The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-10
1 REIGN OF TERROR IN CUBA.
raE SPANISH ACCUSED OF INHUMAN
CRUELTY.

.nd a Few Days Later DepOrted tn /
,he ViIest Penal Colony on Earth
PeaceabIe Cubans Flee in Terror
ot the Approach of the spanish
Troops.
Havana. March Z. via Tampa, Fla.
,tarcb 9-Arrests of civilians under the
svreening provisions of Gen. Weyley's
rroclamations of Feb. 16 have been made
a. such a rate, and in many cases with
so little evidence of guilt. that Gen. Wey-
Ter was compelled, a week ago, to issue
Instructions to his officers to be more
CAREFUL as he required more proof than
verbal denunciation. Yesterday he issued
a circular in which he stated that abso-
lute proof must be furnished by other
than interested parties before accused
prsoners would be deported, and warn
ing commanders that they will be held
responsible for false arrests.
without doubt Gen. Weyler has in view
the effect of this order abroad, as well
as here for the manner in which Cubans
who have never borne arms against Spain
have been dragged from their homes,
from their families. their stores or their
farms and their occupations and thrust
into prisons with felons, and after few
days delay placed on board ship for what
is probably the vilest penal colony on the
face of the earth, has become a shame
that cries aloud for redress. Gen. Wey-
Ter, upon his arrival, set at liberty a
number of these civilian prisoners, whom
Gen. Pando had taken from their daily
occupation in the eastern end of the ISL
and. l saw twenty of them at the palace
one day. They were white, intelligent
looking and bore the appearance of being
shop keepers or clerks. They were not
bronzed by exposure to the weather, as
all who are in the field are. The only
4 evidence against the men was a paper
n purporting to be a list Of the people who
were aiding and communicating with the
enemy. 1t was made up by a Spahiard.
4 Since that time Gen. Weyler has released
others captured in the same way. Hun
dreds have, however, been sent to Ceu-
Ia, Africa, and to the Isle ofsPines, and
. the arrests are increasing ia number
Gen. Weyler has removed the alcaldes
I OF all towns in whom be had not absolute
confidence, and has appointed the rank
ing military officers of regular troops or
volunteers alcalde or mayor. These men
are usually of the grade of lieutenant or
major. They possess arbitrary powers.
Under the proclamation the life or death
OF every man. woman or child in their
zone Is in their hands. A large proper
lion or these comma nders believe Gen.
Weyler TO he a man of severe measures
p man who viii quietly approve anv ex-
~ tene act on their part. They look upon
Us circulars AS intended for effect in the
mted states. They look for no punish
.leHl Iof summary execution of Cubans
S |Who sympathize with the insurgents They
tApect praise and promotion for shooting
WI PRISONERS as soon as taken. In their
Iepoi is they are careful to have the pris-
oners or the peaceful citizens killed found
Head on the field after an engagement but
Tween '.ti.s the lhe llnes the manner in which the
Gums met their death is not difficult to
Stclpher Gen. CaDella was sent back to
SPAN by Gen. Weyler either for having
tnot down seventeen prisoners, or for
having reported Seventeen bodies were
found afterward in another part of the
Held, but the man who confessed to his
friends here, and proba bly, to Gen. Weyler
~ oa5 naVIng Killed seventeen people in cold
v,ood' received no more severe punishment
'Idn Delng deprived of his command
sNneh the horrible story of the butchery
vi eighteen peaceable citizens in the little
1dinlet or Guatao was published in the
4 luted states and wired back here Gen
NeyIer announced that he would make
lhorough examination and would severe
~ punlsh whoever was responsible for
me outrage, if one had been committed.
iWo weeks nave gone by since the af-
iaH occurred, and no official has lost
!i4s stripes. Guatao was so near Havana
mat American correspondents succeeded
~ demonstrating the absolute truth of
Dozens of similar stories have been re-
c9Ned here, but the authorities have
a paced such obstacles in the way of the
SIIespondents that it is impossible to
4lslt the localities and establish the facts
IN IN dozen cases refugees from towns
Where lights have occurred state that
allef the rebels are driven away, citizens
VINO took no part We're shot down and
4 counted in the official reports as dead
Insurgents. The government officials deny
ineSe stories, and, while it is common talk
4 al havana that certain affairs were butch
cIIes' the correspondents are in many
vases oDtged to accept the government
Version
have visited owns where nearly every
4dnlly has fed IN terror, leaving dishes
sCditlng upon the tables and everything
- ulSofdef, showing the haste in which
we Cne homes were abandoned. 1 talked
A Milh the few who remained, and was
Il s!ulu mat the people did not dread the
Il insurgents, but fled from fear of the ex-
cesses of the Spanish troops. On the
otner nand, in some sections where the
.OWns nave been used by the Spanish, the
Insurgents have burned the whole town,
ana the people were left homeless. Other
tOWnS which have harbored the insurgents
nave been destroyed by the Spanish
troops, and the wreck and ruin which
Is being visited upon the fair island
" Cuna is pitiful to contemplate. But
n Lor the warmth of the climate and the
vase With which life is sustained in the
ooplcs, thousands would have perished
ere this and the island would be a char
mel house before the end is reached.
m many towns there have been no pro-
visions for weeks. People have lived by
FL hlllS sugar cane ana 6dlllS pldHldllS.
FAMILIES have camped for days upon the
runs of their homes in burned districts,
Sleeping upon the ground nights, and
Cawing under a thatch during the heat
ol the sun. Those who could have sought
refuge in the cities and the few in proper
uoh who had the means have escaped TO
tne United States, Mexico, or some other
SoQntry, where peaceable citizens are not
"aoie 10 summary execution. Clark.
Havana, March 9.-Merchants, political
Faders and citizens generally have signed
Iemonstrances against the action of the
american congress in the matter of ac-
Anowedging the rebels as belligerents,
ana also against the speeches delivered
n the Senate regarding Capt. Gen. Wey-
Joseph Gregorio del Gado, who was
NJ Sq4lu 70 have been killed in a fight on the
TMvIales estate, is not dead, but is Sc
'eIely wounded.
dahemarkable quiet prevails in this city,
fSPlte the reports of what is being done
T. spain and Washington. No excitement
y observable at the hotels or in the busi-
,,tssS districts. There is some talk among
ne spaniards of a heated nature, but
cans
"A masked ball was held at the Tacon