Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1896-09-18
HAS JUST RETURNED FROM Gun,
Escaped ScOtchman Thinks the M.
tives VIII Eventually Win.

Omaha, Sept. 13.-Arthur McPherson
a native of Scotland, has returned ~
Omaha after having spent a most event.:
full two years of his life among the Gu.
bans. He was sent to Cuba to put I'M
some machinery by a Glasgow iron firm
and taken prisoner by the Insurgents
He and his companions were Charged
with being Spanish spies. The party was
given a sort of courtmartial and given
the option of death or serving In the Gu
ban army. They could do nothing mt
accept the situation.
For the next Is months Mcpherson
saw a whole lot of the Cubans. They
say that every once in while the Span
iards take out a batch of insurgent pris
oners and shoot them down in their
tracks. This is undoubtedly true. but
have witnessed deeds of cruelty on the
part of the insurgents that fully equalled
that" said Mcpherson. II have seen them
frequently turn over the women, and par
ticularly the young girls, found in the
houses that were raided, to the negro
soldiers in the army, who were allowed
to do with them as they pleased.
THE whole island is wrecked and ruin
ed. There are no plantations and no
ranches. Everything has been destroyed
Finally an opportunity for escape offered
itself and he seized it. He was unsuccess-
full. Being recaptured, he was placed
In stocks and kept in them for six long
weeks. If he asked for drink of water
pailful was thrown over his head.
At last the prisoner was brought before
the famous Antonio Maceo He threw
pride to the winds. He told the general
he had renowned any further attempt
to escape, and would continue in the SER
vice of the army. Maceo, whom McPher-
son said was much less cruel than his
brother, Jose, released him.
There is little in this talk that the re-
hellion is inspired by patriotism, said
Mcpherson. THE leaders are almost
without exception inspired by interested
and personal motives, and so are the SOL
diers. Maceo himself is not urged on by
any patriotic feelings. He Is fighting for
revenge. He said as much when he told
me his history. He said that he was the
son of wealthy Spaniard by negro
mother When his father died he and
his brothers were euchred out of lie
property by their Spanish relatives The
sons were angered at the insult and con-
spired to set on the rebellion. Antono's
desire for revenge has been further in
famed by the fact that every one OF his
six brothers has been killed in the war"
Mcpherson and his companions event
ually escaped by seizing naphtha
launch which had landed some Spanish
officers from a warship, and were picked
up by the steamer Vera Cruz and landed
in Mexico.
The Cubans will win," said McPher-
son. They must win. The Spanilrds
have not the revenue to carry on the
war Their armies must carry everything
with them on expeditions. There are no
provisions to be obtained in the interior
All has been destroyed Spain can rot
stand the expense of such warfare They
can not change the method of fighting
for the insurgents will not enter into a
battle.
II have one ambition" he continued, as
the interview came to close. II want
to meet a Cuban in Scotland ! will kill
him