New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-04-22
Il MODERN BASTu.Er,.
The Unknown Hurrors OF 11orro Castle, In
the HArbor Of Havana.
From the Herald

From the BostonHerald
This castle stands at the entrance to
the harbor OF Havana; picturesque,
but gloomy pile, massive masonry rest
ing upon the crest OF a rock which rises
about 200 feet perpendicularly out of
the seas. tits the point of peninsula
which embraces the harbor of Havana,
and makes the latter, when once entered,
as safe as any in the world. Covering
many acres with its walls and dungeons,
the castle is one of the largestand most
formidable. fortresses in the world, sur
passing even Fortress Monroe in it's ex-
tent. The present castle is, not so an
Gent as come others on the island, as
the English captured it and. blew it up
100 years ago, compelling the Spaniards
to spend million or two of dollars in
its e-erection. Modern artillery would
batter down the walls, but would make
no impression upon the eternal rocks,
among whose crevices and ravines the
dungeons of the castle have been placed.
There is no prison in Europe so secure
from capture, either by exterior or inter-
ior attack, for the corridors constitute
labyrinth, in which it is. said the COM
mandant himself requires guide. No
pen will ever record, and no mind can
ever correctly imagine the horrors,
which have taken place within those
wallis The iniquities ,of the Inquisition
did not surpass them, il the stories that
are'told are true, and people say that
the, cruelties still continue. The life
of every citizen of Cuba is the property
of+the Captain General, to be disposed
OF as he chooses, and he has chosen
that many of them be spent within
these castle walls. Nobody knows how
large number are in confinement: no.
body knows who.they are, or what they
suffer; all the pnblic ever knows is that
Senior So-and- So has been denounced
and taken to tho castle, and his friends.
keep mighty, quiet lest they may have
to join him there These Seniors So
and-so seldom, if ever, come back from
the castle, and it is better for his family
and friends not to ask why. The cas-
tie is for political prisoners exclusively,
and when We were over there our guide
told us it was full. He showed us the
place. little parade ground-where
the executions took place. and the prec-
ipice over which the bodies of the dead
are cast into the sea; but could give no
clue to- the number annually shot, or
the number who die in the dungeons,
and the officers and guards on duty
were quite as uncommunicative, if they
were not as ignorant. To all inquirers
they have one answer. If you ask them
how many prisoners are confined in the
dungeons, the same reply will be:
<'Dios sabe" (God knows).
How many ever come out alive?"
''Dios sabe.'
''Do they ever secure release?"
"Dios sabe."
And the words were true. Heaven,
and heaven only, knows all that has
transpired within these gloomy walls.
The officers on guard are changed often,
and while they stay it Is their business
to learn as little as possible. When a
prisoner is sent there they lock him up
and report tho fact to headquarters.
With that their duty and their knowl-
edge end. And it is in this way that
Cuba is governed. The theory of gov
eminent which Spain has followed since
she assumed control of the Western
Hemisphere, and by which she has lost
all that she once had, is still in vogue.
The Spaniard has learned no lesson by
experience. He seems oblivious to the
results of tyranny in Mexico and South
America, and has seen a magnificent
empire pass from his hands without re-
alizing that murder and cruelty are not
the best modes of securing peace and