The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-11-22
Present Condition OF Cuba--Reign OF
the Volunteers.


A representative OF the New York
Times, in conversation with an Ameri-
can gentleman just arrived there from
Cuba, where he has resided for many
wears, and who has an intimate knowl--
edge OF the state of the island, supplies
some interesting facts, while he also rec
lates some horrible atrocities by the
Spaniards. He reiterates the statement
that the Captain General, from whom
all authority is supposed to emanste, is
and has been for more than four years
entirely powerless as regards, matters
OF great Importance. Dulee, he says,
has had to submit TO every manner OF
Insult, not only to himself but to his Gu.
ban wife, who could not 60 about in
public without having the worst epl-
thets applied to her. Her brothers are
reported to be actively engaged in the
service OF Cespedes. He reports the
most cruel outrages to Cuban women
by the Spanish soldiery, and this, too,
with the sanction OF high officials.
When a rebel camp was seized the
practice was to destroy everything and
slay every prisoner-frst ell the chill
dren before the eyes of their mothers.
and then ell the adults, irrespective OF
age.
1t was not an uncommon occurrence
to have women stripped entirely, tied
I'D by their hands until their toes
scarcely touched the ground, and then
beaten 10 death with clubs, their only
offence being that they refused to tell
where the men bad gone to. 1t has
often, he says, been in the nature OF
pastime with some of the Spanish COM
manders to put a gun in the hands Of 8
little boy and make him shoot his faith
er. In reference TO the assassination
of the eight students, some two years
since, he says he was present when the
Havana volunteers put the Vice Cap
!, tain General commanding them Val.
meseia being absenO beneath their feet
and compelled him, under a threat Of
being Immediately shot, to sign their
death warrant. lie states in this con-
nection that the prevalent opinions
among all wcll-informed people at Ha-
vana-Cubaus and Spsniards-is that
the arrest and imprisonment Of the
forty students was trick Of Governor
Roberts 10 obtain money from their
| parents and then order their release.
lie further says that he has the oppor-
tunity OF knowing that the "Virginius
was bona fide American vessel taken
on the high seas; that the commander
of the department comprising Santiago
de Cuba acted independent OF all supe
rior orders, and ALEC that the tele-
graphic communication with Havana
was purposely destroyed
10 the lawlessness OF the volunteers,
which it is impossible to make amena-
bic TO control, the well intentioned
Spaniards attribute all the evils which
have come about in Cuba. The largest
portion Of the Spanish population in
Cuba lie describes as monarchists, and
says that they do not want reform.
The Diario dc Ia .N1rina burlesques
everything in that direction, and its cor.
respondence from the United States is
trevestic on everything American.
He believes that this paper has done
more 10 bring about the present state
of things in Cuba than all other inilu-
ences combined. The finances OF Cuba
he describes as in wretched condition,
there being SSi,0O0000 of paper in cir
culat;on, and not 100000 of specie
10 racct it. In the case OF war, he thinks
that from $1,000 TO $1,000, landed 10
the eastern department. could sweep
| the whole island.