The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-08
OUTRAGE BY SPANIARDS
PROMINENT WOMEN THROWN INTO A
VILE PRISON At HAVANA
Mrs. Eva Adam De Rodriguez, an
American, Released on Demand
of Consul General Lee.

NEW YORK, Feb. THE Herald's copy
right cablegram from Havana says The
case of Mrs. Eda Adam de Rodriguez. who
has been released in compliance with the
demand of Consul General Lee, is one Of
the most important with which the consul
general has yet had to deal. In spite of
General Ahumada's order to the governor
general of the province of Puerto Principe
to release Mrs. Rodriguez soon after her
arrest, on Jan. 10. she was kept in Jail at
Puerto Principe until Jan. g. when she
was transferred to Havana, arriving with
many other prisoners on Thursday Feb. 4.
Consul General Lee learned of Mrs. Rod
riguez's continued imprisonment and visit
ed the house of refuge Friday The build
ing is in the most wretched part of Havana
and is almost unfit for habitation.
Drainage stood in pools upon the
floor, and eighty-seven inmates We're
standing about on wet floors be-
cause there were not chairs or
benches enough for more than twenty per-
sons. The inmates were mostly women of
abandoned life. Several women bore marks
of smallpox, from which they had just re-
covered, while all were victims of loath-
some diseases. In one room nine women
slept on the floor the previous night and
In another room, about ten by fifteen feet
In area, ten patients were sheltered, While
IN sun another ROOM not any larger, 1t was
told that twenty women and children were
nightly confined. The unclean room as
signed to Mrs. Rodriguez was occupied by
four other prisoners from Puerto Principe,
one Of OF whom was seriously, i'll, as was
painfully apparent by her white face and
inability to remain standing. There were
also in this small apartment, or pen, as il
may more properly be described, four ne
crosses he
imagined. The slumS of great city never
produced viler specimens OF human degra-
dation. They We're prisoners because the
police of Havana considered them too I'M
clean to be allowed at liberty. Their lam
guage was of the tilthiest, and Mrs. Rodri-
quez said that during the night they swore
and sang ribald songs.
Such were the roOmmates and fellow
prisoners of these women. whose homes in
Puerto Principe are places OF comfort and
elegance. for Mrs. Rodriguez is the wife of
Alexander Rodriguez, brigadier general in
command of the rebel forces in the district
or Clenfuegos, who was at one time largely
interested in cigar mandatory at Key
West, and was alderman for his ward
Other prisoners were Malta Aguilar, wife
of colonel in the insurgent army, who is
also treasurer of Puerto Principe province;
Gabriela Varona, sister of the rebel COVER
nor of Puerto Principe. and Sonora De Lope
ReciO' and mother Of eleven children. Cen
eral Recio has charge of the troops that
guard the rebel government. and he recent
~ tiOSStu Tie tdSltII lfOCfid WIFI 1tIitIdl
Gomez. The fifth prisoner was Conception
Agramonte Sanchez. wife of Sanchez
Argamonte and mother of the surgeon gen.
eral of the rebel army.
These women were taken from their
beautiful homes on the afternoon of Jan. 10
by the secret police sent by the governor
general. No charge made against
them and no explanation was offered. They
were confined in the common Jail with
criminals. OF course it is understood by
their friends that the reason Of their arrest
was solely to strike terror into the hearts
of the rebels in the field. These particular
ly prominent families were selected for
persecution because their husbands and
sons Were fighting in the insurgent ranks.
After nearly twenty days close cOnfine-
ment, without the privilege of seeing their
relatives, even their children being refused
admittance to the Jail. the women were led
out of their cells and forced to march
through the streets of Puerto Principe be-
tween files of 5000 soldiers. and Were taken
by train to Nuevitas and thence by boat TO
Havana. On the train the women were
crowded into box cars, which We're totally
devoid of facilities for comfort or even for
necessity. Not one of the women was al
lowed to SO much loosen her clothing
from o'clock that morning until late that
night. Their sufferings were intense, and
their sanitary discomfort can be imagined.
but not described. On arrival at Havana
the prisoners were first taken to Jail with
the men, who had also been transported
from Puerto Principe. but in a few hours
Mrs. Rodriguez and her four friends were
removed to the vile pest hole called the
house of refuge.
Mrs. Rodriguez is an American citizen.
and secured her release through Consul
General Lee.