Omaha daily bee., 1897-06-13
DENIAL OF CISNEROS' DEATH
Ouba's Executive is Said to Be Very
Much Alive.
SPANISH REPORTS ARE NOT RELIABLE
Ply stefan OF President of Cuban Re
public Lands I'm New York
with Letters from
Cisncros.

CisncrOs.
NEW YORK June 12.-Among the pas
sengers to land in New York today
on the steamer Valencia, from Cuban
ports, via Nassau, n. p, was d..
II. w. Danforth OF Milwaukee, Wis,
who for the past fifteen months has
been the personal physician OF the president
| of the Cuban republic Salvador Cisneros,
| the marquis of Santa Lucia. The doctor is
| in the United States on six months leave
of absence. having left Cuba in a sixteen
| foot open boat on May 80 for the island OF
New Providence. After much suffering and
exposure he reached Nassau. and there
awaited the arrival of the Valencia. Accord
ing to Spanish reports, President Cisneros
| died in February last, and this news" was
semi-oncially confirmed in March last. But
DR.. Danfortn was with the president as late
as April last and had in his possession a
letter, which he showed to the representa-
| tive of the Associated press dated April 90,
| from the president The latter is not only
| not dead. but when DR.. Danforth left him he
was full of quiet enthusiasm and animated
| by the most confident feeling for the eventual
| success of the Cuban cause.
Questioned as to the revolt in Cuba DR..
| Danforth eaid 1t was at Agura province of
| Puerto Principe, where the insurgents have
| erected capital. The president, however,
| is not at Agura, but is in the province of
| Santiago de Cuba.
STRENGTH OF CUBAN ARMY.
| DR.. Danforth was asked to express an
| opinion as to the numerical strength of the
Cuban insurgents, being informed that late
| advices from Cuba placed the number at
| 5000 men. He said: at is difficult IL not
| impossible, to arrive at a correct estimate
| But you can say that the Cubans for a cerI
tanty have at least 10000 to So 600 today
| armed and in good shape. The Cubans have
not been idle during the last few days, and
| have been importing arms and ammunition
| right along In brief, the Cubans fight
| ing desperate fight and are in good condi-
tion to continue 1t. The Spaniards are also
| engaged in desperate contest, but they are
exhausted, or almost so.
| 81 certainly think the Cubans will succeed
not by reason of numerical strength for the
Spaniards have about 10000 men in the
| field. But there is no question but that the
Cubans will ultimately win. All their lead
ers are sworn not to give up until they all
are dead. They are bound by oath to fight
until the last and they will do so.'
'As to Spanish atrocities, what DO you
know. of them, of your own personal
knowledge?" Mr.. Danforth was asked.
''The position which l occupied with the
insurgent forces necessarily precluded my
obtaining personal knowledge Of the
atrocities complained of, But from the re-
ports received at headquarters there is
| absolutely no doubt of their existence. J
remember one little incident 1t was last
September. Some 1900 or 1000 Spanish
soldiers had been sent to relieve Caecarro.
In the fight which followed the Spanish
column killed. among others an insurgent
captain He was to have been promoted the
next day to the rank of major. When we
secured his body it was horrible sight.
completely covered with bayonet wounds
and machete cuts, hacked and stabbed with
the most horrible, unnecessary cruelty.
But from good sources / have heard and
feel justified in asserting that men, women
and children have been most outrageouely
treated by the Spaniards in nearly all the
devastated parts of Cuba. Their homes have
been burned, their property destroyed, and
they have been relegated to Weyler's zones
of protection-zones of starvation is what
they should be termed"
What. in your opinion, will be the next
steps taken by the Spaniards in Cuba?"
at Is difficult to answer that question.
But it is to be presumed that Weyer will
continue wandering about the island looking
to the paciication Of the provinces. Accord
ing to reports current when left Cuba Wey-
Ter will be recalled and Cempos will be the
| mai who will succeed him, and he will be
instructed broadly to do the best he can
under the circumstances.
SHOOT FIRST, INQUIRE AFTERWARDS
| at is a shame" continued DR.. Danfort.l
with energy, that United States citizens arc
not more thoroughly protected. AS for the
Spaniards, why they shoot first and inquire
after as to the standing of the man, Amer
lean or Cuban, and then they say he was
shot by his own friends.
when | left the president and his party
they were all filled with hope and trusting IN
the United States. Should the United States
intervene? Most emphatically, yes. l firmly
hope the United States will soon recognize
the belligerency of the Cubans."
How would that assist them? Why, by
giving the Cubans the right to float their
bonds and by compelling the Spaniards tc
treat their prisoners with some show OF
consideration. If the Cubans were recog-
nized as belligerents any Cuban taken prs-
oner would have a chance to be treated as
prisoner OF war"
What is the present condition of the
Cuban insurgents?"
Their condition is satisfactory. It is
true that they are hard pressed In the
provinces on account of rations, but as q
whole they are doing very we'll In Santl-
ago de Cuba there are no cattle, but plenty
OF vegetables, and in the province of Puerto
Principe there is an abundance of cattle
and no vegetables. In Santa Clara, on the
other hand, there is plenty of vegetables and
the same holds good with the provinces of
Matanzas and Havana. They still want arms
and ammunition and want them very badly. ~
| Rescnts Being Called Liar.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo-, June l2-Ex-Congress.
man George c. Crowther assaulted Major
John l.. Bittinger this morning Crowther
Is the leader of the Filey faction of the re.
publican party in this section and Bittin.
ger Is Kerens' chief lieutenant The as.
sault was caused by a newspaper interview
In which Bittinger called Crowther a liar
| More trouble may follow.
Reject COED RecOmm ndation.
ATHENS. Ga, June 12-The board of tris.