The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-07
A STORY OF THE WAR.
Cruel Treatment by the Spanish OF DR..
Pima and Wife.
Punished for Their Humanity -
Thrown Into Ships Hold,

Tho story which follows is written nob
because il recounts one more extraordinary
case of suffering, but simply because it
shows the prccarious condition In which
noncombatants exist in Cuba today and
because IL proves that even refined women
are not exempt from the indignities and
hardships which follow in the wake Of
Spanish arms.
Last spring there lived in Martinas,
small place ia Pinar del Rio, "a physician
named Antonio Pima He was educated In
medicine In the United States. His wife Is
a bright, attractive woman about 25 years
old. DIR. Pima is nephew of Trujillo
Monagas, formerly chief of police of Ha-
vana. From January TO March Martinas
was in the hands Of the insurgents, who
overran all that section of the country
and burned seven towns, including Mar
tinas. In April the Spanish took Martinas.
II is said that at that time Luis SaStoyo,
white carpenter OF Martnas, went out to
the Spanish with flag of truce; that he
was seized by the soldiers, beaten and
otherwise maltrcated, and that he escaped
only with his life. When the Spaniards
left Martinas many Of the people went
with them, including DR.. Pima. The peo-
pie of Martinas say that young girl,
daughter OF Loreto Rojas, left her home to
join the refugees with the troops; that she
was ordered to halt; that in her fright she
disobeyed and was shot down by n guerilla.
DIR. Pima went with the troops 10 a port
on the north coast called La Fe. Two days
later his wife joined him. There they were
denounced bya personal enemy of the phy-
sician named Giros-the doctor for having
healed the sick and wounded rebels who
had occupied Martinas, and his wife for
having given the rebels food and for hav~
ing made Cuban fag which had been
displayed before or over the doctors house.
DIR. and Mrs Pima were arrested and held
incommuri icndo for eight days. Then they
were shipped TO Havana, with other prison.
ers. on the steamer Triton. The doctors
hands were tied behind him. Husband and
wife were thrust into the hold of the yes-
sci, denied food for two days and compelled
TO sleep OH the plaEks without bedding.
Mrs. Pima, suffering with seasickness,
begged for some tea 1t was refused, and
the captain OF the ship amused himself by
telling the sick and terrified woman that
her hair would DO cropped and her head
cut OF i'm Havana.
During the voyage one of their fellow
prisoners, Francis Martinas, the father Of
six children, was beaten by his captors
constantly. Nearly every Spanlard who
approached him struck him and called him
a mambcsi His hands tied behind him,
unable to parry the blows, the man became
frantic, and linding once an opportunity to
escape he broke from captivity, threw him.
self overheard and was drowned.
Upon their arrival in Havana, on April
%, the soldic~s who received DIR and Mrs
Pima clamorcd for their lives. They were
separated. The doctor was taken TO tho
Cabanas fortress, while Mrs. Pima was
lodged in the womans prison in Havana.
She was imprisoned among thieves and
vile women, was kept in common room
day ard night witch q large number OF do
based women, and 20 avoid the hard and
degrading work OF scrubbng the prison
she was compelled Co hire some one else to
do it. She spent 90 days in this horrible
place.
Finally sickness came to her relief, and
through the inlucnce OF the bishop OF Ha-
vana she was removed 10 the Hospital of
San Francisco dc Paula, where she Is con-
fined prisoner, but in tho kind care Of
the nuns. Twelve days after their arrival
in Havana DIR. and Mrs. Pima werc exam
ined. The military prosecuting officer con-
Quoted the inquiry. The prisoners had no
counsel Three witnesses testified to their
cr'Sncs of caring for sick and wounded
mon and of making flag. One Of tho
witnesses was the curatc of Martinas, Fa-
thcr Toscano, who himself served the IN
surgents by performing the rite of mar
riago while they held tho village
No other trial has yet been granted TO
these prisoners DR.. Pima awaits his fato
In cell ~ of the Cabauas, while his wife
awaits hers I'm tho hospital. What the lat
tcrs may bc she may guess from tho re.
ported fact that Manucla Cancino, q school
teacher Of Campechucla, Santiago dc Cuba,
has been sent 90 the isle OF Pines without
trial for the onensc charged against Mrs
Pima.
This story Is told upon tho statement OF
one who has personal knowledge Of all TINT
transpired I'm Martiras and who knows
DIR. and Mrs Pima and all tho circum-
stances of their arrest and Incarceration.
The samo person told tho correspondent
that while the Spanish were at Martlnas
they took from their homes and shot In
their yards for supposed friendship for tho
Insurgents an aged negro planter named
Miguel Dohingucz and q crippled white
planter of Coyuco named Flores Antigua
w w. Gay in New York World.