The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-16
CUBA'S HERO AS A PRISONER.


,hc, TO ~ single Attendant Taken by Gucr-
riiIa-- Ills Treatment by the spnninrds.
On the DIST uf October last, the then Prcsi-
dent OF the Republic of Cuba. Don Tomas
Estrada y Palma. was taken prisoner by the
Sraniaris in tho eastern jurisdiction of the
island OF the manner OF his capture. Of the
causes which led to IT. and Of its immediate ~
suits. pertinent to himself Senor Estrada fur
nishcs n most lucid and graphic description in
alcttcr just received from Spain. and which has
been kindly furnished W for publication.
AS the majority Of our ,ajcrs are probably
unacduaintcd with the previous history Of Sonor
Estrada vino has now become n historic char
actor. and ~ an INTRODUCED IN To- his letter. which
any comments would mnr. We print the loll wv
ing extract from a book published some years
ago in this city in which the author gave n very
interesting account Of what and whom he saw
in Mamb Land" lie says:
-" Among the gentlemen met in tho camp Of
Modesto Diaz. Scn~r Don Tomas Estrada de-
serves especial mention. He is a m"ulher of
the Cuban Congress. and owns tho land Of Qua
and the country surrounding it for many
square lies; yet his wardrobe was restricted
To ono suit of clothes. u few changes Of linen,
while bis boots were very much worm: and cx-
hibted several yawning creviccs. He was q
young man. quiet aud gentle in disposition
well reai. and Of a thouchtful. practical mind
He had been educated in France, and was well
posted IN the evolutionary literature Of that
cradle Of liberal aspirations. At the outbreak
or inc war ne was lkiHk Win his widowed
mother On his estatr The attachment between
them was unusually tender. and tho lady
though far advanced in yenrs. insisted on NJ
complaining her son to the Cuban camp. A
small detached residence was built for her ac-
commodntion in n secluded part of the forest
Here she was surprised and captured by a
spanish detachment Tho old lady stoutly re-
fused TO accompany her cuptors. hut was
dragged away hy main force Tho cautors soon
got tired OF Their prisoner and after dragging
her for some miles through the forest ADAM
doncd her in a senselcss condition in the
Next morning tho Cubans pursued the trail
and discovered whore tho old lady had becn
abandoned. but hewas nowhere to be found. All
parts 81 the wood were searched for several
days. and az last the old lady wns found under q
ier s Sy dSH on sfTs nv iw nn aV ah
wild fruits shs could gather Though every mt
tention WIS puid 10 her. sho died in few davs
from the effects Of the cruel treatment to viii IA
she had been subjected This sad incident has
thrown a shadow over the lie of Estrada viii II
no sunshine Will ever completely clear away
The author. worry shortly after meet ting with
Senior Estrada. happened TO he present in
Modesto Diaz's camp at III N1acho. at viii n
some two hundred dcscrtcrs from the Spanish
lines. and their late commander. Il Spanish
MAJOR had just arrived He says: The
oniccr WIS allowed g. ~ about at rlnas-
urc. hui not 10 icase Il! camp Hls wife. who
lie was presented g. Gnn. pia2. who treated
him civily hut very coldy. II was sud To- see
the efforts he made to iugratiat' himself with
his captors. who exhibited no cnt'm- 'Hsm ia
his regard. As no one else seemed Inclined To-
listen 10 him he opD ned his heart t. me-. eN-
plain Il the hardship OF his position. and do
clarcd his readiness 10 Join the Cuban army II
only his lifc would be spared. II was impos,i-
bic not o. MY the poor fellow and his young
wife. lie urged me- To speak IN His h,iuli. ana
although had ma.le my mind up me- ~ lnt.r-
iere bgtwrc IT, beliiEe rcli's. spoke o. Tomas
Estrada ~ favor OF having the Majors life
spared. NltNiu standing his own Ericls
against the Spauiards be- used his influence 20
obtain merry Tor the prifon.r One OF the Off
cers IN ny pr 'senec recalled To Estrada his
mY,llheI = naroafa,Hs murder When he made ile
sacred I, BE- j Nod by a Thought ol vcngeance
II stru N. 1s ono VI the no3iD-t sent Ii, ats
EsrRADNs LETTER
MoERo CASTLE. Nov. B. ls77-l address
you from the MORO Castle which shnll leave
ON the 9TH inst. to bc ta.en directly TO Madrid.
by m order Of the Government oi Don alfonso.
which was RENTED 10y telegraph.
will rotate. briefly. the facts and the caus -
which have placed me in the hands OF tn Span
iarls.
ACuhan Esteban Varona, who acted doubt
fully from the beginning Of the revolution. rr-
naming oi the onemys side W. 10 1874 at
which date he ranc over t. ours. after huvin,
a----.i-- .-A.---.i.-. $4,000 -~u,u4. ~
Gen. CaliXio Garcia lniguez Esteban NGrona !
repeat in company with Lieut.-Col Estehan
Duquc Estrada. was taken to Santa Cruz on The
25th Of August last u prisoner Of war
was convinced shortly aiicrWard. By reports
and fncta which | was enabled To gather that
y,ro,,o a, lo,s, - no, M, r,,7, ~, , 49,
'"4''" "' '-"S' u NV puuuc i-9,r"ua. hau ar
ranged the matter with Brle.-Gen. Bonanza.
then Spanish Commander NJ Santa Cruz in or
do T., ,lo,, hi ,,..,,,. ,,,t. 49,,
WI '" 'i'"A LIS Nu'tehucI "l'hlh lAe enemy =
lines with an appearance OF honor.
The fact Is that yarono thoronpllv copniz, nt
of a., ,ro.t.., =, -. -, -, ,
W VIC WEAKNESS o' 'h"I@'t'r OF Vol Antonio
Bello in command OF the Yara regiment M
Manzanino. wont t.gmediat. ly +, him and In.
81 hr,, h.,,o -. a. 80 ~
NlVpu M" TO- nave "cphl'reA 20 win Tue spanish
Brig. Gen. Daban.
Bello although aware az the circuior ~ tbn
r,,,.o,,,,.,, Ii, -, ~. - 80
""''''''i'"' ""ioh p'"hl'i'n' uh'rr p'haly 81
being tried for treason. any conference with
person, from tho enemy = cann. nc,enteI the
''''' ''' '"I"' '"'"p' "'eel''u me
W'p'7ni'h' ana ''Scuhef WIN some other on
ielr hHd un interview, on the 2uin Ol So ptrmber.
nj In. 81 i1p, If Conc, f,vo i,.t,t.- iron, N.,,
IN - 80 ''''i' ~ '"-
ammo, WIN ''h Nli'hs" dr oiilp AM Brg-
Cons. "a nm and bonanza. Nallna was Orc D
rni al u conference.
On the same IA, Brilo a,ldri ssel me n letter
by coudu 81 Brig Gen Banana In Which ne
-t9i'd To- rir, moro or ln-s The following: " Enl-
soils Nbi "a cannot put down i'm writing iitNe
pblf.'h uD tn hold "a inference with SPANISH
III .-u Congo. and they Hdvise mo 1n-k III