Omaha daily bee., 1896-11-26
HAVANA in FEAR OF ATTACK
Business at a standstill and Merchants
Are Leaving the Island.
PASSENGERS BRING NEWS TO NEW YORK
J. w. Brown, nm EngIishmnn, Says
Cubn In Lost 10 Spain md Tells
Many stories of Span
ish Cruelty.

NEW YORK, Nov. 25.-The officers Of the
steamer City Of Washington, which arrived
today from Havana, say that Havana is In
the worst possible state OF alarm. The resi-
dents are momentarily expecting an attack
by the insurgents. The prisons are full,
business is at standstil and merchants Of
Spanish ideas are preparing to leave the
country. ]. w. Brown, an Englishman re-
Gently released from Cuban prison, where
he spent month for shouting in the streets
Of Havana Cuba lbre,' and who was ex-
PEELED a week ago by order of Captain Gen
eral Weyler, was one OF the passengers.
Brown said his treatment by the Spanish
authorities was brutal in the extreme, and
that If he had not had papers proving him
TO be British subject he would have been
shot or would still be in a Spanish Jail.
He had been four years In Havana ana Is
now on his way home
Cuba In my mind is lost to Spain. The
latter country Is now on her beam ends and
the storm on the little island will soon en-
gulf her" he said.
Brown declared no political prisoners In
Cuba knew what they were arrested for un-
III they had been in prison some time. As
BIO his own case, he does not remember hav-
ing given the Spaniards any just cause for
his arrest.
beI Ile tell you SOlutluluB vi Ntyltl {
system" he said. "Honore Lame was cap
tured by General Maceo of the Cuban army
about nine months ago. He was detained
but few days After his liberation Laine
returned to his homo in Havana. Later he
was arrested at the instigaton of a personal
enemy, particular friend of Weyler. Sew
eral months after his arrest he was tried
before jury composed OF Weylers own
creatures and declared innocent. Did that
make any difference? Not a bit. He is
lnlI NHtu 1fn hau hn.F
referred to Madrid. Weyler showed his dis
pleasure toward the court that declared
Lame innocent by sending It's officers into
the field as a punishment. MIR. Laine is a
Frenchman and is trying to call his case
to the attention of the French govern
ment.
"Weyler has had many foreigners ar
rested. He detests them. Most of these
prisoners have never seen the light of day.
Finally they drop out of sight; 1t saves the
cost of trial. The poor Cuban gets short
shift. 1t is sufficient to know that
he is a sympathizer in the cause. That
is his death warrant"
Mr. Brown related many instances OF
cruelty by the Spaniards.
DR.. Taylor, another passenger says that
Spain's cause is lost and that General Wey-
Ter has 10000 sick soldiers on his hands.
CINCINNATI, Nov. 25.-A special to the
Commercial-Tribune from Jacksonville, Fla,
says: Private cablegrams to Cuban leaders
here from Havana tonight state that Gomez
is moving Havanaward, and 1t Is rumored
he and Maceo will soon make a concerted
attack on Havana. This increases the gen
eral alarm and distrust in the city, and
Weyler's palace is beseiged with throngs
after Information, OF which very little is
vouchsafed the public. The governor gen
eral contents himself with general hints and
statements of what he will do after Christ
mas.
A rumor prevails at Havana this evening
that some of Maceo's forces have met a
portion of Weylers army at Maryl and that
the Spanish loss Is heavy 1t cannot be
confirmed tonight. Sounds of sharp firing
or dynamitng were heard this evening east
ward of the city supposedly caused by
guerrilla warfare.