The record-union., 1897-06-08
Says 1t VI as Impossible to Get at the
Naked Truth,
The Spanish Witnesses Examined
Being SO Surrounded With Safe
guards That Little of the Facts
Gould be Brought Out-A Report
Will Soon be Made to the State
Department.

NEW YORK, June 7.-William ]. CAL
houn, who was sent to Cuba as Special
Commissioner to investigate the cause
OF the death in prison of DR.. Ruiz, an
American citizen, reached this city on
his return to-day, accompanied by
George w. Fishback, his Secretary, and
Charles NJ. Pepper, Washington news
paper correspondent, who went to Cuba
with the Commissioner Ramon Q.
Williams, formerly United States Con-
sul-GeneraI at Cuba, came on the
steamer.
Mr. Calhoun said that the commission
held their sittfngs between May Goth
and June LIST at Havana, Regulus and
Guiana bacoa- The papers in the case
We're chiefly military records. The final
report will be made to Washington by
General Lee.
AT the sessions of the commission
Mr. Calhoun said, in response to re-
porter's questioning, I'VE examined sew
eral witnesses, but when you ask me
if they were plentiful 1 can only say
that they did not run after us, and
We had to use no force to keep them
away. They were composed of Span
iards and Cubans. The Spanish wit
nesses, and, in fact, all of those who
testified, were so surrounded with safe
guards that it was impossible to get
at the naked truth. One person whom
We would have liked to hear could
not be found. This was Fonsdevella,
who commanded the Spanish in the
Guanabacoa territory. He disappeared,
and ii was impossible to find him.
Captain-General Weyler did not APP
pear at the investigation. We inspected
the Jail at Guanabacoa, and when we
went through it was suspiciously clean.
we learned that DR.. Ruiz was ar
rested February 18th, charged with hav-
ing some connection in an assault which
took place in a railroad train between
Guanabacoa and Havana He was
placed in solitary confinement, or, as it
is known there, he was incommunica-
ton. Thirteen days later he was taken
out of his cell on account of his men
tai and physical condition. 1t was then
found that he was suffering from a
severe wound ON the head, and he
died two hours after he had been re-
leased from the cell in which the Sc
cret of his injury is buried. The de-
ceased doctors American citizenship
was never denied. The autopsy showed
that he died of congestion of the brain.
His remains are inferred at GUIANA
bacoa
we had no positive or direct prof
of any assault whatever, and the con-
clusion arrived at must be based on
the detailed evidence in the report of
Consul-General Lee, who is now on his
way to Washington. 1 myself viii
make no report, and I prefer not to say
anything as to my idea of the affair
until the report is made public by the
proper authorities at Washington.
shall go to Washington tomorrow
morning
Mr. Calhoun said that he had been
treated courteously while in Cuba by
all those with whom he came in con-
tact. His visit was a pleasant one,
but owing to the bad weather which
prevailed during his stay he was I'M
able TO visit the interior.
Mr. Fishback who is Mr. Calhoun's
Secretary, was reticent when spoken
to in reference to his trip, but he
made one significant statement. 1--WE
did not go within the insurgent lines.
but the insurgents, however, are not
all within the lines"
Mr. Williams said he had been trav-
cling through Mexico and had a very
enjoyable trip When informed that
his name had been mentioned for the
Spanish Mission he expressed surprise,
and said he had not received the offer.
In a later interview Mr.. Calhoun
said: THE island of Cuba is rapidly
being devastated by a relentless, cruel
and bitter civil war, so that in a short
time it viii 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 Cubans hardly dare to ex-
press their views and opinions. Furth-
ermore, the adherents of both sides are
exceedingly intense. They tell their
stories just as they want you to be-
lieve them From the Spanish point
of view. the island is practically pac-
flied. and from that of Cubans, the in
surgents never were in such excellent
shape as they are now.
Did you go to the interior of the
island?" was asked.
Yes. 1 went from Havana to Matan-
zas. While both are on the sea coast.
still to go from one point TO the other
by rail takes you through large part
OF the interior country. / also made
several short trips from Havana in
other directions
What is the condition of the coun-
try?"
1T seems TO be entirely depopulated,
and there are no signs of any build
ings standing, except at the railroad
stations. These by the way, are prac-
tically forts. 1 was generally in
formed that the same condition OF af-
fairs exist throughout the Cuban ISL
and from Havana to Pinar Del Rio.
except in the extreme eastern end
There is where the Cubans get their
supplies and their cattle They con-
troll that section. 1t was that portion
of the island which held out ten years
in the last war
Cuba is undoubtedly a badly man
aged country. 1t is rich and beauti-
full and the soil responds bountiful to
the seed. While 1 am not called upon
to make any formal report TO the
President, and went merely as a coun-