The San Francisco call., 1896-03-06
LIFE IN MoRRO CASTLE.
Experience of a Former Portland Gam
bier sHho Wus IsnDyis Oued.


bier Who Was Jmpris0ned.
PORTLAND, Or, March 5. - Frank
Westerman, formerly of this city, writes
from New York to a friend here that he
has just been released from a Spanish
prison in Havana. He says that after
leaving Portland in 1889 he went to Mazat-
Ian, Mex, remaining there until 1892.
There he amassed considerable sum OF
money runni Z q gambling house. In
1898. the capital of Cuba offering great
opportunity to sporting men, he went to
Havana, opening gorgeous palace, in
which all manner of games were profit
ably conducted. He did so we'll that he
bought half interest in sugar planta-
ton near Santiago de Cuba for $20 900.
His house became the favorite resort of
Americans, and later also for Spaniards
under military surveillance. There meet
ings were held unknown to him to further
the interest of the insurgents, and one
night in February, 1895, file of soldiers
marched into his establishment and placed
every person in the rooms under arrest.
Westerman writes that he was confined
in damp vermin-infested cell in Moro
castle. and for the period of three months
after his incarceration he was not allowed
to communicate with the outer world, and
until then he remained ignorant of the
causes of his arrest. The food given him,
he says, was unfit to be placed before q
hog; he slept on bunk without bed cloth
ing, and the malarious atmosphere in the
prison made him deathly sick, but he
could get no medical attention.
when was arrested" adds the writer,
81 was deprived of all the valuables I had
on nv person, with the exception of val
liable diamond ring which l wore on my
little finger, and surreptitiously thrust
into my mouth. Early in May with that
ring bribed prison attendant who occa-
sionally brought my swill food to convey
message from me to Consul-General
Williams. Strangely enough, the fellow
proved loyal, and a month later the Con
sui was permitted to have personal in
terview with me. l told him the truth in
connection with my case-that l was per-
fectly ignorant of any revolutionary meet
ings have been held in my place, if such
were the case; that I was a neutral resi-
dent of the city, having no further inter
ests there than my business, and that !
had no affiliation with either side of the
revolution. Six months elapsed before the
Consul was able TO procure evidence of
that nature for me, and not until the Goth
of January was released.
"The night of my arrest I weighed 900
pounds, ana when emerged from my
living tomb 1 couldn't tip the scales at
more than LOG"
The writer concludes his letter with the
statement that when he was arrested on
suspicion of aiding and abetting tn. revo-
lutlonaIy cause he was worth about $50, 900,
all OF which the Spanish Government has
confiscated. This. he says, includes his
sugar. plantation interests. Notwithstand-
ing that his release from prison was tacit
admission on the part of the Government
of his nom participation in the revolution
still it refuses to make restitution.
Consul. General Williams has submitted
Westerman's claim to the State Depart
ment at Washington, and Westerman is in
New York. where he has engaged lawyers
to press the matter as hard and speedily
as possible.