Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-06-25
SPANISH BUTCHERS.
An American and His Family MUIR
dered In Cuba by Troopa
LETTER FROM CONSUL.CEyERAL LEE.
He Severely CrltloIses the spanlards for
Their Cruelty and Says the Insur-
gents Control the Island-No
Report Yet Made.

NEW YORK, June 23.-The American
three masted schooner, Mabel Hooper,
Of Rockland, Me-, which has Just or
rived in this harbor, brings news Of
fresh atrocities by the Spanish troops
In Cuba. The Hooper sailed ten days
ago from Sagua, on the north coast Of
Cuba, and in Santa Clara province.
While at that port the American con.
sui told the captain in substance this
story:
The Spanish commander Of the post there
had orders from Havana TO see to 1t that all
tobacco planted near Sagua should be taken TO
that city. large tobacco plantation about
three miles south Of Sagua Is owned by Mr..
Gonzales, said to be an American citizen. The
Spanish commander summoned Mr.. Gonzales
to his headquarters and asked why he had
failed to comply with the captan-generals
proclamation. Mr. Gonzales explained that
the Spanish troops had taken oil his horses
and cattle and he could not cart his tobacco
The Spanard then sent for young lieu
tenant and instructed him to take guard
and escort Mr.. Gonzales to his panta tion
Upon arriving at the plantation Mr. Gonzales
was met by his wife and their Ave small chill
dren. you may enter your house," said the
lieutenant, land you will remain there until
send for you" Shortly afterwards the soldiers
piled lot Of dry grass and shavings about the
house and set fire to It, The smoke soon COM
PEELED the family to leave and as they walked
out Of the rear door, the front Of the building
In flames, oil were shot down. The lieutenant
reported to his commander that Gonzales and
his family had tried to escape and were shot
because they 'disobeyed orders by leaving
the house.
LETTER FROM CONsUL-GENERAL LEE
WASHINGTON, June ga very inter
esting letter was received yesterday by
relative from Gen. Lee. TWAS writ
ten on June 10 and deals pretty fully
with Cuban affairs The Spanish au-
thorities, the general says, have treat
ed him with great courtesy, and Capt.
Gen. Weyler has granted every request
thus far preferred, even allowing him
to visit the prison where the captured
Americans are confined. The Spanish
troops, he says, are fairly well
drilled, but under system Of tactics
and manual totally different from any
thing the general had ever seen. As
to the insurgents, they practically had
control Of the island. Their emissaries
come In and 90 out Of the towns and
cities as they will, and he believes the
entire native population is in sympathy
with them. As to the inhumanity Of
the Spanish commander, Gen. Lee ex-
presses himself In the plainest
terms "They do not regard the
laws of modern war nor tho
usages customary among civilized ma
tions at ALL" he says. From every
quarter there Is the same testimony
concerning the barbarities Of the Span
ish soldiers. Some of the evidence
have heard would be beyond belief did
not know it to be the most reliable
of inoffensive citizens
murder, every form Of rapine, have
been inflicted on the natives of the
island, and it takes very little indeed
TO place you under suspicion" Gen.
Lee doubts If peace could be made
now short Of basis of absolute in
and freedom from Spanish
control.
NO REPORT YET MADE.
HAVANA, June 22-United States
Consul-General Lee, when asked re-
garding the published allegations that
he has sent report TO President Cleve-
land on the Cuban situation, denied
absolutely that he had sent any report
on this subject.