The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-21
NEW YORK rs HIS HOME.
Now His Hope for Big
Indemnity Is About to
Be Realized.
RELIEF AFTER WAITING YEARS.
How He Was Deprived of He
Property and Sentenced
to Death.

NEW YORK, n. Y, June 20.-Antonio
Maxine Mora, whose claim against tho
Spanish Government for 81, 500. 600 aDpearo
to be in fair way of being settled, is now
as he has been for years, a resident of tbis
city. He has lived here since the Span-
lards passed sentence Of death upon him
al time when he, fortunately. was in this
country. Mr.. Mora for the last th;rtv-6ve
years has considered this city his home
although during a great portion of that
time he has had large property interests in
Cuba. The old firms of Mora Nephews e.
Mora, ana Mora, Navarro & Co., are well
known among the sugar-dealers who years
ago controlled the imports from Cuba. In
both of the firms Mr.. Mora was the con-
trolling member. Mr.. Mora lives at 161
West Sixty-third street, the house where
his sons-Antonio and Aurilo-haye made
home for him to ease his declining years.
His daughter keeps house for them, and
considers her fathers every wish.
An effort was made to see Mr. Mora by
reporter, but as he had been abed for sew
eral days with neuralgia, his son Aurelic
asked that he be excused He said that
aside from his fathers temporary ailment
he was as well as could be expected for a
man II years old, although his fathers
father had lived for ITO years. Aurelio
Mora spoke freely of his fathers case
against Spain.
we have been waiting many years"
said he, Ito have fathers claim paid. It
has been long delayed, but we never have
lost hope. Father always has been hope
full, and has had confidence in his adopted
country. His hopefuIness has infused us.
and we have come to have as strong a be-
lief that his equities would be acknoyl-
edged as he. Father owned plantations of
great value il Cuba, and in 1853 he ac-
CURED a residence in New York He did
not become a citizen until 1869, however,
although he had large business interests
here.
while tie rebellion was going on in
1869 the Spanish authorities sentenced
father to death and confscated his prop
erty. The claim that he was implicated in
the sporadic war which was then progress
ing was false and had no foundation.
They took his property, but fortunately
could not take his life. For time he kept
cigar-store, although he formerly lived in
great luxury. My mother broke down,
after worrying for years, and died two
years ago. She was strong, hopeful
woman, but had not the reserve power that
father possesses.
1.-THE property that was taken by the
Spaniards consisted of sugar plantations,
factories and warehouses, as well equipped
as any that then existed on the island.
This was all taken and worked until the
Spanish Government accumulated fully
$2,500,000, and was then disposed of in
some way. After the claim for indemnity
was made the matter was considered for
several years, and then they suggested a
compromise of $1,500,000. This was ac-
cepted for the purpose of closing up the
matter, but it has dragged along since 1886.
The claim was made through Secretary
Fish in 1870, who protested against sem
fencing an American citizen to death and
confiscating his property. He declared it
to be a violation of the treaty between
Spain and the United States and made
strenuous effort in fathers behalf. Many
protests have been made. Mr.. Blaine tried
to have the matter settled, but did not sue
coed. Minister Belmont did all he could
to aid father, but he also was unsuccessful.
But it looks now as if Mr.. Olney will
accomplish what others have failed to do.