Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1896-06-25
The CUBAN WAR.
Story of Another Butchery-Letter from
Consul-Generel Lee.

Consul-GenereI Lee.
NEW YORK, June 23.-The American
three masted schooner, Mabel Hooper,
of Rockland, Me-, which has just ar
rived in this harbor, brings news of
fresh atrocities by the Spanish troops
in Cuba. The Hooper sailed ten days
ago from Sagua, on the north coast OF
Cuba, and in Santa Clara province.
While at that port the American con-
sui told the captain in substance this
story:
The Spanish commander OF the post there
had orders from Havana to see to it that all
tobacco planted near Sagua should be taken to
that city. A large tobacco plantation about
three miles south Of Sagua is owned By Mr..
Gonzales, said to be an American citizen The
Spanish commander summoned Mr.. Gonzales
] to his headquarters and asked why he had
| failed to comply with the captain-general's
proclamation. Mr. Gonzales explained that
the Spanish troops had taken all his horses
and cattle and be could not cart his tobacco
The Spaniard then sent for a young lieu
tenant and instructed him to take guard
and escort Mr.. Gonzales to his plantation.
1 Upon arriving at the plantation Mr.. Gonzales
was met by his wife and their five small chill
dren You may enter your house, said the
lieutenant. land you will remain there until ]
send for you - Shortly afterwards the soldiers
piled lot Of lry grass and shaviags about the
house and set fire to it, The smoke soon COM
pelled the family to leave, and as they walked
out Of the rear door. the front Of the building
in flames, all were shot down The lieutenant
reported to his commander that Gonzales and
his family had tried to escape and were shot
because they ''disobeyed orders by leaving
the house.
LETTER FROM CoNsUL-GENERAL LEE
WASHINGTON, June 23.-A very inter
esting letter was received yesterday by
a relative from Gen. Lee. 1t was writ
ten on June 12 and deals pretty fully
with Cuban affairs The Spanish au-
thorities, the general says, have treat
ed him with great courtesy, and Capt.
Gen. Weyler has granted every request
thus far preferred, even allowing him
to visit the prison where the captured
Americans are confined. The Spanish
troops, he says, are fairly well
drilled, but under a system of tactics
and manual totally different from any
thing the general had ever seen. As
to the insurgents, they practically had
control of the island Their emissaries
come in and 60 out of the towns and
ClJleS dS lhcg NAAls anu uC OCAACNCS NhC
entire native population is in sympathy
with them. AS to the .inhumanity of
the Spanish commander, Gen. Lee ex-
presses himself in the plainest
terms "They do not regard the
laws of modern war nor the
usages customary among civilized ma
tions at ALL" he says ''From every
quarter there is the same testimony
concerning the barbarities of the Span
ish soldiers Some of the evidence
have heard would be beyond belief did
/ not know it to be the most reliable.
Plundering of inoffensive citizens,
murder, every form of rapine, have
been inflicted on the natives of tho
island, and it takes very little indeed
10 place you under suspicion" Gen
Lee doubts il peace could be made
now short of basis of absolute in
dependence and freedom from Spanish
control