The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1895-03-23
Statements That Six Thousand
Cubans Are Under Arms
FALSE REPORTS RENDERED
Defeats OF Spanlsh Troops Onicialy
Declared VIctori Life PeriIed
for Speaking the Truth.

Key West, Fla. March 1.-THE first
clear and trustworthy statement of af-
fairs in the eastern end of Cuba is
brought by a passenger on the steamer
Macotte.
II have travelled throughout the
mountainous district constantly since !
the trouble began" said he, and mat
ters are now in a worse condition than |
at the beginning. The fighting started |
in a desultory and scattered fashion,
but the forces gradually became crys
tallized, and there are now fully 5000
insurgents under arms They are in
dozen or more detachments, but are Civ
ing the government no end of trouble.
In many cases the Spanish troops have
been beaten back with heavy loss. The
most deplorable feature of the warfare
is the pillaging and burning. The in
surgents have gained confidence since
the beginning of the trouble, and mat
ters in the eastern district are in al
most as bad condition as during the
war of 1868.
New leaders are springing up, and
by the force of their intellect and abil-
lily lntN nave lnQuCtu TIC lAtSuA tlANs
not to hold off any longer for the ar
rival of leaders. The general opinion in
Santiago is that if the Insurgents can
hold out until summer the yellow fever
will help them greatly.
1T is said that both Rabi and Masso
are confident of taking Santiago before
October. The Spanish troops are guard
ing every road and nobody is allowed
to pass without giving the strictest
account of himself 1t is as much as a
mans life is worth in Santiago to talk
in favor of the Cubans or tell the truth.
Several persons have been shot on ac-
count of this.
Instances where the Spaniards were
defeated have been published as gov
! eminent victories. -Four Spanish cruis'
e ers were in the harbor Of Santiago one
+ week ago; now there are but two guard
p ing the eastern coast and one on The
o southern coast"
The passenger also said the revolt
would kill business in Cuba for TIVE
,- years. Money is already scarce an'
( prices are high. A panic is feared l
d seems to be the general impression
among the Spaniards that the Unite
e States feel bitter towards the SPANS
Ii government and would like nothing bet
II ter than an excuse to seize the islanc
> hence their hatred of the Americans.
=, Nothing official has been received c
10 the report of the Spanish cruiser firm
If on the Alliancia 1t is understood tina
j. the Spanish officials in Havana CLAN
" the Alliancia was within three miles {
lie shore and that the cruiser had a rigl
j. to sink her on her refusal to stop.
80 CONFIRMATORY REPORTS.
i'm Tampa. Fla March 1.-THE reports
g. the Progresso, a Cuban steamer that a
t. rived tonight, give credence to the upri'
liz ing in the eastern department. land sta
d. that much activity exists among u
NJ Spanish troops on the entire islam
,n ! Thirteen prisoners are reported i'm II
es prisons of Havana. Sangually and Al
r. uirre are being tried by civil court,
., required by Consul Williams, and it
believed they will be freed altogether q
r. though it is asserted that should Sangua
- ly be released his life would be in peril.
nm The Cubans had a recent engageme
with Spanish troops in the outskirts
+fr Bayamo. IT is said citizens saw Il
80 lighting from the house tops. The affrs
y. lasted two hours and 800 Spaniards we
- killed and wounded. The Cubans ga
-, an entertainment in Ybor City, the pr
"a caeds to go to the treasury of the revOl
ny tiOnary party. The house was crOWde