San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-01-22
TIE Daily Light
FRIDAY. JANUARY %, 1897.
RUINED BY CUBAN WAR.
Rich American Sugar Planter Rem
dered Penniless.
Only One of Many Similar Cases-Gen.
WeyIer Ruthlessly Burns All the
Buildings and Sugar Cane on
the Plantation.

Another instance of an American citi-
zen, once wealthy, who has been ruined
by the war in Cuba, is afforded in the
case of Francisco Seiglie, now in New
York city, who less than ten months
ago was one of the richest sugar plant
ers in that unfortunate island, but who
to-day is practically penniless. His case
is brought into prominence by deci-
sion just rendered by Judge Roger A.
Pryor, in the supreme court, in n case
in which the New York Life Insurance
company was the defendant. Mr.. Seig-
lie, while Cuban by birth, is an Ameri-
can by naturalization. He has spent
much time in New York city, where
he and his wife have many friends. His
money was invested in sugar planta-
ton in the province of Santa Clara
The plantation was one of the largest
in that part of the island, including the
private residence Of the proprietor and
his family, was estimated to be worth
about 100000.
The breaking out of the revolution Sc
verely affected Mr.. Seiglie's business,
hut he continued TO carry on his plan
tation. Gen. Maceo gave him permits
sion, as well as other owners of planta-
tions, to grind sugar, on their agreement
to pay q certain amount of taxes to
the Cuban government. His acceptance
of Maceo's offer aroused the anger Of
Capt. Gen. Weyler, who declared that
if he and the other American planters
did not cease making sugar he would
destroy their plantations.
Mr.. Seiglie, like many others, refused
to stop operating his plantation, rely
ing on his rights as an American citi-
zen. About the end of April last the
Spanish troops appeared at the planta-
ton and began burning the cane, which
represented hundreds of thousands of
dollars in value. Soon afterward Mr..
Seiglie, refusing to accede to Weyler's
repeated threats against him and other
American planters in particular, was
visited by Spanish officer, who said
that Gen. Weyler had ordered that
every building on the plantation should
be burned. Then the Spaniards fired
all the buildings, and in a short time
not stick was left standing. The
homeless family sought refuge in the
town of Sagua La Grande.
About the only thing left to Mr.. Seig-
lie on which he could realize money for
the support of himself and family was
a life insurance policy for $1,000 in the
New York Life Insurance company,
which he had taken out in April, 1877.
The policy was made in favor of his
wife.
Mr.. Seiglie came to New York city
to arrange with the insurance company
for loan on the policy. The company
was not DESTROYS of accepting his prop
osition unless certain legal points were
settled, but agreed to advance Mr. Seig-
lie $3.50 on the policy if the court held
it legal. In his statement to the court,
Mr. Seiglie said that the money he
sought to borrow was necessary for the
support of his wife and children. Judge
Pryor has decided that the loaning of
the money to Mr.. Seiglie does not in
any way affect the policy.
Mr.. Seiglie has filed a claim against
the Spanish government for the destruc-
ton of his plantation.