Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-12-30
CUBAN CRUELTY.
The Story OF the SRnerlngs and Ter
tares OF the Prisoners from the
SiFamer YirgiHIRs.
Close Confinement, Miserable Food,
Bad Water, Cruel Treatment,
Dirty Quarters, Etc.

New YORK, December ga reporter
Of the Tribune, who boarded the Juniata
Immediately after her arrival, obtained
the full particulars from variety OF
sources concerning the treatment re-
ceiyed by the prisoners at the hands OF
their Spanish captors. All these reports
agree in one particular, namely; that
the treatment received was uniformly
harsh, and in some cases barbarous. A
fact which has not generally been known
by the statements of prisoners, now
comes to light, which is that they were
robbed by the crew of tue Tornado and
nearly all who owned anything were
robbed of money, jewelry, watches and
other yaluables. The prisoners were
taken to the Jail Of Santiago soon after
their arrival in port. Here they were
crowded together like cattle. They
were not consigned TO seperate cells, in
deed, there was no opportunity
for such confinement in the contracted
quarters of Santiago Jail, but the entire
party, nearly two hundred, were driven
into a small room, hardly fifty feet long
by fifteen feet wide; they were obliged
to live as best they coul0, though the
air, of course, was almost deadly, and
llltIC WAS liLAlC VI liz OBkDA~NAANg -
exercise. These prisoners were supplied
with provisions which, though sufficient
as regards quantity, were poor in quality
and hardly fitted to sustain life; Ihese
provisions consisted almost wholly Of
rice and water. One night the prisoners
were stealthily taken from jail and were
taken with the greatest haste to point
seven miles below the city in the yicinl-
Nha rood lnU fhFnIlOh
a rough track Of country and the
journey was most Weaflsohe,
while some of the prisoners
were so sick as to be almost unable to
stand il. The sufferings OF some OF the
lAborers were intense, anu pity was IN
the breasts Of the Spaniards. At this
point on the coast they were placed on
board of the steamer BaZoin, which ct
once set sail for Havana. At Mansea-
neIla il was met by the mail-steamer,
coming in the opposite direction. On
board this steamer was General Burriel,
who at once ordered the Bazoin to re-
turn to Santiago. She turned about
very soon afterwsrd, and then
ran aground: and the passengers
were transferred to another vessel. Here
they suffered horrors heretofore un-
kUOhus lLEN NcE6 GAOhAGu III NAAE A4OAU
of the vessel, where scarcely a ray of
sunlight could struggle in. The air was
poisonous, the darkness was almost con-
tinuOus, the food was wretched In quail
ty and insufficient in quantity, the
water which they drank was what re-
mained in the buckets after the dumb
animals on board were satisfied. These
animals consisted mainly of horses and
an fhn AazE
above the Virginius's prisoners and
were thus constant source
of ANNOYANCE to the helpless prisoners
confined below. 1t is said that IN the
midst of all this filth and suffering the
prisoners were not allowed to wash
while on board the BaZoin, for period
of ten days, and that their arms were
pinioned behind them the larger portion
Of the voyage. They were occasionally
beaten on the slightest provocation, and
sometimes on no provocatlon at RL.
The punishments, however, seem
not to have been Of nature so serious
as to produce any lasting effects. Com
mander Braine said to a Tribune re-
porter: THE feeling at Santiago against
Americans is exceedingly bitter, and
Vice-Consul Smith is actually in danger
of his life; he has several times been
Threatened with assassination and l
think one of our men-of-wsr ought
to be stationed there permanently,
at least tlll the feeling subsidies, as
| hope it will. Vice-COnsul Smith was
abused shamefully in their daily papers,
and Il vas only by my personal interces-
SION with the governor that they were
stopned. The Junista, when about one
1 ~ raflnl from afQnl
Hatteras. encountered a terrific gale
which drove her sixty miles out OF her
course. Grave doubts az TO the ability
of the Ossipee to bring the Nirginlns to
New York are expressed by the officers
Of the Juniata in view of the exceed
ipgly tempestuOus weather OF the last
few days. The latter vessel Is
in moor condition to weather the rough
gales which they encountered. DIS
trict- Attorney Bliss began this morning
an official investigation OF the VIZ
ginius passengers. He declines 10
make public the nature OF the evidence
sought to be obtained from the pas5en-
gers. 1t is understood, however, that
the principal point sought to be cleared
up is the exact status OF the Nlrglnlusi
who are her owners, whether she was
enLlllGO 10 IlN Tic ALAC1lNAh AASt SeAN
how far the neutrality laws have
been violated. All of these points
will have strong bearing Ou the ques-
ton as to whether the United States
wihcomply with tue demands OF SPAN;
From a conversation with the officers OF
the Juniata it seems that there is con-
,~arted plan among the prisoners 70 pro,
fess e.tIre ignorance as to the nature OF
the Virgini1:s at the time she was cap
tured, and as to tue transportation ..
foTcss for the Cubans. It is thought
that this action has been agreed upon
with view to avoid any trouble with
this government. Through breach o.
the neutrality laws, there Is certainly
great unanimity among them regarding
| the main points at issue. The statement
of nearly all the prisoners agree in dis
owning any knowledge of the purposes
of the officers of the Virginius. They
profess to have embarked as passenger
and to have seen no arms on board, anC
to have seen little or nothing thrown