The Portland daily press., 1872-01-02
The Havana Students.

riosity. H.B.
East Hardwick, VT
The Havana Students.
An Havana letter to the New York Herald
says the Havana students still continue in the
chain gang. A letter addressed by one of them
to his family, details the suffering and mortif-
cations they have had to endure and still under
go. Speaking of the trial by court martial, the
writer says: E4tfff
recollect dimly that we were questioned by men
in uniform-answers pressed out of us. even
don't know what was accused of, as was not
in the cemetery or attended class the day men
toned do recollect that one of myeompan-
ions, after being weary with being questioned
answered: If you ask me if 1 have done any in
jury to the grave of Castanon, must reply that
| was not in the cemetery; but if you ask me if
| hate the Spaniards, I reply CON toda mi alma
with my whole souD. This answer created
much sensation, and his sentence was not doubt
full. Nevertheless, only four were condemned
to death, and we knew that eight, or one-fifth
were-t to be sacrificed to the demands of the
mob of volunteers yelling outside. Lots were
resorted to by the officers composing our Judges,
and poor little Laborde was one of the unfortu-
mates. When we were separated from our COM
panions we realized what was in store for them,
and thought my heart would break; but
IudSttTeu my eI1OGlOH as well as could, and so
did the rest. The same afternoon we heard a
vOlley fired and several single Shots and we
knew but too well what it signified but wear
led with excitement, the restless night, the i'm
preston of natural awe and fear with which
the yells the night throughout had filled our
hearts, we could hardly feel any worse.
Immediately after what we imagined to be
the execution of our companions we were taken
to one of the saloons of the prison: there we
were despoiled of our clothes and dressed in the
prison garb, which you know (pants and a short
shirt, made Of Russia duck), my hair, as well as
that of the rest, was cut close to the head, for
which operation we paid twenty cents EACH
Then we had chains put on us, some having
very heavy chains exchanged for somewhat
lighter ones, by paying 81; then they read to us
what they called the prison rules and regula-
tions. r7i-t
Ihe next morning our sentence commenced.
We were taken to the quarries of st. Lazaro
road and forced to break stones and load them
into carts, labor entirely inadequate to the
strength of the majority of us. Many of the
stones are so heavy that it requires the COM
bined strength of several to lift them. During
the first days some of the boys were struck with
the rattan canes of our masters and loaded with
vile eplthets and insults, but complaints We're
made, as we have been informed, by compass
sionate people, and now we receive better treat
ment and are not forced by blows to overtask
ourselves. The food furnished us we cannot
eat, and we are obliged to subsist upon what we
and spoon of wood; no cutting instrument is
allowed us. We sleep on palm mats thrown on
the cold stone floor, and, rain or shine, we are
forced into the streets to our tasks Such treat
ment to us who have been accustomed to have
all our wishes gratified pampered and spoiled
by our over-indulgent parents, has, of course,
caused sickness to many of us, and if cortin-
ued our sufferings will end in DEATH Many of
my companions are Responding and envy the
fate of our murdered schoolmates Others,
hOWaVar-fha StTOp ppSt and a11pst and
them-keepup our spirits and hope for the best.
1t is impossible for us to imagine that we are
to be kept this way for six long years. We are
oblge to arise every morning at o'clock, al
though we do not go to our tasks until 6, and
work until near sunset at which time the roll
is called and we are marched back to prison;
after that we have what we call our dinner;
then Immediately after comes our only time of
pleasure; we are allowed to read until 8; at
That hour we are ordered to lie down on our
mats and go to sleep, or at any rate remain 81
lent; we are only allowed to bathe once a week,
and also have prison barber, who shaves all
the boys, with or without boards; he has two
razors for this purpose, one very dull and like a
saw, which is the prison razor and there is no
charge to be shaved with it; but he has bet
ter one in reserve, which he says is his own
private property, and for the use of which he
charges ten cents, which we are all willing to
pay not to undergo the torture of the saw razor.
CAPT. JACOBS, of the missionary schooner
Southern Cross, has forwarded to England the
particulars of the recent murder of Bishop Pat
terson, of the Meanesian mission, and Rev.
Mr.. Atkins, by the South Sea Islanders. The
schooner, when off Nukapu, was approached at
distance by five or six canoes. The Bishop
had a boat lowered and went to meet them. 1t
was seen that he reached the shore and went
inland, accompanied by two chiefs, the remain
der of the party remaining with the boats.
Soon afterward the natives attacked the
schooners boat, and despatched Mr.. Atkins
and one of the crew with arrows. Assistance
was at once sent from the schooner and the
cowardly barbarians fed, sending adrift one of
their canoes, in which was subsequently, found
the dead body of the Bishop, rolled up in a ma
tive mat. He was frightfully mangled, and
had received several terrible wounds Nukapu
is one of the smallest reef islands in the Swal-
low group about three miles in circumference
and $50 feet above the level of the sea, and has
a population Of about 100. Profound sorrow is
felt in England for the unhappy event. The
ill will of the natives is attributed to the preva
lence of kidnapping which is practced by the
English colonists; and strong appeals are being
made to the Government to suppresss this ne
farious enterprise forthwith.
New YEARS AT MoBILE.-The mystical So
ciety known as the strikers had their twen-
ty-ninth parade in Mobile on Saturday night
The members were borne through the city on
ten cars. The first was an iceberg drawn by
polar bears journeying towards the North Pole,
bearing poet and philosopher of the Dar-
winian School in search of birds who had emil
grated north to escape the tyrant man, who,
upon arrival are arrested and tried by a sports
man. The second car bore the soul of lady
who had been decorating herself with feathers,
a French cook and a bird of paradise as Judge
the jury being composed of other birds admira-
bly, gotten up. Then came the wonders of the
deep. A Neptune car drawn by sea lions, sur
rounded by fish and mermaids, who have al
lured many sailor boy into their caverns,
'Davy Jones Locker" The next was the
'Fairy Land" bearing fairies, elves and char
lots drawn by butterflies. The Christmas eve
ming and Santa Claus car was drawn by rein
deers, and contained snowman (Jack Frost)
icicles, &c. Christmas characters were roast
beef, mince pies plum puddings, &c. The cos
tunes were magnificent The display was very
brilliant, and was witnessed by thousands
Among the numbers were many strangers from
the North.
THEIRS SICK AND INcAPABLE-The Paris
correspondent of the New York World says:
Despite M. Theirs activity it is evident age
is making rapid progress He is constantly
falling asleep In meetings of the cabinet, in
prolonged conversations, he falls asleep, no
matter what may be the subject under consid-
Grafton. His death may momentarily be ex-
pected. His resignation seems even more inn
minent. Power has made him intolerent of
all difference of opinion. 1t is evident he will
resign if the Assembly refuses to vote his pro-
tective tariff, and his bill for the organization
of the army. His reception of the complaints
OF officers OF the army who declare his system
of shed barracks in the country to have made
;,,t,1