The New York herald., 1873-06-16

Passing this point, and two three little ravines
and Intervening hills, we took newly cleared
path In the direction OF the mountains Proceed.
ing along this tran for mile or two we came upon
the advanced guard or
rHB PRESIDENTS ESCORT.
We were received with much military precision
and conducted to the nut OF Lieutenant Colonel
Ismael Cespedes, nephew OF the President, and
commander OF his escort. This officer received me
very cordially. His hut and those Of the escort
were near the part OF the camp where we entered.
was now conducted for about two hundred yards
along the pathway, on either side or which wer e,
al intervals lew hus, there being six or eight OF
them In cluster at the very head OF the pathway
beyond which there was no road or trai-nothng
but the unbroken depths OF the forest. There was
one hut at the top OF ALL nearest the unhewn forest
not much bigger or better constructed than the
others. II was the Executive palace and mansion
house OF
CARLOS MANUEL DE CEsPEDEs,
President OF the Cuban Republic. An onicer who
speaks English, mentions my name, motions me to
step forward, saying in English
'THE PRESIDENT, MR. MLLEN"
and am face to face with the famous Cuban, who
bows very graciousy, gives me cordial and warm
shake OF the hand saying he was glad to see me
an expression OF good VIII for which the HERALD
correspondent thanked him, saying that the feel
ing was mutual in the extreme.
Cespedes Is ffty-four years old, about five feet six
inches in height slight OF build and spare OF per-
son. HIS complexion Is light for Cuban; his hair
dark, mixed with gray. There Is small bald spot
on the upper back part OF the head. He wears his
hair OF medium length, very smoothly and neatly
kept He has high and well developed forehead
features regular, with rather sharp. and has
splendid set OF teeth. The nrmness Of the mouth
Is partly concealed by thick, long, iowing ron-gray
beard and mustache. The cheeks shaven
to the point Of the jaws; eyes small, bright,
and keen, OF q decidedly grayish-bue color. He is
q awyer-having been educated for the Bar In
Spain-gcntlemanly, polite and impressive OF ad-
dress, and a native OF Bayamo. He is careful Of
speech and converses with deiberation and senten-
tiousness. When saw him in his rancho he was
attired in a suit OF straw -colored linen-panta-
looms, vest and sack. lie had on a lightcolored
pepper-andsalt cap; wore a black watch guard
but no appearance Of other jewelry. He wore
patent leather leggings, fitting down closely over
q well shaped foot. His hands are small and rather
bony. He impressed me as
sHREwD MAN, WELL BRED AND WELL READ.
! have been, perhaps, needlessly minute in de-
scribing the person and appearance OF Mr.. Ces-
pedes. My reason for doing is that his identity
has been questioned, and nave tried to draw his
portrait that his friends cannot fail OF recognize
ing the likeness. We entered the Presidential hut
Cespedes sat in his hammock while was seated on
little seat made OF small sticks placed horizon tally
together overm frame formed by driving four forked
stakes Of the required length into the ground, lay
ing transversal pieces across these and hori-
zontal ones over them, binding the whole with
majagua bark. little table for all uses so to say,
at my elbow was made in the same way and had q
similar seat on the opposite side. The hammock
Is slung on the west side OF the rancho; the table
and seats are on the opposite side. At the foot and
head OF the hammock are several small valises,
mostly containing papers and documents. A re-
volver, IN a PLAIN cover, attached to q gold-em-
broidered belt, hung within reach over the ham
mock.
THE INTERVIEW.
CESPEDEs-Mr. O'Kely has been here and gone.
The Spanards have him prisoner In ManZanillo
We did not expect to see another HERALD Com
missioner so soon.
CORRESPONDENT am very sorry for my friend
O'Key, and hope he will soon be released. Should
he not, 1t will be my duty also to present myself
AS to my presence here, presume that the HERALD
was determined to throw
LIGHT AT ALL HAZARDS
on the Cuban question, and thought 1t would be
more difficult for two correspondents to be slenced
than one. and that IL failed reaching your camp
| the other would succeed.
The President here asked me some questions as to
how l managed to escape the vigilance OF the
Spanlards, or II they knew OF my coming to the
Cuban camps. He then referred 20 the case of Mr..
Henderson; said that gentleman had given re-
port nattering to the Cubans, but regretted that
he had injured its usefulness by stating
WHAT WAS NOT TRUE.
Mr.. Henderson undoubtedly saw Agramonte and
some OF the Camaguay cavalry, but he had not
seen him Cespedes for at the time OF the visit he
tn, fha nf no araf With 1aliv
Garcia, distance OF fifteen days. march to that
part OF Camaguay where Agramonte then was, not
including the time requisite Tor courier to advise
the President OF Hendersons presence.
While on this subject may as well state that the
Secretary OF War, by order Of Cespedes, allowed
me to copy
TIE REPORT GIVEN BY GENERAL AGRAMoNrE
to the President OF Mr.. HendersOn's visit to Puerto
Principe. Cespedes then said that he could not
see what was to be gained by my putting my head
in the trap as well as Mr.. O'Kelly; that it would
be better for me to go to Jamaica, to which he
thought could be sent in q few days, as there
was a boat already on the coast. Besides, Mr..
O'Kelly would doubtless be released In few days.
as the Spaniards could do nothing to him. He had
acted openly, and they knew what he was going
to do With me 1t was different, for, as had not
revealed to the Spaniards the nature OF my mis-
sion, II caught they might cOnstrue with severity
against me the rigorous spirit OF military law. I
said that there was another question at stake to
test which would willingly risk good deal; that
was, the amount OF protection that
THE UNITED STATES AND GREAT BRITAIN REsPEc-
T1vELY
accord to their citizens and subjects 1t was there
fore agreed that In case Of Mr.. O'Key's speedy
release should 60 to Jamaica but II he continued
a prisoner with the probability Of being tried,
then should 60 and
PRESENT MYSELF TO THE sPANIARDs
in Manzanlo.
CoRREsPoNDENT-Do you think, Mr.. President,
that 1t il possible that any pacific arrangements
could be entered into between the Spaniards and
the Cubans, SO as TO put an end to this war2
CEspEDEs-No arrangements can be entered into
with the spaniards SO long as they pretend to rule
the island.