The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-07-26
FROM SPANISH PRISONS
Arrival Of Two Americans Who
Were Released
ON CONSUL WILLIAMS DEM AND.

One of the Mon Admits That He Was q
Cuban Revolutionist, but the other,
Whose Property Was Confscatcd. Asserts
That He Was Innocent of Compiifity.
NEW York, July 26.-Antonio Ruiz Per-
domo and Manuel Vargas the two Ameri-
can citizens who have been imprisoned in
Cuba by the Spanish authorities, and who,
through the intervention OF Consul Cen
eral Williams, were released and deported
from the country on the steamship Ha-
bana, were landed In this city yesterday.
They had been detained at Hoffman'a
island over night, as they had no tertifi-
Gates OF acclimatizatlon. Both men praised
Consul General Williams, who secured
their release. Perdomo told a most re-
markable story, admitting frankly that
he had been active as revolutionisb. He
said:
II was the captain of company of
twenty-slx men, banded together al revo-
lutionists We took an active partin the
engagement In which General Salcedo,
the Spanish commander, was killed and
General Campos wounded On April
my company was lying in ambush LIP some
woods near Santa Clara when a regiment
of 118 men, under Lieutenant Nico Ruiz,
came up and attacked us. We killed six
of their men and escaped with not % man
injured on our side. We were armed with
Winchester and Mausseur rifles supplied
to us by Collins & Co., of Front street,
New York. Three days after the light
was sleeping in a hammock some little
distance from my company when b body
of 1l5 mon rode up, and with bullets flying
oil around me for some unknown and I'M
necessary reason l was placed under ar
rest and lodged in the jail at Rerhidios.
There l was treated fairly we'll, and de-
cent food was offered me. preferred to
pay and get better food from the outside.
"On July was transferred to Moro
Castle prison. / Immediately communi
Gated with Consul General Williams, and
the government agreed to release me pro-
vided they could instantly deport me from
the country. Accordingly sailed for
New York by the first steamer arriving
here My property in Cuba, worth about
$500, was contlscated My wife and two
children l had to leave In Cuba, but they
are coming up by the next steamer. My
profession is civil engineering, and my
home address Is Concord and Adams
streets, Brooklyn. The revolutionary
movement in Cuba is spreading, and IL
they can hold out until October tho revo-
lutionists will como out the victors with
out a doubt. Regarding Campos. it Is
generally understood in official and mill
tary circles that he Is a prisoner Of the
revolutionists.
Manuel Vargas told similar story. He
said:
"On July l was arrested in the streets
Of Remidios and taken % Moro Castle
prison. where | was confined fifteen days
For what reason l do not know No charge
was made against me. never expressed
sympathy even with the revolutionary
party. / kept coffee house and did some
other work for Andrew Fisher, IN Amer
lean dentist, who 1 understand Is to be
deported from the country today on o
Ward line steamer. 1 have no family.
My coffee house, worth 81 $780, was seized
by the government officials. When was
Jailed 1 wrote to Consul General Will
Jams, who Immediately investigated my
case and demanded my release. The gov
eminent officials put me aboard the
steamer Habana, bound for New York,
paying my passage as third class pas
senger. paid 90 extra and came second
class"