The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-12-30
MACEO STILL ALIVE
AIR BETaNCOUET FEELS siTISFILD
THlT NE MAS nor hfLr ID.
His wife, Who Lives In Porto Rico Has
Never Been Informed OF His Death
Brutality OF the >paniards.

The news received from Havana yes
terday Of the arrest OF DR.. Casper Be
tarcourt as "A political suspect was the oc-
cas,on OF an interesting interview with
a cousin OF the imprisoned physician,
Mr.. Roberto \. Betancourt, cashier oil
the Equitable Life Insurance Company oil
the United States in this city. Mr.. Betan-
court returned TO Richmogd yesterday
from New York and was seen n his place
OF business 10y a. Times reporter
YES. Or. Betancourt is cousin OF
NINE he said, land papers this morning
brought mo the first news Of his arrest.
l ann not surprised at II. however, Tor
such things are Of daily occurrence. You
have no idea OF the state OF analrs exist
ing i'm HAVANA. Not a day passes That
some prominent citizen il not arrested
and thrown into prison. The SpaniarnS
need no proof 70 imprson man, sus-
picion is ali-sufiic.enl.
My uncle. Miguel Niondi. is now con-
fined I'm the Cabannas prison just De
cause he defended Julio SanguAly, who
was declared guilty Of conspiracy against
the Spanish government. 10 has required
all the influence of his friends TO prevent
his being sent TO one OF the penal set
Elements IN Africa for life. Ny aunt has
TO submit TO the most outrageous humlia-
lions when she wishes 10 speak a few
words with him in his prison
MACEO NOT DEAD.
'You hear an these reports OF the kill
ing of Maceo." continued Alr. Betancourt,
81 believe they are utterly false. While
IN New York | made close inquiries III
quarters where they aye familiar with
affairs on the island. and found that II
could not be Officially confirmed. No one
would affirm il or deny 10.
Il base my belief tA3t be is not dead
upon tho fact that his wife. who IS now
I'm Porto Rico. has not been informed OF
his death. which would undoubtedly have
been the case IL 10 were true As every
one IS aware. AN IRE reports sent ont
from the island are subjected to The most
rigorous censorship and IL is impossible
10 get anything but partisan news
Mr.. Betancourt then spoke OF the Cam
cron resolution. now pending before the
American Congress. and declared that he
was not in favor Of f. IN its present form.
BELLIGERENT RIGHTS.
"The Cubans." De said. edo not want
the independence of Che island rccoE-
nized. they simply wish recognition as
belllgcrents extended them. They can get
an the money they want, but they Just
desire 10 be able 10 purchase arms. ann
muuition etc. and for American vessels
10 Doe allowed 20 deliver them at the isl-
and without being considered hlihustcrs.
"rhe independence OF Cuba De con-
tinued. " is only n question or short
time Spain Is bankrupt now. and cannot
possibly raise the money to carry on the
war very much longer. while the Cuban
patriots can get almost unlimited amounts
from America. France. and other nations Do
Mr. Bctancourt spoke no some length
concerning the wcll-hn0wn brutality and
inhumonity OF the Spanish character, and
the suffering 90 which Cuban sympathiz-
ers in Havana were subjected The more
prominent the peers on. be said the greater
his persecution. They were often arrest
al without shadow OF reason. and
thrown into prison. no De either kept there
indefinitely or sent 10 some penal colony
for .lfe.
GENERAL LEES SERVICES.
IN conclusion. SIR Petancourt spoke in
the highest terms of the work of Consul
General Fitzhugh Lee. who. DE said had
most acceptably filled a very trying posi-
ton
lie also referred 10 the report that the
staunch little craft, Three Friends" had
landed arms and supplies on the island
short time ago. ana in doing so had either
disabled or sunk "a Spanish gun-bOat Mr.
BetancOurt said that Dee had ascertainel
by inquiry that the report was true In
every particular. and that az the same
time a large force under Gomez had fall
len upon the Spaniarls. who were trying
10 prevent the vessel from landing her
cargo, and had utterly annIhiatcl them.
Mr.. Betaneourt is thorouehlr familiar
with tho affairs or Cuba through letters
received from his relatives there and
La n mn.I nn-nrllIuln- cnuunr-- LLnnlI-.t