The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-07-27
CUBA USES MELTON CRUELTY.
A PETITION FROM THE CITIZENS
OF FLORIDA IN HIS BEHALF.

ture OF the Horrors of Jail Life on
the Island-It Is an International
Affair of Honor and Melton Must
BE saved.
Jacksonville. Fla. July "a determined
/ EFFORT is being made to induce the United
States government to secure the release
Of ona Melton. the young American now
confined by the Spaniards in Fort Caban-
as. The citizens Of Key West. and Of
/ Florida generally. are aroused. and de-
mand that this government shall do some
thing to relieve the young fellow.
| The people of Key West have petitioned
| Secretary Olney to act. and they forward
ed this petition to T. r. stockton, general
manager Of the Times Union, for trans
mission to Washington. With the petition.
Mr.. Stockton inclosed the following:
Jacksonville, Fla, July %. 1895. Hon.
Richard Olney. Secretary Of State. Wash
/ ington, d. C.-sir: l inclose a petition
which the citizens OF Key West have for
warded to me for transmission, praying
you to use your good offices TO secure the
release. or more humane treatment OF Ona
Melton, the young American who was cap-
tured by the Spaniards when they seized
since been confined in Fort Cabanas. The
petition is signed by nearly 200 of the most
| important citizens Of Key West and
| heartily indorse their request.
Il feel a deep interest IN Melton, as he
went to Cuba as the correspondent OF the
| Times Union. He had no intention Of serv-
ing the army Of the insurgents, but simply
desired to get inside their lines in order
/ to furnish reliable news. / furnished the
| young man credentials as the representa-
/ tive OF the Times Union and these Gre
/ dentials he should have had on his person
when arrested by the Spaniards. Under
these circumstances it is very hard for
Melton to be compelled first to undergo
the mental torture caused by death SEN
/ tence to endure for months the horrors
! OF an overcrowded Spanish prison
Il do not think that Melton Is more
! culpable than Artist Bradley of Harpers
Weekly or the correspondent of the New
/ York papers who fell under the displeas-
ure of the Spaniards and were arrested.
| The correspondents were promptly re-
| leased on protests by this government, but
| Melton Is allowed to remain immured in
| a dungeon. with criminals and lepers and
| his release seems as far in the future as
when he was first arrested.
II have reliable Information from Ha-
| vana that the prisoners health is giving
| way, and that unless he Is released or his
| condition ameliorated, he cannot live. II
| Melton is to be allowed TO die by inches
| in a foul cell, II would have been more
| merciful to have permitted the Spapiards
TO carry out the sentence OF the court
martial and shoot him to death when he
was captured.
Il write strongly about the matter pc
cause, in common with the people OF
/ Florida, / feel strongly about il. There
I e demand throughout
| that something shall be done for Melton,
and If you can secure his release, or, fail
| ing that, even betterment of his condi-
| ton, / assure you that the present ad-
ministration will have no more popular
act to its credit. Very respectfully
General Manager Times Union"
The statement from Key West and the
| petition Is as follows.
key West, Fla, July 24-Friends Of
Ona Melton in this city have been active
| during the past few days circulating a
petition addressed to the Hon. Richard
! Olney, Secretary Of State at Washington
| requesting that officer to use his good Of
| fees with the Spanish authorities In Cuba
towards securing the release of Melton,
| who is now confined in the Cabanas fort
| ress at Havana.
ut will be remembered that Ona Mel
ton who went to Cuba on the 81 fated
schooner Competitor as a representative
Of the Times Union, was arrested aboard
| that vessel when she was captured by a
| Spanish cruiser after having landed an'ex
| peditiOn on the north coast under COM
mand of Col Monzon. The crew of the
! schooner were also apprehended and taken
| TO Havana, where they were subsequently,
tried by a drumhead court martial and
| sentenced to be shot for piracy. An ener-
| getic protest, made by the late consul gen.
1 eral under instructions from washington
| secured a temporary respite for the pris-
oner and the case which assumed the
| character of an international complica-
ton, threatening all the time to involve
the United States in war with Spain, was
| referred to Madrid for revision. The
! Spanish home government has since or
/ dered a now trial for the prisoners by the
civil courts, as provided by the terms Of
| the protocal and treaty stipulatiOns but
Ike all official matters on the island Of
through "tapesm." Meanwhile Melton,
with the other prisoners captured on the
| Competitor Is confined in the military
fortress of Cabanas, at the en-
| trance to Havana harbor in a
| little dark CELL reekng with
filth and vernin and. as IL to add to the
horror OF their situation, a drain runs
| through the ROOM breeding pestilence
/ colors and nationalities, and accused Of
| every crime in the decalogue ara also
| hudded together within the narrow con-
( fines Of the CELL and IL reports received
I here lately are correct, q leper has been
/ thrown into the dungeon. to increase the
distress Of the other prisoners.
/ Inc only OHtuse committed by Melton
| was cyerzealousness In carrying out the
| instructions of his employers. AS corre-
| spondent Of the Times Union, his aim
was to get within the insurgent lines in
| order to furnish his paper with reliable
| news from the seat of war. He was en-
| rolled as a member Of the Monzons expedi-
| tion but did not intend taking up arms
| against the Spanish government His
mission to Cuba as stated was merely to
| supply his paper with Cuban CORRESPOND
| ence, and no evidence has been produced.
! nor can any be shown to the contrary.
The late consul general Williams. on ac-
! count Of the prisoners extreme youth and
| undoubted Innocence, made every effort
! to have Melton released, and Gen Lee
the present consul general at Havana, has
| also endeavored to have his condition i'm
| proved, but apparently the effort seems to
have been in vain.
If the reports which have been received
here are to be considered, Melton, on ac-
| count of being q neWspaper
| reporter, has been singled out as the
one upon whom the Spanish officials
delight to vent their spite, his wife, even
having been threatened, because Of some
alleged newspaper criticism on the conduct
| OF the prison authorities. The friends Of
| the unfortunate correspondent IN this city