The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-07-09
THE SPAN|ARDS ARE 1|M|D.
Trial Of the Competitor Crew
Again Postponed.
NO FUTURE DATE WAS SET
Onacials Fear the Effect on American
Relations of Passing Sentence on

Onicials Fear the Effect on American
Relations of Passing Sentence ON
the Prisoners.
New York, July 5.-A Herald dis
patch from Havana says: The trial of
the Competitor crew did not take place
ON July l, as had been reported. 1t
may not take place for several months
yet, unless the United States presses
the matter. The authorities here hes
itated to bring the men to trial for dip
lomatic reasons. They realized the
factthat if the laws of Spain mean any
thing, and are not to be brought into
disrepute, the sentence of the Compet-
itor filibusters must be severe one.
On the other hand Spain does not de-
sire Ito aggravate any hostile feeling
that may already exist in the United
States against her.
It was just about the middle of June
that Consul-General Lee, by direction
of his government, pressed here for an
early trial. He pointed out that long
delay had already taken place and de-
clared it unjust. To the consul's letter
General Weyler sent a most indefinite
reply. He began by excusing the past
delay on the ground that proceedings
on the part of the prosecution had con-
sumed much time, and now, he said,
the lawyers who had been assigned to
the prisoners had been given until the
end of July to prepare the defense. In
conclusion he stated that it was Sim
possible to say when the trial would be
brought on" This means that it has
been thought best to delay the trial in
definitely.
In the meantime the Competitor
crew are languishing in prison. Some
of them cannot stand the confinement
much longer. They are not treated
badly, SO far as Spanish treatment of
prisoners in Cuba goes. Americans
cannot realize what the confinement in
Cabanas during these hot months
means. When Melton, for example,
was taken prisoner, he was remark
ably fine specimen of man. Today
he is broken down beyond recognition.
His shoulders are bowed and his frame
wasted to skin and bone.
Disease among Spanish troops in Sam
tiago de Cuba has been so severe that
when General Weyler ordered the move
into the interior against the rebels, the
only soldiers available were GONZALES
cents. All over the island disease
among the Spanish troops is increasing
at a fearful rate. Out of the thousand
men in the vegar battalion in Pinar
del Rio, nearly 700 have been rendered
unfit for service by malaria. The hos
pitals in Havana are crowded to over
flowing
General Ruiz Rivera is dangerously
i'll. The prisoners doctors have per-
formed delicate operation upon him,
and he is now in critical condition.
The Herald's correspondent in Ma
tanzas reports fierce engagement on
/, Saturday last between Spanish troops
and large body of insurgents. Be-
tween so and 70 Spaniards were killed
and wounded. The rebel loss is not
known. General Meline, who was with
a column Of men, came to the assist
ance of the Spaniards and was badly
wounded during the engagement.
There are in the vicinity of Matanzas
2,2O0 insurgents we'll armed and
equipped.
The rebel leader Guaracha captured
and killed two Spanish spies near the
city limits of Matanzas. The Herald
correspondent vouches for the statement
that the Spanish macheted II pacifi-
cos, men and women, who had left
Matanzas for plantation to get food.