The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-01

given. you will understand that II Is I'm
possible for The owners TO do more than
sioIls. the remainder of which becomes loot
warfare in Cuba IS turned into a money!
ity blackmails or openly robs all those
whom he can compel by force or fear TO ac-
cede to his demands The consequence is a
general statee of starvation and misery.
and this is tie condition of not only the
country people but also OF the troops. The
poor wretches are only half clothed in
much worn and patched. huge straw
hats and most OF their harness Is
constant exposure to rain and weather. 1t
is no wonder that the poor fellows are driv-
Iieve 1t. but such is the case, often and
often, and had you been there TO see the
state of affairs with me, it would not sur
prise you to know that. when under lire.
numbers of the troops so over to the Cuban
side
lot of men. but | cannot say as much for
the officers, many of whom should never
have suspected of being military had
a fine opportunity of observing the troops
during my train journeys, for the whole
railway right along is fortified TO prevent
a shock 1t would be TO English travellers
to see each man as he enters the train
unhitch his bowie knife and unsling his
revolver belt. laying them on the seat be-
side him, ready for action. The troops are
where they have thrown up earthworks az
mud and stone, with wooden log houses on
top with holes to fire through. Every sta
ton on the line is barricaded with railway
iron and the waiting rooms are converted
into barracks. The trains stop constantly
all the way along to distribute food 10 the
troops and to pick up the sick and wound
ed Travelling under such circumstances Is
not a rapid mode of transit. assure you.
out all the same, it was most interesting
and novel, though IL was sad enough IN an
onscience to see the ruin and devastation
at every step of the way. All the houses
and sugar factories burned down. and
the land that used to be rich reminds ono
of Western prairie. In those districts
where fighting has taken place the ground
is scattered over with skeletons, both hu-
when / reached the ancient town OF
Ratabano L found everything turned upside
down; the churches were transformed INTO
stables and the whole place fortified, as
an attack by the insurrectionists was eN-
pected that night. True enough! About
O'Clock q. M. the Cubans arrived ana the
troops opened fire upon them as they adj
vanced. but little they seemed to care. for
earihWorks and forcing their way into the
town. i cannot describe the scene that fol-
lowed. 1t pitch dark and ii seemed 70
greatest impartiaity at his next neighpor
without fear or favor. The six-shooters
were kept going brisiily for a considerable
while until the CubanS discovered that they
were greatly outnumbered and retired The
equal. Three rebel niggers' were captured
by the Spanish and shot next mo, morning ms.
darkey fiinging open his jacket and point
ing TO his heart as he shouted, shoot mere,
AT Cienfuegos. where 7 next went, L
found things in a deplorable condition--the
mines closed and the people who 100
poor to get away dying of starvation vel
low fever and smallpox. These diseases are
working terrible havoc among the troops.
who are dying by scores The dead cart
travels around all night long and as the
bell rings the dead are brought out and
carried away for burial. So many are
young and unseasoned and succumb almost
pestilence So far as / judge there is
little prospect of the war coming to an end
yet awhile, for on the one hand Spain con-
to meet their death way or another.
and as for the Cubans they seem inclined
to fight to the bitter end. and although the
stood them. still they are gaining ground
day by day and no doubt the knowledge
of what fate would await them in the
event of ultimate defeat helps to spur
them on. for the taxation and oppression
what they must anticipate in the future
should they be conquered.
The Texan filibusters are great boys
their opinion, are having H.. They fight
like demons. and even so so far as to lasso
the riders off their horses occasionally.
This playful mode of warfare naturally
strikes terror into the hearts of their adj
versaries, though their colored comrades
admire it greatly. The Cuban rebels make
good use of the machete (cutlass) when
gagged al close quarters with the enemy.