The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-07-14
REFUGEES FROM CUBA.
A Dozen OF Them Reach Jamaica in
an Open Boat.
BRITISH OFFICIALS SEIZED LETTERS.
They Were Intended for the Cu,,,,
Junta Mt New YOris-An Attack
ON General Lee.

Kingston. Jamaica July 6.-tcorrespond-
ence OF the Associated Press Twelve Gu
bans. the last survivors OF an ineurscnt
camp In the province of Camajua, reached
Rio Uneven, a little port on the north side
of the island, few days ago In an open
boat. They were in terrible condition Of
exhaustion as they had been many hours
in making the passage. The little craft.
which had been constructed in the camp
just before their departure. was found 10
leak in several places. and owing 10 the
high winds and heavy seas the refugees
were compelled TO take turns AT bailing her.
Again and again they were on the very
verge of destruction. After three days OF
constant anxiety and struggling they man
aged to put into Rio Uneven.
The names Of the crew are: DIR, Gonzal
Buria Vita lieutenant colonel; Com
mander Felix V. Prevail, Captain Arthur
K. Jocc, Captain Luis X. Miranda. Lieu
tenant Carlos Bordolcs, Lieutenant Carlos
Morena, Luis Juan Veter, Subieutcnant
Adoltos Canovas, Lieutenant Alberto Diaa,
Sublioutenant Juan Calbcden and Sublieu-
tenant Lorenzo Vincente.
II is suspected by the authorities hero
that some of these are fictitious names
and that among the party are several rovo-
utouary leaders who have business In
New York and who are travelling incognito.
Whether the suspicious OF the govern
ment are we'll founded or not, it is hard 10
say at present. but in a few days the real
facts will probably be known. OF the
twelve men composing the party four are
nvalds. DR.. Vita is now lying in Kings
4
bans suffering from a sickness induced by
months of trials and privatons. Another
has a bullet wound in the thigh; third
has bayonet wound in the shoulder and
a fourth is not expected 10 recover from an
internal complication aggravated by the
severe effects of the voyage.
In an interview with the Associated
Press correspondent they complained Bit
terly of the British officials for permitting
a visiting health officer to arbitrarily seize
number of important letters and dis
patches designed for the Cuban junta In
New York. They had protested against this
action. but the officials declared breach
OF the postal regulations had been COM
mitted and the letters must be forfeited as
a penalty. Nearly eighty letters were taken
from Or. Vita alone and there is no pros
pect of any of them ever reaching their
destination All the men now hope for is
that the British government VIII sec its
way clear to let the dispatches 20 through
and will not in any event. turn them over
to the Spanish consul.
My first inquiry was with reference to
the rlmor that General Maxine Gomez had
been Killed This was treated by all the
patriots simply a canaId circulated by
the Spanish. At the time the party left
Cuba General Gomez was in good health
and sanguine of the result of his campaign.
He was then in command of a strong force
and not in 'he vicinity where. according 10
the report, he had met hts death.
The revolution said Morena, us prln-
cipaly confined at the present moment 10
the Orient and Camagua provinces. The
Spanish are in possession of one or two
small places. but they suffer very severely
from the want OF food and ammunition.
Their camps are decimated by sickness
and numbers are dcsortlng every day to
join the ranks of the insurgents.
They are afraid 10 venture far, as their
forces arc so small, and it is only when
passing column reinforces them that they
make rally in search Of supplies"
battle. according to the castaways. was
recently fought at Camagua in which the
insurgents were completely successful.
They received word that conveys OF food
were being sent from Bayamo 10 Jonana
and gathered to the number OF 5000 under
The command of General Garcia. On the
SCOUTS reporting that the convoy was in
sight they made a eortie and n fierce con
test Of some hours duration ensued.
The Spanish troops outnumbered their
adversares two TO one, but in spite OF their
fierce defense the Spaniards We're utterly
routed leaving large number Of dead and
wounded on the field The Cnbans also suf-
fered considerable loss, but nothing like
that of the Spaniards.
Tho Cubans captured much supplies aud
secured also a large number of rifles. with
several cases of ammunition.
The town of Iguana was also the scene
Of terrible conflict, but General Garcia
and his troops were again victorious. After
driving out the Spaniards with great loss
they took possession OF the town.
DR.. Vita says the Cuban troops are IN
good health and have good supplies OF food
and ammunition. All are well armed and
the principal difficulty is to keep them in
clothes.
The election of a president was COM
menced In the month of May and there has
been n genuine display of patriotic feeling
on the subject among the Cubans. The re-
suit Will not be made known until Septem-
Der. The candidates are General Garcia,
General Masso and Seymour Capoie. DR..
Hernandez is also among the nominees.