The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-07

WASHINGTON. Jan. S-The speech OF
senator Call OF Florida. on Cuba today
served the medium for making public
letter giving a graphic description OF
the Cabanas fortress al Havana and the
surroundings Of the American citizens inn
prisoned there. The circumstances sur
rounding the letter attracted marked in
terest 10 * as Mr. Call said il came from
d public man OF high standing In the Uni
ted States VINO would shortly occupy
place in the legislative branch Of the gov
erument.
The letter dealt with the immediate
present. and described visit made By the
writer and Gen. Lee 10 Cabanas fortress
only seven days ago. viz; on the morning
OF December 20. II told OF the pitiful con-
dition OF the prisoners, some of them
Americans. including Julio Sanguily and
young man VINO was the companion OF
Charles Gown, an American newspaper
correspondent killed IN Cuba The re-
citai OF these prisoners was given In fun.
The writer gave the particulars OF another
arrest. He said that while at Gen. Lees
Office on the Monday previous December
81 ne saw a son Of DIR. Betancourt. an
American citizen who has been practicing
dentistry in Havana for the last year
The son. also an American citizen, stated
that his father had mysteriously disap-
peaFed on Saturday night, He was traced
10 the Cabanas fortress. where the son.
on paying fifty cents to Spanish official,
vas allowed TO send in food and later, on
paying 81. 80 10 the official. was allowed 10
send a cot TO his father.
The letter gave a graphic description
OF a visit TO Cabanas fortress at Havana.
in company with Consul General Lee. Ac-
cess 10 the fortress was secured With dif-
hCuity. il being open to outsiders only on
Wednesdays. and then after twenty-four
sTNf. mFsH
Gen. Lee were escorted within the prison.
where eight or ten persons. some OF them
Americans. were brought out. In circle
about them were arranged 900 Spanish sol
diers heavily armed. one of the prisoners
was a man who had been with Charles
GOWN at the time OF his capture. The prls-
oner stated the Spaniards tied him and
GOWN together. Gown attempted 10 snow
his United States citizenship papers ana
his credentials as an American newspaper
correspondent but the Spanish command
er struck them from his hand and turned
GOWN over TO the cavalry. While the other
prisoner was sent TO the CaOanas fortress.
The writer stated also that from other re-
liable sources 1t was established that Go
win subsequently had been tied 10 tree
and chopped to pieces.
Julio Sanguilly was another OF the pris-
oners seen during this visit 10 the fortress.
The writer described him as an old man.
whose hair had turned gray and who ap-
peared 70 ba over 81 years of age. San
gully told a pathetic story TO the visitors
as to the injustice of his trial and con-
viction and begged that the United States
investigate the case with a view of estab-
fishing that he was prosecuted for what
he might have done and not for what he
had done.
Call again stated that this letter came
from a prominent man OF the United
States a Northern man and a Republican
who had been highly honored IN this
country and would soon return 10 high
public place. After reading other letters
reciting the cruel methods employed IN
Spanish prisons. Call declared these pris-
ons were stained with the blood OF Ameri-
can citizens. IT needed but an investiga-
ton TO unmask the extent of the butch
cry, he said. The senator asserted that
nation which neglected to protect its citi-
zens Justly deserved the execration OF the
civilized world.
Cal referred also 10 letters received
from the wife OF one OF the sailors OF the
ship Competitor, now imprisoned at Ha-
vana.
Can spoke OF the reports that the pow
eTs of Europe would coerce the United
states What effect he asked. would such
a concert Of European nations have. when
the sympathy Of mankind and the senti-
ment OF the Christian world We're Win tue
struggling patriots Of Cuba. II would he
a futile Intervention. even II attempted,
for no statesman Of Europe could success
fully appeal TO the masses Of his people
70 strike az those engaged in 4 struggle
for Independence and liberty. II the
United States remained passive while such
outrages as those on Gown and Sanguilly
proceeded. there could be no prosperity
for this country and no respect for IT,.
II was a spectacle which belittled the
United States in the eyes OF the world
At the close of the speech the senate
agreed 10 CARS resolution requesting the
secretary of state for all cores sDondence
relating 10 the case % julio Sanguil.y. The
other resolution demanding Sanguily's
immediate release was referred To the
rnrnrnlttea On fnraign relafinna.