The New York herald., 1874-07-08

l HAVANA, July Y, 1918.
draft OF the proposed decree levyIng the new
fve per cent tax on the riches OF the island has
been telegraphed to Madrid for the approval oftne
home government
| News From the Cuban Lines Direct
Interview With Colonel Carlos Nj. Ces-
| pcdes-His Escape From the spaniards
and Mission to New York-The MAN.
ner OF President CesPedes' Death.
Colonel Carlos NJ Cespedes, the eldest son OF the
| late President of free Cuha arrived in New York
on Friday evening last from Kingston, Jamaica.
Colonel Cespedes left the shores OF his native Cuba
on the 9th OF last month, and after being buneted
about by wind and wave for the space OF two and
ahall days In an open canoe, succeeded In landing
near Falmouth, Jamaica, being unable to reach st.
AIMS Bay, the usual place OF landing from Cuban
blockade runners. Colonel Cespedes was accom-
panied in his periious voyage by the Ncenuate
Don Joaquin Castilanos patriot who belongs to
the town OF Bayamo, two children and six seamen.
While at sea the party luckily escaped the obser-
walton OF Spanish gunboats and MADE the hazard
Gus run without any mishap AS the raii craft
was supplied with jutta and bontatos the adven-
turous patriot and his companions escaped the
pangs Of hunger which many others going the
same way have felt keenly enough.
Colonel Cespedes reports that he left the camp
OF Major General Calixt0 Garcia IhigueZ the 9th
OF May at Jiguani on the Cauto River. On the Sd
OF that month an action had been fought between
200 Cubans under Colonel LimbanO Sanchez, and
about $50 Spaniards. The action was commenced by
a Spanish guerilla force of twenty-five men, who
were speedily captured dispersed by the Cubans.
The Spaniards sent reinforcements from Jiguani
to the scene OF action, but these arriving too
late to succOr the guerilla band gave battle to
the patriots. The battle lasted from two O'Clock
wi han hOth nartia W.T.
without any decided advantage either side
Hardly week passes in which sklrmshes OF
more or less Importance do not occur In some Of
the camps. The Cubans are every day acquiring
strength and increasing the number and efficiency
OF the patriotic army. 1t is known in the Eastern
Department., from which Colonel Cespedes has
just come, that the Cubans had passed the trocha
Qf Camaguay. and that they are making rapid
HEADwAY IN THE CINCO VILLAS
district wnicn, years ago, was reported to have
been completely subdued by The paclicator Gen.
eral POrtilla. The want OF arms and ammunition
are still obstacles in the way OF speedy success.
colonel Cespedes was with his llustl iOus iather,
the late President OF Free Cuba, when ne met his
death. The President had been staying lor some
two months after his deposition at place called
San Lorenzo In the Sierra Maestro, about eight
leagues from Cambute, District of Santiago de
CnDa, on the south side of the island. The depoeed
Chief Magistrate was
WAITING FOR HIS PASSPORT,
which he expected soon to receive from the new
government that had replaced him, he having
The eX-Presldent was in the habit OF visiting u
family who lived In ranch or hut abOnt 100
SON the narrator. He was In the habit Of teach
ing their letters TO some children belonging to the
family whom he visited, and was thus occupied
with one of the boys on his knee when the place
was surrounded by about 800 Spaniards, in three
different detachments and firing commenced at
once about the ranch, where the Presi-
dent was Colonel Cespedes rushed to the
assistance of his father, but the hut whore
ne was being now entirely surrounded by
became lmrOSSible him
to get there. The spaniards opened a
heavy fire and @ considerable number ot the sol
abandon the place, fighting his way best he
could The Colonel then made for Brazos Escan-
dido, place about three leagues OF. wnere he
expected to get some relnforcements with which
to return and attempt the rescue Of ms father 1t
escort or troops OF any KIND and ungnarded. ex.
cept by his son and their servants. Colonel
Cespedes was unable to return TO the scene OF
day February 81, at which time the SpaniarGs
We're leaving the place. The distracted son had
been able to get together but some hall dozen sol
diers with which
TO DO BATTLE FOR HIS FATHERS LIFE
In the meantime the Spanards had burned the
ranches and razed their lrail timbers to the
ground. 1t was only then that Colonel Cespedes
learned his bereavement. for be stu! thought that
nue. through the woods But here, while recon-
noitering, one OF the Celoneps men found tue
he iel The articles found were his pants, coat,
vest and nat. so that the body must have been
of the clothing was burned and torn. The watch
and other valuable articles OF the deceased patriot,
as well as the portraits Of his Dereaved wife and
children, were gone and in possession OF
the Spanards. The remainder OF the clothing hich
escaped the flames and the Jury OF the Spanish So,-
diery Colonel Cespedes has brought with him To
New York. The wound which must have proved
fatal to the heroic Cespedes was IN his left breast
and from pistol ball. Colonel Cespedes thinks
that when the President found escape to be lmpOs
sible he used his own revolver with fatal effect
against himself rather than fall into the hands OF
the Spanards. Ii Is suspected that President Ces.
pedes was betrayed into the hands OF the Span
lards by an ungrateiui negro.
Cespedes to come here On very important mis-
sion, one Of its objects being that OF obtaining
reinfOrcements OF arms anu ammunition
tor the men in the field. The gallant Colonel
says that his cOuntrymen will never give up the
good fight in which they have been engaged Tor
nearly six years. Liberty or death is their motto,
and nothing else will satisfy the patriots. They
say that the longer the war continues tine better
they will be able to meet its contingencies. Tne
resources of the forest are still eXnaustless and
its inaccessible businesses are being cultivated and
made to bloom like rose in the desert. The
| Spaniards can never reach these natural strong
| holds and must in the end be defeated.
In reply to question put to him Colonel
come to compromise with the Cubans these
would have given 800 900 for their ndepcn-
dence They would not give so much now; but
the Colonel thinks that II Overtures were made in
| Washington the Cubans might still allow hand
some sum-say 500 900 200 or $40, 000 00OtO put an
end to the war and enable SerranO to make head
way against the Carsts.