Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-06-07
RETURN FROM CUBA.
william ]. Calhoun Back From His
Mission 10 The Island.
aRspEAKs OF THE DEArH OF RUIZ
rhs Secret Of the Occurrence Buried
in the Cell OF the Guiana.
bacoa Prison.

NEW YORK, June 7.-William j.
Calhoun, who was sent to Cuba AZ
,oeciai commissioner to investigate
the cause Of the death in prison OF DR..
Ruix. an American citiz N, reached
this city on his return toJay, accom-
psuied by Geo. w. Fiehbsck, hla
secretary, and Charles M. Pepper, a
Washington newspaper correspo ndeni,
who went to Cuba with the commits.
sioner. Ramon .. Williams, formerly
U. Il. consul-general to Cuba, came on
the same steamer.
Mr.. Calhoun said that the commits
slon held three sittings between Msy
20 aud June l at Havana. Rcgul us
and Guanabacoa.
The papers examined 10 the case
were chiefly military records. The
final report will be made to Washing
ion by General Lee.
"At the sessions OF the commission, -
Mr.. Calhoun said In response to re-
portei's questioning, tive exam.
ined several witnes 81, but wneo
you ask mo II they were plen-
iiful can only sBy that they
did not run after us and We had to use
DO force to keep them away. They
were composed OF Spaniards and Gu
bans. The Spanish witnesses, aud In
fact all OF those who testified were b.
surrounded with safeguarus that 1t was
impossible to get at the naked truth.
One person whom we would have
liked to have heard could not be- found
This was Fondesvilia, VINO command
ed the Spanish in the GuaDabacOa
territory. He disappeared and 1t was
inn sssible TO f1nd him. Captain
General Weyler did not appear at the
Investigation. We inspected the Jail
ut Guanabacos, and when wo were
there 1t WIS suspicieusly clean.
awe learned that Or. Ruiz was ar
rested Feb. 4, charged with having
sumo connection In an assault VIII Gu
look place in railroad train between
Guanabacoa and Havana. He was
placed in solitary confinement
or, rs 1t is known there,
he was incommunicado. Thirteen
days later he was taken out OF his cell
ON account Of his mental and physical
condition. 1t was then founu that he
was su ffering from q severe wound on
the head aud he died two hours after
he had bsen released from the cell IN
Vi hich the Of cret OF his injury 10
turieu. The decreased doctor's
American citizenship was never
ueDied. The autopsy showed that he
dled OF congestion OF the brain.
HIS remaips are inferred ut Guiana
bsooa. We had 40 positive or direct
proof OF any assault whatever, anu the
conclusion arrived ct must be based on
the detailed evidence In the report Of
Consul General Lee, which Ia now on
Its way t. Washington. 4 myself Will
make NO report, anu 1 prefer not to say
anything as to my idea OF the affair
until the report If maue public by the
proper authorities Mt Washington. l
shall 70 to Washington tomorrow
morning, aHiff1. ~
MIR. Calhoun said that he had been
treated courte0usiy while in Cuba by
NIL those with whom he came in con-
tact. His visit was q pleasant one, but
owing 10 the bad weather. which pre-.
vailed during his stay he was unable
TO visit the interior. Gn i4alri
g. w. Flshback. who IL Mr.. Cal.
htun's secretary, was retiCent when
spoken 10 In references to hts trip but
be made one significant statement:
eve did not 20 within the insurgent
lines, but the insurgents, however, are
not all within the liner"
Mr.. Williams said ne had been
travelling through Mexico and had a
very enjoyable "trip. When informed
that his name had been mentioned Tor
the Spanish mission he expressed sui
prise and said he had not received the
offer. Ia.es rs t5