The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-06-16
BACK FROM CUBA.
William j. Calhoun, Special Com
missioner, Home Again
He VIII Not Talk of His Mission-says,
However. Testimony Was Hard to
Get-Cuba In Practically
Devastated.

New York, June S.-William j. cSl-
houn, who was sent to Cuba as speeiN
commissioner to investigate the cir
cumstances of the death in the prison
of DIR. Ruiz, an American citizen,
reached this city on his return yester-
day.
Hard To Get Testimony.
at the session OF the commission" Mr..
Calhoun said, In response TO reporters
questioning, I've examined several wit
nesses, but when you ask me IL they were
plentiful, / can only say that they did noe
run after us. and we had 10 use no force
10 keep them away. They were composed
OF Spaniards and Cubans. The Spanish
witnesses, and. in fact. all or those who
testified. were SO surrounded with safe
guards that II was Impossible TO get at
would have liked to hear could notN be
found This was Fondsvella. who o i
manded the Spanish in the Guanabacoa
territory. He disappeared, and II was
impossible to find him. Capt. Gen. Wey-
Ter did not put in an appearance at the
investigation. We inspected the jail at
Guapabacoa. and when We were there II
was suspiciously clean.
Ruiz Death Mystery.
I'VE learned that DIR. Ruiz was arrest
ed on February 4. charged with having some
connection with an assault which took
place In a railroad train between GUIANA
oacoa and Havana. he was placed In
solitary confinement, or, as Ii Is known
there, he was incommunicado. Thirteen
days later he was taken out or 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 or 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 or any as
sault whatever, and the conclusion ar
rived at must be based on the detailed evil
dence In the report OF Consul-General
Lee, which is now on its way TO Washing
ton. l. myself. will make no report. and
l 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 later conversation, Mr.. Calhoun
said: THE island OF Cuba Is rapidly being
devastated by relentless, cruel and bitter
civil war, so that In a short time IL 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-
just 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 were in such
excellent shape as they now are"
What is the condition of the country"
1T seems to be entirely depopula ted, and
there are no signs OF any buildings stand
ing except at the railroad stations These
by the way, are practically forts. / was
generally Informed that the same condition
Of thrOuQhOn ha
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. 1t
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
bountifully to the seed
While l am not called upon to make any
formal report to the president. because
acted merely as counsel to Gen. Lee. In the
Ruiz case. still | may be asked 10 tell Mr..
Mckinley and the secretary Of state of the
things which have seen and heard in my
brief trip 10 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 go into a more detailed discussion