The record-union., 1896-04-07

HAVANA, April 6.-From staff cor
respondent of the United Press.-Intelli-
gence reached this city of fight that
occurred among the hills around San
Bias, near CienfuegOs, province of
Santa Clara, between the column COM
manded by Colonel VasqueZ and body
of the insurgents. The latter occupied
an elevated position, which gave them
a decided advantage over the Span
iards, who were takn by surprise. The
troops claim that the rebels used ex
plosive bullets. However this may be,
it is known that the Spanish were de-
feated after a hot fight, losing many
killed and wounded. Among the latter
were Colonel Vasquez and Lieutenant
Buron. At one time during the en-
gagement the insurgents charged upon
the troops with machetes, inf1icting
heavy losses.
The official account of the fight says
the insurgents lost twenty-one killed
and three wounded, while the Spanish
loss was sixteen wounded. The report
says the insurgents were defeated, but
like many other reports issued by the
Government, it is utterly unreliable.
The insurgents, as stated above, COM
pletely surprised the troops and utterly
routed them.
The newspapers here report that
Gomez, with 1000 men, is going to the
Siguanez Valley.
A court martial held at Matanzas has
sentenced four prisoners of war to
death. They are Timato Mesa, Jose
Gonzales, Ramon Gonzales and Salus-
tiano Fresneda.
Twenty-four prisoners were to-day
deported to the Isle of Pines. Ten of
them were convicted of political Of
fenses, while the others were ordinary
criminals j. FRANK CLARK.
HOW PRISONERS ARE TREATED.
HAVANA, April (via Tampa, Fla,
April G.-(From a staff correspondent
of the United Press.)-Two hundred and
twelve men are confined in two cells of
Moro Castle. They are political prison
ers or suspects" awaiting trial. Some
have been there a week, some a month,
some a year. Two are American citi-
zens. One is British subject. There
is boy of IA years, born in Spain, and
rot long enough in this country to
dream of rebelling against the Govern
nent; there are men bowed in years,
young men, merchants, professional
men, clerks and farm iaborers, all gath
cred in and thrown together, without
much evidence of their having aided or
taken part in the insurrection. In the
Cabanas fortress, close by, and in pris-
Ons all over the island, are other unfort-
Unates.
In times of war foreigners, newspaper
correspondents and tourists are sup
posed to be shut out of Spanish prisons
but relatives and friends are admitted
to Moro Castle on Sundays and Mon
days. Each cell is about twenty feet
wide and nearly 100 feet deep. They
are Of stone, arched above, and more
like subterrannean vaults than rooms
for human beings. They are damp and
filthy, and are said to be infested with
vermin. Nothing in the shape of chairs
benches or beds is provided. There are,
however, hooks, for fifty hammocks. but
as there are los men in one room and
l04 in the other, over half the number
are compelled to sleep on the stone floor.
Water is furnished twice a day in
square cans, which once contained kero-
sene oil. Regular army rations are
served. The sanitary arrangements are
vile.
one of the prisoners is Lopez Coloma
VINO left Matanzas il the early DAYS of
the rebellion. Like Juan Guilberto Co
mez, who died in Cueta Prison, Coloma
presented himself when Captain-Gen-
cral Callija issued his proclamation
granting amnesty to all insurgents who
surrendered. He has been in prison
a ha
nor given a trial, and stands a good
chance of dying in prison
Another of the prisoners is La Dislao
oulntero an American citizen, one of
the peaceful residents of Guatao. who
was taken prisoner in his own house and
shot in the arm after capture He never
took part in the insurrection.
Another prisoner is Manuel Fran
cisco Aguero. He claims to be an Amer
lean citizen, and although he was ar
rested in July, 1895, the American Con-
sui said he had never heard of the case
Aguero is general manager of a trav-
cling circus, and nearly 60 years of age
He speaks fair English, and saws he is
citizen of the United States. He saws
he has taken no part in the present war
and was arrested in Guarara. Havana
province, July Ith of last year. Consul
General Williams has agreed to INQUIRE
into his case
There is a British subject in Moro who
has been there about four months but
as he has been informed that he will
be released inside of week, he does not
want his name mentioned.
Nearly all of the 212 are white. One
is smooth checked Spanish lad of IA
who was a clerk in a store in a small
town in the interior of Havana Prov
ince. He lost his position and was
walking along the highway to Havana
when arrested, charged with being a
rebel.
In the easements of Moro are other
political prisoners beside the 90. and
in Cabanas, Sanguilly. the only Ameri-
can who has had trial, is still confined
Capero, an American, who has been
in Cabanas two months, is now at the