The San Francisco call., 1897-09-06
Great Mortality Among
the Spanish Troops
in Cuba.
WeyIer Is Disguised at the
Stupidity of His SUBJ
OrdinateS.
Garrison at Fort Burned Out by
lnsurgents-Two Brothers
Save Defeat.

HAVANA, CUBA (via Key West, Fla. },
Sept. ga wealthy merchant named Bias
Cassares has been arrested IN Puerto
Principe charged with political offenses.
A party of insurgents recently made an
attack upon Fort Santo Cristo del Valie,
near Sabolo, in the province of Plnar del
Rio. The garrison made stout resistance
but the insurgents set fire TO a house near
the walls of the fort which took fire. COM
peIling the garrison to retire with the loss
OF six men killed. Two brothers named
PortilIo made a stand behind tree and
were reinforced by mum ber OF their COM
rades. After sharp fighting the insurgents
were driven off with The loss of four killed
and six wounded.
1t is reported that group of insurgents
attacked and entered the town of jana
gaayabo, near Remedies, where they
sacked several stores and burned mum ber
of houses. 1t is also reported that the in
surgents have fired upon GuIra Meiena, in
Havana province.
During the month of August 500 per-
sons ditd in Guines from epidemic dis
eases. The mortality is due to yellow
fever, malaria and dysentery. 1t is esti-
m ated that thirty-seven out of every thou
sand sick soldiers in the hospitals through
out the island die. 1t j. stated that from
twenty to twenty-six deaths occur on each
OF the steamers which carry sick and dis
bIed troops tIom Cuba 10 Spain. The
bodies of those who die en- route are thrown
overheard. Three deaths occurred on one
of these steamers recently before she left
port.
Captain General Weyier returned to
Havana greatly dlsgusted, because of the
erroneous Interpretation of his edict re-
ferring to the gathering of cattle, large
mum bers of oxen and cows having been
slaughtered in consequence of the misun-
derstanding of his orders During his re-
cent tour General Weyler deposed the
Mayors of several towns and sent various
military commanders to Cabanas Castle.
At Guines and other towns he caused the
release from custody of a mum ber OF mer
chants and reco2centrados who had been
falsely accused. Captain General Weyler
has issued an order prohibiting the plant
ing of tobacco within the boundaries OF
the military cultivated zone.
Seven hundred members OF the Mu-
nicipal Fire Brigade have returned TO
Havana from the Maiana irocha. Many
of them were i'll and all were sgusted.
An attack was made recently by :nsur-
gents upon Fort Santa Ursala, province
of Santiago de Cuba, with no other result
than 10 cause great alarm among the resi-
dents.
The last Spanish mail steamer brought
final instructions to the authorities re-
garding the establishment of the new
tariff. Great anxiety is felt among q l
classes as to whether the alterations in
the tariff will end the ruinous losses to
the revenues of the island, resulting from
the protection granted to merchandise
imp led from Spain.
The customs receipts on rye and corn
for the four months, from March to June
inclusive, were $40O, 900 less than those Tor
the corresponding period last year.
The insurgent general, Catillo, with his
command has crossed the line into the
province of Pinar del Rio. He was de-
feated, according to last advices.
Nestor Aranguran accompanied Gen
eral Catillo. ana Raoul Arrange remains
alone in charge of the insurgent forces in
Havana province.
The weather for the last few days has
been terribly hot and extremely dry.