Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-05-28
A Letter from Cuba.

lanes H. Scott, Pittsburg man and
the wealthiest individual planter IN the
nroyiuce of Pinar del Rio, Cuba. IS I'M
prisoned by Captain General Weyler III
the fortress of Cabanas at Havana. lie
was imprisoned for alleged sympathy he
gave to the cause of the Cuban patriots.
Guarded as he is on all sides, Mr.. Scott
has been enabled to sinuggle letter
through the Gordon of prison bayonets,
and the letter reached Pittsburg- A copy
of it was secured lately by the Post"
The letter uufolds a tale of horror that
seemingly dwarfs all reports that nave
hitherto reached TIE United States con-
cerning the wanton cruelty OF the Span
iards.
Mr.. Scott, the prisoner, is au American
citizen, and John Scott, his brother, a
resident of Pittsburg, and brother IN
Chicago will take steps to secure the
United States Governments lntercesslon
on behalf of the pi iisoner. His release
will be demanded as he is an American
citizen, and native of this country.
lanes H. Scott, is 36 years old, and his
Pittsburg brother was formerly we'll
known broker on Fourth Avenue.
The family is prominent. Some years
ago young James H. Scott went to South
America and Cuba, on behalf OF Pitts
burg firm, which sold engines and ma
chinery in those parts,
While in the provsiice of Pinar del RIO,
young Scott met the-daughter and only
child of wealthy planter. The young
man fell in love with her, and remained
in Cuba twice the time allotted to him
for that purpose by his employers. When
he returned to Pit.sburg the employers
objected to his long stay.
MIR. Scott resigned his position on the
spot, went to Cuba and shortly AFTER
ward married the planters daughter'
He became general manager OF his fath-
cr-in-law's extensive plantations. IN a
| few years the old man died, and, as he
| had but one child, she and her husband
| became sole heirs 10 the vast estate.
At the breaking out of the present
Cuban rebellion, the Scott plantations
were rated to be worth fully hve NIT
lions of dollars. Mr., Scott being an
American citizen, made no attempt to
| conceal his sympathies,
Although he committed no overt act oi
rebellion, he aroused the hatred OF the
Spaniards ard was arrested and torn
| from his wife one night by file OF Span
ish soldiers, who hurried him to dun
peon in the Cubanas fortress.
Here he has lain for weeks, but has
been so closely guarded as to make at
| teu1pts az escape almost equal to suicide
Through a strange and providential
chance, the American prisoner has oeen
enabled to communicate with the OUTSIDE
| world.
Guards are constantly changed at the
| Cabanas prison, the authorities tearing
| that by allowing one set OF soldiers tC
| remain on duty for too long time they
might become corrupted by prisoners OF
might strike up too good an acquaintance
| with theT1.
One day Mr.. Scott was astonlshed tc
| see familiar face of a man he had tor
| merly employed on his plantation. lie
| gave the man s5co, for which the guaro
| Struggled out letter addressed to John
Scott, of Pittsburg.
| The letter SAYS that about one dozen
political prisoners are shot IN the for Tres
| every ,lay. The fortress is crowded WITH
prisoners, all of whom expect the rata
summons at any moment.
Mr.. Scott's letter covers many pages
and tells stories of terrible crueltes &c
political prisoners in Cabanas and Moro
| Castle.
Cabanas fortress is right behind Moro
| Both prisons are girdled and dotted with
soldiers. A number of Americans are
among the prisoners. The daily execu
Ions are plainly heard by the prisoners
The executions generally occur. about
the noon hour. Every condemned Pr1s
| oner is given volley from file OF Spar
ish regulars. By counting the volleys
| the prisoners are able to know how many
have been sent to their last account by
| Spanish lead.
New prisoners constantly arriving take
the places of those butchered. The tor
tress is crowded, several men sometime;
being iammed into one dungeon, forced
to sleep on straw and the moist stones
almost starved ard kept under the harsh
est surveillance.
Guards have orders to shoot and XII
at any suspicious movements by the pris
| oners. The prisoners are not allowed tc
receive or send letters or papers and ever
the guards are not allowed TO know priss
| cners' names. Mr.. Scott, as an Amerl'
citizen, m axes pathetic appeal fol
| help.