The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-01-22

if Gomez Should FaiI-PIace is Fertile
and Prosperous and is the Washington
of Cuba
Chicago, Jan. 21.-The Inter-Ocean
has received the following correspon-
dence:
Cuban Executive Headquarters, Gu
bltas Mountains, Puerto Principe, Jan.
l2.-For six months the executive head
quarters Of the Cuban revolutionary re-
public have been located in these noun
tains- Twenty-Five miles away is the
city Of Puerto Principe, with a Spanish
garrison Of 5000 men. A study of these
two facts is sufficient TO impress one
OF the splendid position taken by the
CuDanS for the chief officers of their
republic. Not even an attempt has
been made by the Spaniards to dislodge
them, and president Cisneros and his
cabinet are as secure from the enemy
as they would be in the main citadel of
Gfbaraftar. Indeed, the great modern
guns that could in time play havoic
with the almost impregnable key of
the Mediterranean" would avail naught
against the fifteen miles of rocks and
ridges that encircle and hide the modest
wooden buildings that constitute the
executive mansion and chief depart
mentS of the yet unrecognized republic
of Cuba
Three days ago the Inter-Ocean cor
respondent left Havana by the steamer
Julia Cf the Herrera line, and arrived
at Nuevitas, on the north coast, twenty
i've hours after. The hotel America,
older evidently than the continent after
which 1t is named, was the place Of
meeting with a Cuban agent, who sup
piled information that was necessary to
have in order TO meet the proper per-
sons at Puerto Principe.
DISGUISED AS A CUBAN.
There was nothing in the attire of
your correspondent that would indicate
he was an American. Dressed as the
typical Cuban Of the cities, with linen
and white Panama hat, little or no
suspicion was aroused. and ne was to
take the train for Puerto Principe with
cut showing his passport.
ISle train was preceded by a pilot en-
g1ne and coach carrying thirty soldiers
Before every bridge and culvert this
train stopped and an examination of
the structure was made. OF course, the
regular passenger train was compelled
to stop and await the result of the
pilots examination, and, although there
the utmost care was exercised through
out the trip An average of ten miles
an Chour was made. The railroad, which
was the first line erected in q Spanish
speaking country, is well constructed
and managed, but the insurgents have
interfered, in a measure, with train
schedules.
On either side Of the road were al
terinate miles of thicket and chared
90 aFan al Io&. II
rebel torches three weeks before. There
certainly was nothing charming to the
eye, and, if there had been, one must
stand to be able to see it, for the iron
plates Of the coaches covered the win
dows TO within an inoh of the top, max
ing the cars very dark, but affording
protection from any stray rebel bullets.
BURNED CANEFIELDS.
Long stops were made at Lugareno
and Minas, the only two stations left
by the insurgents in the late raids
The other two statiOnS-that-were Ram
blaZo and Alta Gracia, are heaps Of
ashes, while, for miles about, the once
beautiful canefields are burned and bar
ren. AT Alta Gracia there was once a
city. Gomez, the Cuban Napoleon, en-
tered 1t with his army, and, although
the inhabitants We're against him, he
respected the lives and the properties
of all Then, after a few days stay,
his army was marching from the town
when a rife peered through a window,
a shot was fired, and Borrero. his most
trusted aid, fell dead from his horse
Gomez Immediately ordered Colonel
Alirabel to remain, with a part of the
forces, and burn every building Of the
place. How thoroughly the work was
done is told by rhe facts that today not
a soul resides where the city of Alta
Gracia once stood.
Puerto Principe, a city Of $4,000 peo-
pie, was reached at 8 p. m. It is an
ancient and picturesque place, with
more pretty girls than even Havana
can boast of. The houses are nearly
all only one story, but their loud col
ors are heard for miles away. Yellow
and blue prevails. About the streets
are hundreds OF lazy soldiers. some
with arms and some without (this by
no means refers to the WOundedD. and
the majority of them are munchins
bread or yams or Slumbering in chairs
a the parks or by the wayside.
At the Hotel TELEGRAPH enough officers
TO efficiently lead a million troops are
quartered. Their sabers clank loudly
but their voices are still more powerful
and ii is easy for one to see how the
rebellion could be put down if phono-
graphs, instead Of machetes were used.
MEET IN CATHEDRAL.
Going 10 the Plaza de Armes in the
evening, the dark-compleXio indi-
vidual who was to act as guide to the
woods was found. He spoke very little
English, but knew his business. and
was to be on hand at 6 O'Clock mass
in the Iglesia Mayor, or cathedral the
next morning.
At The appointed time and place the
meeting w2S effected. The old cathed-
raj. dark and gloomy. was filled by fe-
male worShiperS. There were no men
except the two strangers. and these,
feeling eminenly out Of place. did not
t8rry long, but started on foot down
the Nigia (watch-tower) road. At the
AendaS bridge a couple Of Civil Guards
were encountered. They We're ready 70
shoot, said 50, and acted as if they
were. But the guide quickly arranged
matters on a monetary basis. said''Viva
Espana," as though he meant IL, and
the road was clear.
Several small farTnhouseS were pass
ed. About 2 mile beyond the bridge q
turn was made into a side road. border
ed by palms and at the end % which
was an cid plantation residence. Here
The Inter-Ocean correspondent lefc
aside his linen clothes and dOnned i
well-TSorn Cby somebody elSe) suit OF
brown. \ black silk handkerchief was
tied about the neck. The Panama hat
was carried along for that must be
worn by the Cuban president \ couple
of good horses were here secured and
another start was made
The route was not by way OF the main
road. but across an open part Of the
plantation and then for a mile Or 50
through a thicket, arriving al length
on Il path leading along the high bank
Of a slowly flowing and pretty stream.
"Quien va?" q voice shouted some
rods ahead.
People Of peace. answered the guide.
Then an order 10 advance was given.
chic Aosr-~ .-,r,, r,Tfs-S xx-f-h -nA