The Portland daily press., 1895-05-17
Cubans Declare They Will Extermi-
nate Spanish Troops.
A HEAVY SNOW STORM REPORTED
In ENGLAND.
French Torpedo Boat Snnk-British
Budget Passes Second Reading in Com
mons-Russia Evidently Preparing to
Occupy Corea-Other Happenings.

New York, May 16.-The Cubans are
preparing for grand coup, to take place
on or after June /.
Unless all signs fail, the conflict that
is to come will resolve itself into one
Of the most bloody slaughters in Cuban
history. The revolutionists expect TO
literally wipe out the Spanish troops and
proclaim Cuba republic
This news was brought yesterday by
James W. Purman of Washington, who
arrived on the Ward line steamer Segur-
anca from Havana.
Mr.. Purman went to Cuba seven
months ago as chemist for Das Her.
monas sugar mills, and he has travelled
pretty much all over the island. His
headquarters was at Los Cruces, few
miles from the Spanish garrison in the
central portion of Cuba.
"Never BEFORE" said Mr.. Purman, have
the Cubans been so terribly in earnest.
They will stop at nothing. and few
people outside of Cuba have the faintest
idea of the real condition of affairs
there.
"When I went there seven months
ago found the country in state of
guerilla warfare. Robberies ssof ssthe
most high-handed character were fire.
rquent, in spite of the fact that from
five to 20 soldiers guarded every D lanta-
tion.
"The troops did NOT moles the people.
h11t Gt1h hun to1o oil fhou =,
their hands on, and the majority of
the proceeds went to help the revolutions.
ary cause. Spanish spies sometimes
helped the Cubans in these loots, it is
suspected. This state of things has con-
tinued up to the present time. 81
None of the Americans in Cuba have
been interfered with up to the present.
Meantime the planters and other richi
Cubans are in a state of terror. If they
side with Spain they are not sure of pro-
lection from the merciless Cuban revolu-
tionists, and if they turn to the Cubans
they are menaced by Spain and run the
risk of losing their property
They are clearly in sympathy with
the. Cubans, but they do not kdare to
show it, though they secretly give ali
the money they can to the. cause.n q
1t was rumored yestrday that nan9-
bel OF men prominent in the Cubanrev-
olutionary NOV ement were passengers on,
the Ward liner Oriyaba, which left this
port for Havana.
At the Ward office Cuban, who is
conceded to be posted on Cuban affairs.
smiled when the matter was mentioned.
"Do you imagine that the Cubans are
such fools as to try to take direct pas
sage to a Cuban port when every vessel
that arrives in Cuban waters is searched
for revolutionists? I don't know wheth-
er some men have gone to Cuba or not.
If they did I wouldn't tell you.
"The Cubans have plenty of money
and arms. Small arms in large quauti-
ties, and abundance of ammunition, are
stored in the mountains throughout the
eastern and central portion OF Cuba.
"More arms are constantly arriving
from Florida aud Central and South
America. These arms are brought in
small scbooners, and although the coast
is well guarded, the Cubans have man.
aged to land the weapons.
Three consignments of arms, includ-
ing number of gatling guns and heavy
ordnance are expected soon.
The Cubans have not to fear yellow
fever, that scourge of Cuba which will
prove one of the greatest generals of
the war. 1t is because Jellow fever is
expected ABOUT June that this date
has been chosen by the Cubans for de-
cisiye onslaught on the Spaniards.