The San Francisco call., 1896-04-07
ported to the Isle of Pines. Ten of them
were convicted of political offenses, while
the others were ordinary criminals.
J. FRANK CLARK.
CONFINED IN MORRO CASTLE.
Many Political Prisoners and Suspects
AsCditinQ TRIAL.

Many Political Prfsoners and SMs pecfs
A,caitin0 TRIAL.
HAVANA, CUBA, April 4 (via Tampa,
Fla, April 6).-Two hundred and twelve
men are confined in two cells of MORO
Castle. They are political prisoners or
suspects awaiting trial. Some have been
there week, some month. some year.
Two are Americans. One Is a British
subject. There is boy of ii years. born
In Spain and not long enough in this
country to dream of rebelling against the
Government. There are men bowed in
years, young men, merchants, professional
men, clerks and farm Iaborers, all gathered
In and thrown together without much evil
dence of their having aided or taken part
in the insurrection. In the Cabanas fort
ress close by and prisons all over the
island are other unfortunates. In times
of war foreigners. newspaper correspond
ents and tourists are supposed to
be shut out of Spanish prisons,
but relatives and friends are ad-
mitted to MORO Castle on Sundays and
Mondays. Each cell is about twenty feet
wide and 100 feet deep. They are of stone
ceiled above, and more like subterranean
tunnels than abodes for human beings
They are damp and filthy and infested
with worms. Nothing in the shape of
chairs, benches or beds is provided. There
are, however, hooks for ~ hammocks,
but as there are los men in one room and
104 in the other, over half the number are
compelled to sleep on the stone floors
Water is furnished twice day in square
cans, which once contained kerosene oil.
ReCnIar rafinpc
sanitary arrangements are vile.
One of the prisoners is Lopez Coloma.
In the early days of the rebellion, like
Juan Gulberto Gomez, who died in Ceuta
prison, Coloma presented himself when
Captain-General Callija issued his procla-
nation granting amnesty to all insurgents
who surrendered. He has been in prison
over year, has neither been deported nor
given trial, and stands good chance of
dying in prison. Another of the prisoners
is La Dislao Quintero, an American citizen
of the peaceful precincts of Guatao, who
was taken prisoner in his own house
and shot in the arm after capture.
He never took part in the insurrection
Another prisoner is Manuel Francisco
Aguero. He claims to be an American
citizen. and, although he was arrested in
July, 1895, the American Consul said he
had never heard of the case. Aguero is a
general manager of circus and nearly 60
years of age. He speaks English and says
he is a citizen of the United States. He
says he has taken no part in the war, and
was arrested in Guarara. Havana province,
July 13 of last year.
Consul Williams has agreed TO inquire
into his case. There is British subject
in Moro who has been there about iour
months, but as he is informed that he will
be released inside of week he does not
desire his name mentioned. Nearly all of
the 212 are white. One is smooth
checked Spanish lad of IA, who was a clerk
in store in small town in the interior
of Havana province. He left the position
and was walking along the road to Havana
when arrested, charged with being rebel.
In the easements of Moro are other
political prisoners, besides the 212, and in
Cabanas, Sanguilla, the only American
who has had a trial, is still confined.
Cepero, an American who has been in
Cabanas two months, is now at the Pre-
sidios Prison, Havana. He will be taken
to Santa Clara for trial. The two Somil-
lans, father and son, have been released,
after about six weeks in prison, there being
no evidence against them. They are
Americans and are well known in the
tobacco trade.