The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-12-19
START FOR THE REBEL REGION,

In half an hour second round, and not one pas
senger on the deck declined the glass, At three
r. NJ Bass ale was furnished In the same way, and
every one partook. II was about nine O'Clock on
the morning Of the 25th when We passed by little
light armed FORT upon which stood sentinel fight
Ing spasmodically with bandana handkerchief
o cloud OF mosquitoes, into the bay OF Nuevitas,
Of which Irving says:-"Columbus, on arriving
here, was struck with its magnitude and the
grandeur OF its featuresj Its high and airy noun
tains, which reminded him OF those in Sicily; Its
fertile valleys and long sweeping plains, watered
by noble rivers; It's stately forests, its bold pro-
and stretching headlands, which melted
away into the remotcst distance" The urea OF
this bay Is said to be ffty-sevcn square miles.
AT Nuevitas found that Bernard Watlington
United States Consul, to whom had letter Of in
production, had died few DAYS before, and that
Cornelio Porro, an ex-insurgent chief, to whom
had been recommended, was In Puerto Principe.
Alter ascertainlng these facts had barely time to
catch the cars for the last named place.
The distance from Nuevltas to Puerto Principe by
rail Is fortynve miles, and we made the Journey in
about three hours, arriving at the latter place at
about four P. NJ. The train consisted, besides the
engine and tender, OF one passenger car,
GUARDED BEFORE AND BEHIND,
by cars arranged for and carrying soldiers to pro-
soldiers accompany each train, and the cars which
carry them are built Of heavy panks with loop
holes near the top In addition to these precau-
tons each passenger train is preceded by another
carrying soldiers, and which runs about two miles
ahead. These precautions Of this nature, and the
military posts every mile along the route, made 1t
evident that we were entering the disturbed or in
surrectionary districts, and as four-ffths Of the
passengers were arrayed in military garb, the
Journey was OF decided aud almost exciting in
teTest.
The railroad itself was old and very rough, and
the passenger car old and dirty, provided with
hair-bottomed seats Having no system OF bag
gage checks in Cuba but charging as freight for
all baggage the traveller does not keep with MIN,
the consequence is the passageway platforms and
seats are numbered up with trunks ana valises.
Four or five prolonged whistles indicated TO Us
that we were approaching Puerto Principe, ana at
the time to the inhabitants or the latter place
that the train bore passengers and mails from
Havana.
My drst business was to find Cornelio Porro,
whom. Tor SUFFICIENT reasons, | desired to see be-
fore presenting myself to General Fajardo; but "a
It was not until Monday (2sth) that got sight OF
MN, had time to wander about ami study the
town.
PUERTO PRINCIPE,
WIFE population OF 1000, Is OF the most anti
quated ana spanish OF al Cuban towns. Its mar
row. dusty or muddy, unpaved streets, oddly
SNAPPED, low houses, numerous stores, with, as in
Havana. all their contents exposed to view: alb.
sence OF any sidewalks in the principal streets.
ana the many one-inue voantes, give 1t peculiar
attraction to the stranger. 1t has several queer
commodations are wretched. | had been recon-
mended to stop at the "Hotcl Espanoln as being
the best in the city, and found it well patronized
and nearly nlled by military oficers The barroom.
once and dining room were one, while the bar
room opened into the stable, where there was gene
rally horse or donkey. In the rear of this room
were the bedrooms, on two sides OF a court while
me fourth was occupied by the kitchen, presided
city is notable for having been the hotbed OF the
present revolution and TOR having sent out
nearly three -fourths OF her young men to the pa.
place between the contending parties in her
streets. Accompanied by corneilo forroI
CALLED UPON GENERAL FAJARDO
on the 2Sth, and was cordially received. lie had
received from Captain General Ceballos orders TO
lions in his department and informed me I could
II desired. JON Spanish column In search of the
insurgents the next day, and that not only horse
and servant would be furnished me- but an inter.
prefer II desired II. had already that day been
called upon by young man who had rendered his
mine whether he Was insane or deemed me CT so. In
the short conversation | had with him he de-
nounced the spaniards as robbers and assassins,
Volunteers. ana 81 ther Sp@h hostility sttiit 70 Amer
cans. And all this without any expression OF my
Sympathles IN the war declined his services. Be-
fore my interview closed the General furnished me
with the following sale conduct or permit
cosASpAScrA GENERAL cESrRo-
MI hGys 9a S Sss Of s his sa to
correspondsnt Of the Nnw yoRk HtnMp lie carries
revolver trust to all the civil authorities and com
mand 10 the militia, not TO lay any obstacle whateyeT IN
he S, Way po,xo,., o.. % 10. T. FAJARDo'
Soon after my return to the hotel from the head
quarters OF General Falardo young Spanish OIL
Ger presented himself as being the interpreter as
signed me While IN the Central Department.
LIEUTENANT MANUEL EMILIO AGUERo,
who was my constant companion from that time
until left the Island deserves more than passing
notice, he was among the nrst 10 JOIN the patrioL
army in the present revolution. Indeed he was
one OF the original conspirators who planned the
instruction. For three years and half he was
present year when, with the rank OF lieutenant
colonel, he presented" or surrendered himself to
the spaniards In the Cuban ranks his brother
side, and when he lett his former comrades
he left behind him his father who has,
rewarded by the authorities by the presentation
OF lieutenant's commission. After his accept
ance OF this he had been very active in endeavor-
ing TO persuade his former comrades among
whom was General Agramontel TO follow his
example, and copies Of some OF his letters to them
have been published In the Spanish Journals. He
Is about twentyseven years OF age and Cuban by
birth. He speaks English nuently. having spent
10 have served In our late war in New YORK
regiment.
ton from Brgadicr General Acosta 10 dine with
him, which accepted and accompanied the Lieu
tenant.
GENERAL AC0sTA,
who Is said to be one OF the wcathiest men In
Cuba, his property consisting mostly o. sugar es-
tates, estimated 70 be worth S15 600, is plea
SAINT, Jovia, midde-aged gentleman, fond Of society
and good living ] found him at bountifully
served table, surrounded by eight or ten officers,
personal friends and members OF his stan, TO each
OF the latter OF whom in addition to his rightful
cognomeD, the General, had given pet name, the
explanation OF which, as ] was severaliy
int q mn H..
ment. gallant-looking major was known as cthc
lady Killer" and was sad to be fortunate with
the fair sex as he was unfortunate at the gaming
table, sThe Bull Fighter was q rather mia in.
offensive looking blonde with surgeons commits
sion. For the two hours we were at the table,
where the seat OF honor at the Generals right was
occupied by your correspondent, serious converse
ton SO mingled with jest and repaitec and sherry,
Madeira and Bass ale. SO quickly Whiied away The