The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-09-26
Visit to the Cabanas Prison At
Havana.
CELLS IN WHICH POLITICAL SUS-
PECTS ARE PACKED.
Little Air, Filthy Surroundings, and Bad
Water.

Madrid dispatches to Havana again
announce that speedy decision IN tne
case OF the Competitor prisoners may be
expected. The seven men who Tor nearly
five months have been langulshlng IN the
Cabanas prison are soon to know their
fate. Among them is at least one
American born, and one or more are
naturalized American citizens.
Havana dispatches to the United States
announce the arrest of dozen more
prominent citizens within the last week.
These men against many of whom there
ID but the vaguest suspicion, are now in
tne Cabanns dungeons. We hear OF no
released Suspects, but OF the deperta-
tion of dozen to political prisons IN
Africa. Of all Spain's political prisons,
the Cabanas may be regarded as typical,
If not, indeed, superior in many ways to
the African strongholds.
During my recent tour OF western
Cuba. and while yet newly arrived,
visited, says writer in the New YORK
Sun, the MORO Castle offenders and ex-
perienced the first shock Of seeing human
beings imprisoned in stone chambers
whence they had little hope of emerging.
LATER ! was able to spend an entire sun
day in the Cabanas and to make close
study of it's occupants md their condi-
ton.
The capacity of the eight habitable
calabozos of this fortifcation Is about
200. This would give twenty five in
mates to chamber and crowd them
closely. II two or three of the eight
cham bers be used for solitary confne-
meut, incomunicados, or capilla (chapel
for those about to be put to deatn), the
remaining FIVE or six must be still more
closely packed. The width of the Gala
bozos, which on the outside appears to
be some twsnty feet is considerably less
inside, owing to the extremely thick walls
which separate them. The chambers run
back some distance, and, I am told, have
each small. high window at the rear.
The depth might be 30 to 40 feet The
total number Of inmates is never less
than 200, and, as a consequences, the cells
are constantly crowded Each calabozo is
furnished with rough table, rough
nepches. square tins for drinking water,
and one large bucket or barrel which Is
emptied twice day. The men furnish
their own hammocks or sleep on the
stone floor.
Nothing more helpless or hopeless can
be IMAGINED than the condition OF these
beings, whose climbs ale rusted with
vile repose;" yet, thanks to the sangu1ne
Latin temperament and the stoical Cuban
quality of resignation, which Ia entirely
different from submission, they are all
hopeful beyond belief.
The situation Of the Cabanas. which
should be well known to Americans by
this time, is on the highest ground OF the
highland across the bay from Havana,
and about quarter of mile southeast
of Moro Castle. To reach 1T from
Havana one pays a,rea1 or 80 to Spanish
boatman at the Caballeria wharf to
ferry hint is short sail over-to
what 1t called Casa Blanca. cluster OF
stores and houses whence there is Ion
climb up the zigzag road to the lori
cations. This zigzag path. stone stud
ded, shed sheltered, flower aud shrub
bordered, is an immaculate index OF the
prison atmosphere So far as rigid scrutiny
of visitors is concerned. At every turn
one meets sentry or pair and is halted
for inspection. Visitors who are rela-
tives or friends of the prisoners are per-
mitted to enter the Cabanas during cor
tain hours on Wednesdays and Sunday 8.
BY O'Clock the court must he clear.
This permission Is an understood one.
without pass or aught else than the Gen.
tries scrutiny of every arrival and o
brief conversational test to discover il
he is native or Spanish subject. 1t is q
grudged permission naturally, and not
one that would encourage information
seekers. An ordinary American of nerve
and nonohalanoe, if he spoke Spanish
well, might run the gauntlet; for ar
American consul or other prominent per.
son it would be out of the question.
At the time I spent my Sunday there
they were beginning to enforce more
rigorous prob ibition of foreigners, and