The San Francisco call., 1897-02-10

in number, put to the sword. In the
camp were about twenty women and chill
dren. The Spaniards seized the women,
but told them the children must be aban-
doned. Three OF the women resisted and
were shot.
The other women, at the point of the
bayonet, were forced to abandon their lit
lie ones and march in front of the Span
ish soldiers. The women were sent to
Havana on Friday. accused of being ene-
mics OF Spain, and were placed in the
prison set apart for women of the town.
In Pinar del Rio province four Cuban
girls were arrested by the Spaniards,
charged with aiding in the recent dyna-
miting of trains. The girls were found in
an OLD hut near the railway and close to
the scene of the recent wreck. They re-
fused to give their names, but said that
their parents had been murdered and
their homes burned by guerrillas, and
that they fed to the woods for safety.
The girls claim to have been in the woods
three months, and say they have subsisted
on game.
When captured, each of the girls was
armed with a repeating rife and hunt
ing-knife. They also had plenty of cart
ridges. The Spaniards claim dynamite
was also found in the hut occupied Dy the
girls. They were taken to Artemisa and
imprisoned. The Spaniards believe that
they are daughters of the Cuban Chief,
Zarraga, who is operating in Pinar del
Rio.
The girls, it is alleged, have been sub
jected to indignities in an attempt to
force confession, and are confined in a
cell, held for arson and other crimes.
NEW YORK, n. Y. Feb. 9-The Press
says England made strong bid for the
Cuban Junta, but the fact is not gener ally
known. More than eighteen months ago
representative of makers of war muni-
tions and another representative of GER
tain moneyed men of London came here
and had several meetings with Cubans
known to have influence with the pro-
moters OF the present revolution.
These representatives. made their report
to their principals and in due course secret
negotiations were opened, which had for
their basis the agreement by the Cuban
Junta to purchase all supplies, guns, am
munition, medicine and, in the event of
recognition by this country. vessels to be
sailed under letters of marque from GER
tain syndicates whose headquarters were
in London.
When this scheme was broached by the
English agents, the Cubans were so
strongly of the opinion that Cleveland
would acknowledge them as belligerents
ar the expiration OF one year of war that
they refused to listen to any proposition
which contem plated the removal of the
Junta from this country. Then the
Englishman named a sum of money to be
invested in Cuban bonds whenever the
orders for war N materlals should aggregate
a certain amount.
This was great temptation, and at
one time there was a strong sentiment IA
yoEable to making the change of base
Then-in the summer of 1S95-there was
so general an interest in the war by the
people of the United States and the out
look for recognition " beilisslent rights
seemed so hear that the negotiations
were ended by refusal to move to Lon
don. Since that time the effort by the
English syndIcates has been renewed,
and in order to clinch the deal the sum of
$500000 was offered to the Junta, through
Fidel G. Pierra if the Junta would close
the New York Office and thereafter make
its purchases OF the English syndicates
which offered to subscribe to the Cuban
bonds in the amount named.
Notwithstanding the pressing need for
funds and the implied contract that goods
purchased in England would be permitted
TO leave that country for Cuba, the Cubans
decided to remain here. this being the
natural point from which the Junta's
work should be carried on.
In speaking of this matter Pierra said;
"Several millions of dollars have been ex-
pended by friends of Cuba in this country
and several million more would have been
expended but for Cleveland's attitude.
1t may bs that we may have to go TO
England for future supplies. but 1 hope
and believe that Mckinley will not go so
far out of his way to hamper US as Cleve-
land has done"