West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1895-11-28
SPANISH CRUELTY,
AS PRACTICED IN LUBA AMONG
THE UNFORTUNATENATiyE
Observations or an American Who
Has Travelled Extensively on the
rsl..I

SASht Va NiuSthhatt. Wno nus opShb
ten years of his life in Cuba, gives
the following very interesting in
formation concerning affairs on
that Island.
81 have spent the last ten years
OF my life in Cuba, and know the
island from one end TO the other.
The rebellion there is one of the
hottest in the history of the world.
The patriots now have about 20. 600
soldiers but only one-half of this
number being well armed, the others
carrying the matchAtes, or long
knives, which are used for cutting
roads through the forests.
"The hotbed of the rebellion is
now in Remedies. which is the rich.
ests OF the tobocco- growing dis
tricts. This is the eastern part of
the island. There are about 75,.
600 Spanish soldiers on the island,
and inside of month the mum Der
will be increased to over 100, 900.
The greatest enemy of the Spanish
recruit is the climate, and hundreds
of them die after a few days i'll
ness.
"The Spanish recruits are sorry
lot and the officers are anything
but in love with their task. 1t was
General Campois' plan to begin an
aggressive warfare about Novem ber
is. That is the date at which the
rainy season ends, and from that
time until March the interior Of the
island is fairly inhabitable. He
will form a line OF troops across the
west end of the island and will at
tempt to sweep it from one end to
the other. This will doubtless be
difficult task, as the interior is
mountainous, abounding in caves
which are known only to the naA
tives.
twill give you an example of
how Spain rules in Cuba. Not
long ago ten young Cubans were
standing on corner. when one Of
them, taking pencil from his
pocket, wrote on the white of
the wall in Spanish, 'Td h--l with
the Spanish crown Tho police
patrol in twos, and a pair of them
happened to see the action. The
writing was examined aud the ten
were arrested All were cdurt= mar.
tailed and condemned to be shot
the next morning unless they would
tell who did the writing. The nine
innocent ones refused to tell, and
the y0unger brother Of unu of the
unfortunate youths implicated
asked that he might take his
brothers place, ,as the latter was the
head of the family, being the eldest
son Of a widowed mother. His
request was granted, and all Of
them, including the brave lad, but
little over IL years of age, were led
out and shot down.
"Cuba is the brightest jewel in
the Spanish crown, and she will do
everything in her power to hold it..
There aae between 1000, 600 and
5000, 600 people on the island, and
the revenue to Spain Is over $780,
10000 each year. As an example
of the taxation a hotel keeper has
to pay one gold dollar year for
each letterin bis sign.
"The island is one of the richest
spots in the universe, bat is unde.
vclOped, and will continue to be 30
long as the present rate of taxation
exists. Both The tobacco and sugar
crops have been almost entirely
ruined. About seven -tenths OF the
natives have negro blood in their
veins, and should they succeed in
freeing the island a race war will
dou btiess festlt.
GAS to the prospects Of the pa
triots' success, / think that depends
entirely ON the attitude of the
United States and Mexico. II
either Of these nations recognises
their rights as belligerants 50 that
they Can secure arms they will win,
otherwise they must at once yield
to the iron hand. Americans are
respected by the Oubans beoausc
they arc Americans, and are we'll
treated by the Spanish because the1
are afraid Of Uncle Sauf.' "
RUPTURE CURED At HOME.
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