The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-07-15
The QUEEN Of THE ANTILLES
TWELVE CUBAN PATRIOTS, SUR.
VIVORS OF AN INSURCHNT
CAMP, REACH KINGSTON.
WERE IN A TERRIBLE CONDITION
Insurgents Won n Victory I'm Car.
mngua-Spanish Troops Deci-
mated by Sickness-De--
sertions Numerous.

Kingston, Jamaica, July 13.-Twelve
Cubans. with Col. G. b. Vita, the last
survivors of an insurgent camp in the
province of Camagua, reached Rio
| Uneven, little port on the north side of
the island, a 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 to leak in several places, and owing
to the high winds and the heavy seas the
| refugees were compelled to take turns in
| baling her. Again and again they were
on the very verge Of destruction. After
| three days of constant anxiety and strug.
| Cling they managed to put Into Rio
Uneven.
1t is suspected by the authorities here
that some among the party are revolution
airy leaders who have business in New
York and who are travelling incog,ito.
Whether the suspicious of the govern
ment are well founded or not it is hard
to say at present, but in few days the
real facts will probably be known.
Of the twelve men composing the party
four are invalids. Dr. Vita is now lying
in Kingston, tendery cared for by the
local Cubans, suffering from sickness III
duced by months of trials and priyations
lie has bullet wound in the thigh, n
third has bayonet wound in the shoulder.
and fourth is not expected to recover
from an internal complication aggrayat-
ed by the severe effects of the voyage.
In an interview with the Associated
Press correspondent they complained bit
terly of the action of the British officials.
for the visiting health officer had arbitra-
rily seized a number of important letters
and dispatches designed for the Cuban
junta in New York They had protested
against this action, but the officials replied
that breach of the postal regulations act
mad been committed, and that the letters
must be forfeited as a penalty.
Nearly eighty letters were taken from
Dr. Vita alone, and there is no prospect
OF any of them ever reaching their desti-
nation All the men now hope for is that
the British government will see its way
clear to let the dispatches go through,
and will not, in any event, turn them over
TO the Spanish consul.
ihN iNpoit tudt ptll. trOIDeZ WIN Up1u
was treated by all the patriots as simply
a canard circulated by the Spanish. At
the time the party left Cuba Gen. Gomez
was in good health and sanguine of the
result of his campaign. He was then in
command of strong force, and not in the
vicinity where, according to the report, he
had met his death.
The revolution is principally confined
at the present moment to the orient and
Camauga provinces
1.-The Spanish are in possession of one OF
two small places, but they suffer very Sc
verely from the want of food and ammuni-
ton. Their camps are decmated by
sickness, and numbers are deserving every
day to join the ranks of the insurgents.
They are afraid to venture far, as
their forces are so small, and it is only
when passing column reinforces that
they make sally in search of supplies"
A battle. according to the castaways.
was recently fought at Camagua in which
the insurgents were completely success
full. They received word that convoys of
food were being sent from Bayamo to
Jiauna. On the scouts reporting that the
convoy was in sight they made a sortie
and fierce contest of some hours dura-
ton ensued: The Spanish troops out
but in spite of their fierce defense the
Spanards were utterly routed, leaving a
large number of dead and wounded on the
field. The Cubans also suffered consid-
cradle loss. but nothing like the same ex-
tent as the Spaniards. The Cubans cap
tured much supplies and secured also a
large number of rifles, with several cases
of ammunition.
The town of Iguana was also the scene
of a terrible conflict, but Gen. Garcia and
his troops were again victorious. After
driving out the Spanards 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 arm
ed. and the principal difficulty is to keep
them in clothes. The election of a presi-
dent was commenced in the month of May,
and there has been genuine display of
patriotic feeling on the subject among the
Cubans. The result will not be known
until September. The candidates are
Gen. Garcia. Gen. Masso and Seymour
Capoie. DIR. Hernandez is also among
the nominees.