The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-10
WAR-HARASSED CUBA
SUGAR PLANTER's ACCOUNT OF
AFFAIRS ON THE ISLAND.
All Americans Hated by the Spanish
observation-disclosures with Rebels
death of a Negro Leader.

NEW ORLEANS, April 9.-Mr. Frank H.
Duncan, a well-known sugar maker. ar
rived in the city some days ago from the
island of Cuba, where he had been to take
off a crop at one of the plantations a few
miles inland from the coast. Mr.. Duncan
was seen by a reporter and told some very
interesting things about the little island in
the gulf. In speaking of the agricultural
condition of the country, Mr. Duncan said:
"Cuba is q veritable tropical garden; al
most every known plant lives and thrives
there. The balrny winter weather is beauti-
full and one cannot help enjoying it. The
interior in some parts is mountainous, but
there is hardly square inch on the island
that does not contain some vegetable life
The gentleman then went on to speak
of the political condition of the country,
and said that it was indeed deplorable.
With brigands, insurgents and robbers of
all kinds, the people are kept in constant
terror for their lives. The state of the
country, owing to the revolution that is
now going on is something terrible said
Mr.. Duncan. 1.-The insurgents are wild
set and work under three leaders. They
burn sugar houses, country haciendas and
sometimes small towns, and act generally
like set of barbarians
rs it true that the insurgents are led
by negroes, and that the revolution is mere
ly race WARP" asked the reporter
No, sir; it is not empnatically replied
white, while the third is mulatto, but
the last named was raised with white peo-
pie on a plantation ana has the antipathy
to his race that the whites have. The
natives of the island proper are mostly
half breed-mixtures Of whites, Indians and
creoles of the southern islands. The in
surgents are a rough set, and the people Of
the island who remain loyal to Spain stand
which have been sent over to the island to
subdue the insurgents do not look to be
tip-top soldiers, and whenever they go off
to battle they appear as though they would
much rather stay at home.
Spain cannot afford to lose Cuba. The
country is one of the richest in the world,
and it would forever ruin and humble
Spain to lose it. The depredations COM
mitted by the insurgents have ruined the
sugar crop was very poor this season. be-
cause so many of the cane fields were de-
along the coast have captured several
small craft bearing the Spanish flag, but
they won't harm a vessel bearing the
What is the feeling of the spaniards of
the island toward america and Ameri-
Very bitter-very. indeed. They hate
America and all the northern republic peo-
pie, and spaniard always looks at an
American with distrustful eyes. The
hatred of the Spaniards is so intense that
orders were issued some time ago that no
American could mold any position of trust
on the island. 1t is a very hard thing for
one of our people to get work on the ISL
and, and not long ago the railroads were
forbidden to hire Americans, and will not
now even take a fireman or coal passer If
he happens to be an American. The
spaniards fear that the United States
wants TO take Cuba, and behind their hate
turks fear of the cool, determined rep
resentatiyes of the great Northern repub-
lie
DO, they, hate the other foreigners like
they do us?''
NO, they do not; they will do anything
for an Englishman or Scotchman. and a
great many of the latter occupy good posi-
tions under the government. They hate
America and America alone. for the simple
reason that they stana in fear of her COM
Ing down and taking possession of the
rich little Island of Cuba. Now the Cubans
themselves do not hate the Americans as
their rulers do" continued Mr.. Duncan
The insurgents, from the way ii APP
peared TO me, were in favor OF the Amer
leans. and the general sentiment expressed
was: II We do not get our freedom We