The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-05
THE SPANISH ATROCITIES.


How Non-Combatants Are Butchered
by Wcyier's Troops.
Havana, May PEDRO Casanova. . Gu
ban, was driven from his plantation near
San Miguel de Jaruco by Spanish soldiers.
Ca4anoya's family consists OF his wife.
three children the oldest q girl of s. the
youngest q babe In arms. and nephew.
Julio Vidal. young man and a native
born American Casanova's story Is as
follows:
II have suffered great outrages at the
hands Of tho Spanish soldiers. Soldiers
recently passed on the road. and my wife
called my attention to the fact that they
had broken into q vacant house where
valuable property was stored. and were
pulling things to pieces. Just then l saw
two officers coming toward the house.
went out to meet them and invited them
TO enter and refresh themselves. They
accepted and sid they liked coffee. While
they were drinking one or more soldiers
came and spoke to the captain. who
asked: Who ara tho men In the sugar
houser Ny employee replied. 'in-
Guiding one engineer. They are engaged
In rcpairA' Ths captain said, I hear that
rebels are hidden there. I must take the
men before the mayor Tor examination.
Ths mayor himself VII b here touor-
row.
"Assor he lat found the door OF the
ttOlDV 0l liz 0AA uxO80u ORth n Qu6l-
tity Of bottled beer had been taken, also
my saddles and brides and many other
things. I went to the station. Tho drug
store cd - " II had been visited by
. mad bull. All tho shelves and drawers
were thrown open and smashed. An
empty store opposite was In the same con-
dition Tho counter was thrown down and
Tho door posts hacked by machetes. A
large coffee mill was broken, and all was
Alslrri~P An nj this
what the soldiers had whispered to the
captain. The officer had remarked to mo
with a snecr: The insurgents are very
kind to you - no harm has been done
hero.'
II was sarpr.sed. On the following morn
ing to hear shots AZ Of several volleys OF
musketry. About 800 soldiers, infantry
and cavalry. had surrounded my house.
Boon an officer appeared, and. under COM
mAnd OF Capt. Ccrezo Martinez. in the
most brutal and vulgar terms. ordered all
IL the house to SO outside The soldiers
rushed In and dragged me on, by the coll
lar. My wife, with her baby. was taken
out. rife being pointed at her breast.
"A negro servant. who was badly fright
encd. tried TO hide He was pulled to the
front. and before my eyes q soldier struck
him heavy blow with q machete, cut
ting him deep Ia the head, leaving a pool
OF blood on the floor. An order was then
given TO taxa into custody all the men on
the estate. Near q tree beyond n hill a
hundred yards from the house I stopped
about forty PAGES from the others TO talk
TO the captain who had been at the house
tho week before.
AT that moment a young negro. Man
uel Febets. made a dash TO escape Some
savarymen rushed after him. firing He
feli. and they mutilated his body, taking
out his eyes The officer. enraged At tho
ncgro's flight, pulled out his saber and
shouted TO the others OF the marty.
Yet down on your knees They obcyea
and he had them bound and kept them IN
that position = quarter OF an hour. WIN.
1 was taking 10 tho captain my wife and
e-year-old child were begging for mercy
fer me The cavsirymen heip~a them
selves 70 corn for their horses. ana nnai-
ly started. The officers told mo that nv
n~phsw's life and my own were spare,
only tecsuss we we're Americans. ard
they dsd not want TO Get into trouble with
the United States They orf.rc, m. "a
san Miguel without waiting a rrou,-rt
Their explanation Of the raid Nas that
tho reh.ss had nrct upon the troops ana
That they saw one MAJ run. as he Are.
INTO my house. and that unier the ma Say' :
Instructions Tie whole saEaiiy shvuld have
been Killed. My wife and children were
tn agony while was away.
My employees were ali taken by IN,
trocps Their names were Thomas lAa-
ares Ccrtaco Linares Essutrte ZaaahrtsI
Felix CArieaAs. Juan psaSrse and Flor
crcsc kcaevigues, An officer OF high rank
IN the spanish army passed my place AFT
er lei and came 20 me here and sa..s.
I snc~ what happened The naa tn ccss.-
inAad Is unfst tn b an officer OF Spain.
hear. thas my rnea had been taken =,
The spanish camp and eho; While eating
breakfast