Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1897-06-15
BACK K. FROM CUBA. "a.
William j. Calhoun, Special Cons
missioner, Home Again.
lie VIII Not Talk of His Missfon-saSs1
However,. Testimony Was Hnr0 10
Get-Cuba Is Practically r ~.,,.
Devastated.

New York, June S.-William ). Cad-
houn. who was sent to Cuba as specials
commissioner to investigate the cir
cumstances of the death in the prison.
of DR.. Ruiz, an American clt1zenH
reached this city on his return yester-
day. .: ezS
Hard TO Get Testimony.
"At the session of the commission, Mr..
Calhoun said, in response to reporters
questioning. I'VE examined several WIZ
nesses, but when you ask me IT they were
run after US, and we had to use no torce
to keep them away. They were composed
of Spaniards and Cubans. The Spanish
witnesses, and, in fact, all OF those VINO
testified, were so surrounded with sa1e-
guards that it was impossible to get at
the naked truth. One person whom we
would have liked to hear could not be
found. This was Fondsvella, who COM
manded the Spanish in the Guiana oacoa
territory. He disappeared, and 1t was
impossible to find him. Capt. Gen. Wey-
Ter did not put in an appearance at the
investigation. We inspected the jail at
Guanabacoa. and when we were there 1t
was susp1ciOusly clean.
Ruiz Death a Mystery.
1--WE learned that DR.. Ruiz was arrest
ed on February 4, charged with having some
connection with an assault which TOOK
place in a railroad train between GUIANA
bacoa and Havana. He was placed IN
solitary confinement, or, as 1t is known
there, he was incommunlcado Ihlrteeh
days later he was taken out of his cell on
account Of his mental and physical con-
dition. 1t was then found that he was
suffering from severe wound ON the head,
and he died two hours after his release
from the cell in which the secret of his
injury is buried. The question of the de-
ceased doctors American citizenship was
never denied. The autopsy showed that
he died from congestion of the brain. His
remains were inferred at Guanabacoa. We
had no positive or direct proof OF any as
sault whatever, and the conclusion ar
rived at must be based on the detailed evil
dence in the report Of Consul-GeneraI
Lee, which is now on its way to Washing
ton. l, myself. will make no report, and
prefer not to say anything as to my idea
of the affair until the report is made pub
lie by the proper authorities at Washing
ton.
Cuba Devastated.
In q later conversation, Mr.. Calhoun
said: THE island of Cuba is rapidly being
devastated by relentless, cruel and bitter
civil war, SO that in short time it will not
be worth anything to anyone. 1t is difficult
to get at the exact situation there. In the
first place, there is a severe censorship Of
the press, and those who are naturally
friendly to the Cubans hardly dare to ex-
press their views and opinions. Further
more, the adherents of both sides are ex-
CeeUluSIy luteHSe. 4Hey tell lQelr stories
just as they want you to believe them.
From the Spanish point of view, the island
is practically pacified, and from that of the
Cubans the insurgents never We're in such
excellent shape as they now are.'
What is the condition Of the country?'
1T seems to be entirely depopulated, and
there are no signs of any buildings stand
ing except at the railroad stations. These
by tho way, are practically forts. I was
generally Informed that the same condition
~ Ff1jv xS~%e
island from Havana to Pinar del Rio, ex-
cept In the extreme eastern end There is
where the Cubans get their supplies and
their cattle. They control that section. It
was the portion of the island which held
out ten years in the last war. Cuba is I'M
doubtedly a magnificent country. 1t is
rich and beautiful, and the soil responds
beautifully to the seed.
while am not called upon to make any
formal report to the president because T
acted merely as counsel to Gen. Lee in the
Ruiz case, still l may be asked to tell Mr..
Mckinley and the secretary Of state, of the
things which l have seen and heard in my
brief trip to the island of Cuba In that
case. readily will do So"
Talks with the President.
Washington, June 9.-W. j. Calhoun,
of Danville, ILL.,, the presidents special
commissioner to Cuba, returned to-
Washington Tuesday afternoon. He
went first to the state department to
see Assistant Secretary Day. Judge
Day and Mr.. Calhoun went thence to the
white house, where for an hour Mr.. Cal
houn related his experiences in Cuba
to the president. Mr.. Calhoun said that
his conversation with the president and
Judge Day was an official one, and that
he could not repeat what had passed be-
tween them. He said the conversation
was general on the affairs in Cuba. and
that he had related some of his impress
sions and conclusions. but that the pres
ident desired to ask him some questions
and 60 into a more detailed discussion
of the subject. Mr.. Calhoun will make
no written report.
Kills Sunday Daseball.
m