The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-03-07
Eek. nopnraurz,s sronr.
Tho sunsrfss- OF an American woman IN
spanish yaiis.

~ ~ - -
spanish Saiis.
KEY WEST, Fla, March 3.-Mrs. Eva Adam de
Rodriguez, American wife Of one OF the Cuban
revolutionary leaders, who was released in
Havana a few days ago at the request Of Consul.
Gen. Lee. has made the following written state.
ment to the correspondent OF THE SUM-:
81 was arrested in Puerto Principe by the
Spanish police on the 10th OF last January. I
protested against the arrest. claiming that /
was an American woman. and that no legal
warrant had boon issued against me. But my
protests were In vain.
Tho Inspector OF Police who camo to my
house TO take me to Jail only answered by order.
Ing me to ontor a carriage with him which was
waiting for us at the door. i refused to do this.
telling him that q self-respecting woman would
not enter a carriage with an unknown man. My
resolute attitude impressed the rough Spaniard.
Ho tried to argue. but at last no yielded.
I took another carriage accompanied by n
member Of my family and he followed
mo In tho ono ho had brought to the jail. I
know afterwurd that the other four ladies who
wero arrested with mo werc moro roughly cs.
corted.
AT the jail my name was registered and /
was confined In a cell with my four unfortunate
companions. Ono grated window prevented our
escape. A second window was 30 placed In the
wall that we were able to got n glimpse Of the
outside world, and WI saw terrible sights, for
poor Cuban prisoners in chains, guarded by SOL
diers, were often taken past.
Il asked permission to sec my children. but
the request wns denied. ! vas allowed to write
to them and to receive their answers. both COM
munications being scrutinized by my inilers.
"A dog could not b. treated worse. In this
way ! passed twenty days. which wero not the
most unhappy OF my life, because | had still to
suffer more bittor trials in Havana.
Twenty -four hours before our departure for
Havana ! was notified that | was going to be
taken TO that city by tho cordiierd starting
from Puerto Principe on the second day OF
tho month. These parties travel on foot
nearly tho whole length OF Cuba. Tho
prisoners are fastened together by a long chain
and arc escorted by the Civil Guard. Then l was
told ] might sec my daughters. but / refused 10
do so. How could l toll them Of the unhappy
fato I was sentenced to %sufori
Happily. by the mail which arrived at Puerto
Principe on Jan. ~ cane the order for my re.
loase. secured in Havana by Consul-General Lee.
But the Spaniards were not satisfied. ] was
not released. but was taken us a prisoner to the
railroad station. with many other victims Of
Spanish tyranny. I was thrown into an ar
morod wagon among Spanish soldiers. and
there, unable to move and expecting any
brutality from ono moment TO the other.
I remained seven hours. until we arrived
at tho port Of Nueritas. There beds were pro-
vidod for the 1rst time, but they were beds from
the military hospital, in which Spanish soldiers
had died Of smallpox, and had been disinfected
with carbolic acid. whose odor we could not
endure. I was informed that I was entitled to
twenty cents a day from the Spanish Govern.
mcnt for my meals. That money was so dis
cour;eously offered to mo that I refused to &C.
ccpt It.
"On the steamer TO Havana We were placed
in tho stccragc. but after many applications
we were permitted to pay for first-class passage.
We were treated on board us the bascst women
might be, and when we arrived ut Havana on
Feb. l Nc were again taken to the jail and my
namo was registered In tho book. Was I
not entitled to freedom Was l not
liberated by my Consul i protested
again. but II WINS OF no use. From
the Jail I was taken to the house for disreputa.
bio women. and there I looked back TO the Jail
at Puerto Principe as n paradise.
"Thirty.two hours l passed there with nine-
Ave women crowded into eleven narrow, filthy
coils! There ! received an order TO go TO
tho main police station, where at last
I was set free. To Mr.. Leo I owed my
liberty. and to him again tho fact that I was able
to leave the island with my daughters on Feb.
~. I have no words TO express my gratitude to
the noble and gallant American Consul.tieneral."