The New York herald., 1873-12-24
A REIGN OF TERROR.
4 Visit to the Surviving PriSOners---The
Ray OF Sunshine and the Shadow Of Death.
Vice Consul Schmitt and His
Calumniatorss
UNITED STATES SLooP OF WAR JUNIArA, /
SANTIAGO DE CuRA. Dec. 10. 1873.

ultimo we have not received an iota OF news as to
the position intended to be assumed, and as 1t Is
improbable that we will learn anything in this
quarter-the o1lcials being not only retcent but
audacously indiferent-our Ignorance on the sub
ject is likely to continue at least Tor some days.
What between an anticipated visit from the in
surgents-and rumor has it that they are close at
hand-and the uncertainty OF the issue OF the exist
ing complicated state OF affairs, the authorities
here are decidedly in mudde. But. with all that,
they are by no means idle, and, az have said, ex-
hbit unmstakable evidences Of stubbornness ana
hostility. The guards all around the city have been
doubled, and the tr0ops both regulars and volun-
teers, maintain the greatest vigilance. Since our
arrival here all the forts have been strengthened,
and over 400 men are busily engaged. day and
night, throwing up earthworks at every prominent
position in the harbor. Nor does there appear to
be any concealment about the preparation, for BY
way Of reminder practice firing is kept up the live
long day. over 20 additional Armstrong guns
have been planted on the Moro Castle, which com.
mands the entrance, and, to do them justice, the
authorities have lost little time in completing their
plans OF defence; and cannot help thinking that.
II war were declared tomorrow, we are at pres
ent In what Is known as
TIGHT PLACE.
1t is much easier to fight your way into harbor
than force an exit from 1t, especially when the
enemy has had ample time to meet the emergency.
Not that question our ability Il now speak of the
Juniata and the Kansas to free ourselves from all
the entanglements on all sides apparent, but that
we would be considerably harassed in the event
Of actual hostilites no doubt can be entertained.
1t is fortunate, however, that no sudden denoue-
ment could well surprise US. Both the Juniata
ana Kansas are ready ior immediate action. The
men have been thoroughly drilled In all the exer-
think. pretty wen prepared for any assault, how
ever treacherous or adroitly planned.
REIGN OF TERROR
prevails. To say nothing OF the incessant and in
ordinate demands for money MADE upon the
citizens whose remonstrances are treated with
scorn, the general situation Of afYairs causes the
utmost alarm. Fain would scores Of the reluctant
volunteers ny the island; for i may remind you
that nearly all the young men In the city, ire
spective Of class or condition, are compelled to
don uniform and show up for duty. But little
ceremony is observed in filling up the ranks The
unlucky individual who complains subjects himself
to system OF espionage which finally terminates
In his ruin. Although there are many Cuban SYM
pathizers here, even among the volunteers, they
dare not, by word, look or deed, exhibit the
slightest symptom OF fellow feeling in the matter.
TO such an extent, indeed, is this mode Of watch
fulness carried out that to speak to an American
regarded by the Spaniard as his natural enemy-at
once subjects a resident here to suspicion. need
not add, therefore, that the time here has been
anything but agreeable for the American officers.
True, they were extended
THE PRIVILEGES OF THE CARLOS CLUB,
liberal and pleasant institution; but 1t was evil
dent, however, that they were given a pretty wide
berth within its portals, not from a want OF any
hospitabe feeling, but rather on account OF the
vigilance maintained by the spies. Under the cir
cumstances 1t Is needless to state that business
has suffered greatly and the appearance OF affairs
promises no Improvement. 1t Is said that neither
Ofncers nor soldiers have received their pay with
any degree or regularity, the consequence being
that the shopkeepers are compelled to give credit
to set Of extravagant individuals on very shaky
promissory notes. 1t may be inferred, then, that
the condition OF Affairs is lar from encouraging.
There are many in this city VINO anticipate any
change for the better. Large numbers or the
poorer classes have already fed to Kingston, jam,
only perhaps to meet worse late, in the shape of
among the natives OF that locality. The
British war vessel Woodark arrived here yester-
an ofiicer OF Her Majesty's steamer Danae had
already died and that Commodore De Horsey, COM
manding the squadron had been stricken down
with the disease. His secretary Is among the num-
her reported dead But In the face Of all this all
the steamers leaving this port swarm with home
less human beings content TO run the risk rather
than bear the Ills that now surround them.
THE SURVIVING PRISONERS.
Since my visit to the hospital here where are con.
1lned the nine remaining prisoners-the details OF
which have already been Notwithstanding has
occurred in the way OF change. 1t is understood,
however. that SO soon as they are cOnvalescent
they VIII be sent to Havana to join the 90 others
30 secretly transported to that port week ago.
The poor fellows present haggard and forlorn
appearance. There was time when all hope was
at an ebb, when they momentarily awaited the
that something has been done in their Behalf tHey
seem to think that all s not yet lost Though it is
doubtful whether they could walk 100 yards
aided, they are, nevertheless, strongly guarded.
During our interview the Spanish 0fiicals were, OF
course, at hand, and our conversation was per-
haps, q little more restrained than it otherwise
would have been. learned, however, from the
lips OF Phillip Meitzler, young lad from Charles
ton, that compared with the jail in which they had
previously been incarcerated, their present
quarters were comfortable; that they were treated
with little more consideration, and that under the
But have no doubt before this letter reaches its
destination their removal to Havana VIII have
mitted to enjoy the little comforts provided for
them, and let us hope that the ray OF sunshine
which now temporarily Drightens their dismal den
Of an inglorlous death.
STRANGE RUNoRs
The widest rumors anoat. or late, however,
we have become so accustomed to the Quixotic
reports that they fail to cause alarm. For in
stance, It was currently reported tile other night
that we were to be boarded by the troops and that
the TWO ships were to be seized. Though fully pre-
pared Tor any emergency OF the Kind We gave but
.s.ssS s.SeSiisO w ehc iiuc, thc
rites were somewhat mystical In their operations,
sucn as throwing up all sorts OF signals, the
spanish gunDoats meanwhile running In and out
0f the harbor towards midnight concentrating the
troops along sne wharyes and series Of other
wary. Then followed the alarming news that the
insurgents were about to make a descent upon the
city that assured ol the assistance OF the Ameri-
can war vessels, they were about to sweep all
before them. This In turn was succeeded by the
intelligence that Spain, dsregarding the claims of
the united states, mad al length resolved 10
stand by the volunteers and second Burriel
in his carnival OF blood, and called upon
all loyal citizens to defend their "honorn M Mi
hazards. These and similar stories mad free
circulation and caused considerable commoton
until dispeed by subsequent reports both start
ling and contradictory. Botn the authorities as
well as the insurgents spare no pains to spread ap-
propriate rumors which for the time seem to have
the effect Intended. In estimating the strength OF
the contending parties II IL difficult TO arrive at
any reasonable degree OF accuracy as to the num-