The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-23
HAVANA'S BAD PLIGHT.
Cuban Refugees Arriving I'm New York
with farming Stories.


NEW YORK. Nov 22.-The number of
Cuban refugees who have sought shelter in
New York has been increased during the
last week by many arrivals from Havana
who tell startling stories of what is going
on in that city during General Weyler's
absence on the Pinar del Rio campaign.
There is scarcely Spanish boarding house
In this city which has not received one or
more of these Havana refugees. who claim
to be victims of the military injustices that
have been suddenly revived in that city.
Il. Alvarez a cigar manufactures. is one
of the last of these refugees 10 arrive. He
reached New York on Wednesday on the
steamship Saratoga, accompanied by his
wife. Della Martinez Alvarez, and their
nine-year-old boy. They were detained at
HOFFMAN island until yesterday, and after
their release went to the Spanish boarding
house at No. 235 East Thirteenth street.
where Mr.. Alvarez was Seen later IN the
day by reporter.
Il do not wish 10 speak against the Span
ish," said Mr. Alvarez, "but it is true mat
L left havana because L feared that they
would confine me and my wife in MORO
Castle. They were very severe with the
native Cubans, whether they are insurgents
or not. L could not stay when L felt my
self and my family TO be in danger. l shah
stay IN America until the war is over.
THAT viii not be long, 1 believe In four
months the Cubans VIII be successful. 1ne
Spanish onicers III Havana do not expect
eyer to succeed in his campaign against
Maceo. ana are fearful that The center OF
tne crisis viii De soon changed from tlnar
oei hio 10 havana. ne oiieiai punetlns OF
the war, wnlcn purport 10 gave results
Ddtties Al the west, are no. true. Iney
uecelNe neither TIE patriot SynlpathIzvIs
spain urcads wnat may happen IN havana
quite as mucn as sne dreads what may
happen at or beyond the IrocnaS.
ne spanish authorities are afraid of
the popuiatIon or Havana. Many others,
VINO, ike myself, have not been outspohen
for SPAIN, nave iateiy oeen Iorced IN varI-
Gus ways 10 leave havana. 1t Is not be-
cause Oh any evidence showing them TO be
connected with the cuban cause tnat many
OF tnem are required to leave, but because
Spain KNOWS havana will be hard To hold
WITH Gomez and Maceo in front and a large
part OF the peopie IN sympathy with their
onorts TO gam the city,.
Another havana refugee, who still retains
property interests in Cuba, and who FOR.
that reason requests his name TO be with.
held. said yesterday:
In Havana the Spanish cause is believed
TO be hopeless. There Is constant COM
municaton between the insurgent sympa-
thizers and the armies i'm the provinces
which the Spanish authorities are power
less to interrupt. More than half the peo-
pie OF Havana are republicans at heart
and are only kept quiet by the fear of such
Moro Castle, the conhscation OF their
property or actual death. These people
will all be ready to declare themselves
when the crisis arrives unless the Spanish
in the meantime drive them out of the city
"Al the leading notels in Havana are
closed. and the best of the cafes are de-
scending into poverty. The Spanish officers
are forcing them out of business by living
high their bounties without being able
10 pay for what they get.
1T Is an open secret in Havana that the
trochas have proved a failure as a means
OF preventing communication between the
two divisions of the insurgent army Unless
weyler crushes Maceo. which is conceded
to be impossible. the Captain Generals re-
turn TO Havana will be followed by the
junctGre of the Gomez and Maceo COM