San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-04-22
SMALLPOX HAS BROKEN our
e.
AMONG THE UNF0RTUNATES
IN THE FILTHY HOLE.
This Will Lead To The Pressing De-
mani For The Release Of The
United States Citizens COOEei
Up There, By Consul
General Lee.

New York, April ga dispatch to
the Herald from Havana says:
Small pox has made it's appearance
in Cabanas prison. Ona Melton, an
American correspondent n a mem
Der of the Competitor crew, contrived
to send a note to friends here under
date of April IS in which he says:
Small pox has appeared in cell No.
Al in which there are four Americans.
One prisoner has died and three others
have the disease. l have nursed a
friend named Gonzales, not knowing
he had small poX and so l suppose l
will have it. l can only hope for the
best"
The information was at once carried
to Gen. Lee and he promptly informed
the United States government of the
state of affairs and also wrote to Act
ing Captain General Ahumada inQuir-
ing if the report about small pOX in
Cabanas was true and what steps he
had taken to guard the health of
Americans imprisoned there.
Reply was making no statement
about the prevalence of small poX in
the prison but saying that the Ameri-
cans would be v~accinated at once.
1t is thought here that the appear
ance of small pox will make the Amer
lean government press for the release
of Melton and the others, as it has
been understood that Spain has prac-
tically decided to liberate them. Gen.
Weyler is an obstacle to the release
of any American. He said last week
in Santa Clara that Americans were
set at liberty without good cause
Gen. Weyler's recent declaration hat
Santa Clara was pacified means that
official news of fighting there will be
meagre.
Nevertheless, he admits himself that
within three days of his declaration of
tranquility more thar 80 rebels were
killed in the province.
He says he will no longer require
new troops to fill the places of his
killed and wounded, which means sim
ply that he has been told to accept no
more soldiers from Spain.
The situation in Banes. a seaport
town in Santiago de Cuba, now COM
mands much attention here. The gun
boat Galicia and the cruiser Nueva
Espana and Reina Mercedes are wait
ing outside the narrow bay until the
three columns, sent by Gen. Weyler,
have had time to move on the rebels
by land.
The insurgents nave held the town
since Roloff's expedition landed on
March %. The harbor is one naturally
capable of easy defense and it is said
the insurgents have placed torpedoes
in the channel. 1t is most difficult to
learn any definite news of the recent
operations there but it is plain that
the Spanish recognize the necessity of
moving in force against the town and
attempting to attack it simultaneous
ly by land and sea for the purpose of
preventing the rebels continuing to
hold the seaport.
Gen. Gomez, according to last report,
left Arroyo Blanco district and
moved carer to Trinidad. There is
a report that he may be elected pres
ident of the Cuban republic to replace
Cisneros. Another idea is that he has
decided to contest the possession of
Banes. and many who thought his siege
Of Arroyo Blanco vas a ruse to entice
Gen. Weyler into the country where a
moderate force might be attacked to
advantage. now believe that Weyler's |
move toward Banes will meet with
stern resistance which will add to the
evidence already piled up to disprove
Gen. Weyler's declaration of pacifca-
lion. {