The New York herald., 1872-07-31
pr. Houard Tells the Story of His
Life to a Herald Correspond
ent in Cadiz.
AN AMERICAN BY BIRTH.
How lie Was Dragged from His House at Mid
night and Thrown Into Prison.
DENIED A TRIAL FOR MONTHS.
Spanish Cruelty EXemplifed in Their
Treatment Of Prisoners.
BRANDED AND IRONED.
Shipped Across the Atlantic Heavily
lrOned in the Hold of a Vessel.
THE JAIL AND JAILER OF CADIz
~
Eighteen Months and Twenty-six Days
Of Cruel, Unjustifable and He
gal Imprisonment.
FREE BY ORDER OF THE KING
How the United States Looked On While
I'M American Citizen Was Thus
Being Prosecuted.
HE JAIL AND JAILER OF CADIz
Eighteen Months and Twenty-six Days
Of Cruel, Unjustidable and He
gal Imprisonment.
FREE BY ORDER OF THE KING
How the United States Looked On While
IN American Citizen Was Thus
Being Prosecuted.
CApIZ, July I3. 1872.

CADrz, July 10, 1872.
In my last detailed the mode in which Dr.
Houard was discharged by the Spanish authorities,
and now have the pleasure to communicate the
result Of an exceedingly long interview ! had with
him yesterday, and In which he impaired to mo
Buch story Of suffering and of wrong as will be
read with interest by the millions for whom it is
Intended.
THE INTERVIEW.
Seated in o quiet parlor OF o Cadiz hotel, with
green trees in front and the blue sea beyond, on
poth Of which the recent prisoner seemed to gaze
with inexpressibe delight. we commenced our col
foquy after this fashion,
C0RREsPONDENT-DOctor Houard permit me
TO welcome you back to freedom In the
pame Of the American people, who would have
been prepared to 60 to great extremes to procure
i, If it had not happily been brought about by the
diplomatic action commenced in Washington and
concluded In Madrid by General Sickles. l now
have to ask you to favor me with some particulars
N your case, your history, your sufrerings and your
prison experiences. do this on behalf OF the
New YORK HERALD, which paper has taken leading
part in the agitation in America which has led to
four release.
DOCTOR HOUARD-I shall do so with extreme pleas
hre. tits duty owe to myself to my family and to
my country to let my sufferings be known as exten
lively as possible. 1t is also duty owe to the
Bpanish Government that. in the cool contempla-
lion Of the wrongs they have inflicted on me, they
hay in future avoid infictng them on others.
NAME, BIRTH, PARENTAGE.
CoRREsrONDENT-What is your full name9
.D0CToR-John Emilio Houard. L..
CoRREsPONDENT-Where were you bornf
iDocToR--In Philadelphia, on the 5th OF Septem-
per, 1915. My father was originally Frenchman.
He emgrated to the States in I7s5. twenty years
before my birth. In 1903 he took the oaths to the
republic and was duly admitted citizen of the
United States
CoRREsroNDENT-Dld he not afterwards settle In
Cuba
DoCroR-Yes. In 1921, when was six years old,
be went to Cuba The Spanish government were
then encouraging white emigration by grants Of
land under favorable conditions and my father
evalled himself OF them and settled at or near
Clenfuegos.
CoRRESPoNDENT-Did not the acceptance OF those
grants OF land involve the obligation to become
Spanish citizens9
D0croR-No. 1t involved the right to become
Spanish citizens II the settlers chose but not the
obligation. My father had an unconquerable anti
pathy to becoming Spanish subject, and he never
fook the least step in that direction.
CORRESPONDENT have seen 1t stated somewhere
that he acted as police commissioner of the district
In which he hved and that he could not have SO
acted unless he were Spaniard.
DocToR-It Is not true. He was at one time noml-
mated as Police Commissioner or something of that
sort, but he refused to act on the ground that he
was not Spanish but an American subject So
little inclination had lie to adopt the Spanish ma
tionality that up to tho time OF his DEATH after
eight years residence In Cuba, he never spoke the
language perfectly, but conducted his business by
means of Interpreters.
CORRESPONDENTS ask you these questions be-
cause understand that 1t was &C FIRST alleged by
the Cuban authorities that your father was O
Spanish subject, and consequently transmitted the
same nationality to you. have no doubt repre-
sentations to this effect were made to the Spanish
government at Madrid and have contributed, in
some degree, to your long imprisonment.
DocToR-Neither my lather nor myself ever per-
formed any act which could be construed into the
least approach towards surrender OF our Ameri-
can citizenship; on the contrary, I was always
recognized by the inhabitants OF Cienfuegos, where
resided nearly twenty-seven years, as On Amerl-
can citizen. was called "the American Doctor"
scrupulously complied with every form Of regis
tration required by the authorities both In the
books OF the corporation and in those oi the Con-
sulate Of my nation. In my cftl,Ra dc resfdenctd,
dated January TO- 1870, the year OF my arrest, as
well as In that OF February Q, 1869, am described
as an American citizen. These documents, you are
aware, are issued In the ofiice OF the Governor OF
Gienfuegos.
{ ConREsPoNpENT-Besiles these oncial documents
recognizing your American nationality, do you
Know OF any others OF IN UNOFFICIAL character
which set forth the same nationalltyf
DoCToR-Yes, several. or one In particular I
can speak. Shortly after the breaking out OF the
fnsurrection In tuba, toward the end or 1868, tho
American residents OF Ceniuegos addressed me-
mortal TO Mr.. Charles Fox, the Consul, rrgng the
necessity OF his taking steps with the government
at washington to procure the stationing OF an
American war vessel at Cicnmcgos to protect
American interests IN case Of need NY signature
was Que Of the nrst appended to ttat document,
and gave II as the oldest United STATES citizen
PRESIDENT In the place.
\ CoRREspoNDsST-Besides tllls eau you tell Inc Of
any other acts by which you
OPENLY DEMONSTRATED YOUR AMERICAN CITIZEN
sHIrf
. pocroR--Yes; II was always my custom to celc-
pratc the Fourth OF July Previous TO the death OF
my wife, In 1885, used to give formal dinner party
on every return OF that national anniversary. At
these dinner parties invited all my American
friends within the cl Gle Of my acquaintance, and
also many OF the Spanish residents OF CienHlesos.