The San Francisco call., 1896-07-27
Confined in a Little Dark Cell
Reeking With Filth and
Vermin.
HORRORS WORSE THAN DEATH.
Unless the Unfortunate Competitor
Captive Is Soon Released
He VII Die.

JACKSONVILLE, FLA, July ga de-
termined effort is being made to induce
the United States Government to secure
the release of Ona Melton, the young
American who was captured on the Com
petitor and 10 now confined by the Span
iards in Fort CaDanas. The people of Key
West have petitioned Secretary. Olney to
act, forwarding the petition to T. I.
Stockton, general manager of the Times
Union, for transmission to Washington.
With the petition Mr.. Stockton includes a
letter to Mr.. Olney, In which he says:
feel deep interest in Melton, as he went to
Cuba as the correspondent OF the Times
Union. He had no intention of serving in the
army of the insurgents, but simply desired to
get within their lines to furnish reliable news
as to the situation in Cuba. l furnished the
young man credentials as the representative
of the Times Union, and these credentials he
should have had on his person when arrested
by the Spaniards.
Mr.. Stockton further says that he has
reliable information from Havana that
the prisoners health is giving way, and
that unless he is released or his condition
ameliorated he cannot live.
The petition and statement to Mr.. Olney
reeites that it will be remembered that
Ona Melton, who went to Cuba on the i'll
fated Competitor as representative of
the Times MON, was arrested aboard that
vessel when she was captured by Span
ish cruiser after having landed an expedi-
ton on the north coast under command Of
Colonel Monzon. The crew of the schooner
were also apprehended and taken to
Havana, where they were subsequently
tried by q drumhead court-martial and
sentenced to be shot for piracy. An ener-
getic protest made by the late Consul
General Williams, under instructions from
Washington, secured g temporary reprieve
for the prisoners and the case was referred
to Madrid for revision.
The Spanish home Government has
since ordered a new trial for the prisoners
by the civil courts as provided by the
terms of the protocol and treaty stipula-
tions. but, like all official matters on the
island of Cuba, the trial may be put off
indefinitely through red tapeism.
Meanwhile Melton, with the other pris-
oners captured on the Competitor, is con-
fined in the military fortress of Cabanas,
at the entrance to Havana harbor, in a
little dark cell, reeking with filth and YER
min. As if to add to the horror of theil
situation, drain runs through the room,
breeding pestilence and death. Twenty
other prisoners of all colors and nationali-
ties, and accused of every crime in the
catalogue, are also huddied together
within the narrow confines of the cell.
and if reports received here lately are cor
rect leper has been thrown into the dun
geon to increase the diseases of the other
prisoners,
The late Consul-General Williams, in
view OF these facts and on account of the
prisoners extreme youth and undoubted
innocence, made every effort to have Mel
ton released, and General Lee, the present
Consul-General at Havana, has also en-
deayored to have his condition improved,
but apparently every effort seems to have
been in vain.