The Butler weekly times., 1897-01-21
Is Principally Made Up of Half
Starved Ruflans,
MANY OF WHOM ARE MERE PLY
SICAL WRECKS.
Sickening Scenes OF balbdfity III san
dago.-HIoody Dead Cuban Hauled
Through Streets.
BY ORDER OF THE GOVERNOR.

of SPANS army In Cuba IS indescrip
able. Such a dilapidated and de-
PRAYED gang of Rufiians the civilized
world has never before seen. They
are unfit to bear the name OF soldier.
have had abundant opportunity
to study the habits and condition OF
the soldiers while en- route to this
city. During my four days trip on
the cattle vessel from Batabano, as
well as at Clenfeugon, Tumas, Man
zanillo and in this city, made care
full observations.
They are an immoral set and most
of them quite young.
Nine out of every ten are suffering
with sore throat and catarrh. Many
are consumrtive, hollow eyed, and not
afew are absolutely starving. Their
clothes are little more than rags.
Half of the soldiers are barefooted,
and the other half are wearing di.
Iapidated sandals. Their equip
ment consists of straw hat, a mum.
ber of straps, blanket. jeans suit,
q machete and a very good gun
These guns are patterned after the
style recently introduced into the
United States army. The bullets
are made of steel Each man is also
provided with ticket for rations.
I think Spain's impotency lies
largely in the poor feeding of her
soldiers. A sight of the privates at
"mess" is almost sickening. It is a
case OF first come first served. The
poor fellows are really inhuman in
their behavior. They lack even hog
decorum.
SOLDIERS MEAL.
I was a spectator at mess mum.
ber of times. The "stock' or chief
ingredient of the soldiers meal con-
sists of q weak soup made of old
meat and and scraps, which are pre-.
pared and kept for an indefinite
period in barrel. A very poor
quality of hardtaok il also furnish.
ed. This mess is dished out to
squads. The rayenous devouring of
food by the hungry mon is well.nigh
inconceivable. Spoons, fingers and
sticks plunge simultaneously into
the general dish I know nothing in
America to compare this to unless
it be to swine about swill barrel.
Many OF the soldiers under the
condition of affairs have become
physical wrecks, as they have already
become examples of moral corrup-
ton. In all their personal life and
habits they are repulsive, although
most of them have retained their
love of personal adornment and
gaudy display. The contrast be-
tween the officers aud soldiers so
apparent in Havana is even more
marked in the field. The privates
are reduced to the level of slaves
and they are servile in manner.
If the majority of the army were
aetively engaged in the war and iso
lated from the source of proper
feeding, there might be some excuse
for these facts.
SAMPLE OF BARBARITY.
A,sickening spectacle, but not un
common one, am told, was present
ed in the narrow streets of Santiago
Yesterday afternoon just before
Isft.
The body of Cuban, bleedlnl
and covered with mud aud filth, wa
thrown across the back of a hors
by the Spanish police and carrie,
through the lower districts of tn
town.
The parading was done by orde
of the governor and was intended a
an "object lesson"
Hipolite Cabellero, patriot, yer
tured on the Sueno farm, on th
outskirts of the city, intending t.
take some cattle. One of the tarr
hands ran to the barracks near by
4 few minutes later a charge of 5
cavalry swooped down on Cabellero
Before he could be captured th
Cuban shot and killed L:eutensn
B. Fernandez. The troops endes,