killed and
i've prisoners.
PRoCLANArIoS or THE NEW covRRNoR OF HAVANA.
His Exceency the newiy-appuinted political
Governor, upon taking possession OF his Office ad-
Appointed His Majesty political Governor OF this city
u rst duty TO address defender of the national
Integrity viii always und disposed 10 fnhi duty
lar will permit advancing IN the circle Of
atuitutions improvements possible and
WITH Strong hang sxtrpainc AL abuses WHOM be