Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-04-02
SPANISH EXCESSES
Story of the Outrages on the Three
Farrar Brothers, Americans.
THEIR HOUSE FIRED ON AND ROBBED
An Indemnity Demanded and the Matter
Now In Consul General Williams
Hands A Wounded
Rebel Executed.

"A '"''NNN
Rebel Executed.
Havana, March 3i.-IIere is the
story of the three brothers Farrar, all
American citizens and joint owners OF
the coffee plantation "Estrella' in Ha-
vana province near Alquizar 1t does
not differ greatly from the experiences
of many other owners of estates in the
interior, but as those men happen to
be Americans and have made sworn
statements protesting against the ex-
cesses committed by Spanish troops,
and demanding damages, the affair
has become one of official record, and
cannot be brushed away with a gem
eral denial. The papers are now in the
hands of Consul General Williams,
and Miguel Farrar, one of the broth
ers, has furnished me with copy of
his statement. 1t is as follows:
Fired on the Dwelling.
"On Saturday, March 21, the dwell
ing house of the coffee plantation
'Estrella' was the object of wanton
attack by the column of Gen. Bernat,
operating in that region. The said
building received cannon shots of
grape and canister, breaking the
door, one window, several piazza col
umns and greatly endangering the
lives of the families of my brothers,
Don Tasio and Don Luis Farrar, both
American citizens, the wife of the
former being enciente. There We're
two small children in the house. From
my information it appears that the
troops mentioned had sustained fire
with rebel band in the Paz planta-
tions, quarter of a league from Es-
trella. The rebels having fled to Pc
droso and Buena Esperanza planta-
tions, the government troops advanced
toward Estrella, in quite an opposite
direction to that taken by the rebels
Robbed of JeweIry and Clothing.
"On arriving at the borders of
Estrella plantation the Spanish
columns began firing cannon at the
dwelling house, and it was Immediately
invaded by soldiers, who ransacked it,
carrying off from wardrobes all
jewelry and mems clothing which they
contained as well as a sum of about
$50 in money. They also took away
everything found in worl1men's dwell
lings, arresting at the same time
twelve of the occupants, whom they
conducted to Alquizar as insurgents.
1t should be observed that the cannons
were fred solely at the dwelling house
of the owners, although there were
twenty other buildings on the planta-
tion and the place was entirely clear
of insurgents
Indemnity Demanded.
"In consideration of all the above,
and particularly on account of the
danger to which his relatives were ex-
posed, and also for the uniustifable
looting on the part of the regular
troops in the service of constitutional
government, the undersigned does most
solemnly protest and asks an immedi-
ate indemnity for the damage suffered,
which he values at S., 600, as all work
has been stopped on the plantation
and everything abandoned.
Wounded Rebel Executed.
From a staff Correspondent
Havana, March 3I.-Enrique Aleman
was executed in the Cabanas, across
the bay from this city, yesterday He
belonged to one of Maceo's bands
which was dispersed. Afterwards he
joined a small band of insurgents and
was captured in fight with the troops,
in which he was wounded in the arm
in both hands and in the fingers. His
right hand was amputated in hospi-
tai There is no definite news regard
ing the movements of Maceo, who is
in the province of Pinar del Rio. In
surgents have burned Penalver, a small
town two leagues from Guanabacoa
province of Havana. They hanged the
alcalde. Col. Moucada reports that
his command made a recoanoitre in
the Siguanea Valley and destroyed
100 houses that the insurgents were
using as inhrmaries and workshops. In
the lighting the rebels lost eight
killed, including one bearing the title
of Governor Castro. A detachment
of troops, acting in concert with a
gunboat, fought an insurgent force at
Rincon, near cape Cruz Three rebels
were killed, among the number being
the leader Cervino, who had Just
landed with an expedition from
Jamaica. The warship Alfonso Nil
fred by mistake upon the Spanish
eoastng steamer Alava of Matanzas
One blank shot and five balls were
hred at her, but no damage was done
j. FRANK CLARK.