Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-06-08

houn. who was sent to Cuba as a spe-
cial commissioner to investigate the
circumstances of the death in prison
of DR.. Ruiz. an American citizen,
reached this city on his return to-day.
He was accompanied by George w.
Fishback, his secretary, and Charles
w. Pepper, a Washington newspaper
correspondent, who went to Cuba with
the commissioner. James C. Williams,
formerly United States consul general
to Cuba, came on the same steamer.
Mr.. Calhoun said that the commission
held three sittings between May 20 and
June /. at Havana, Rogulus and Guam
abacoa. The papers examined in the
case were chiefly military records. The
final report will be made to Washing
tor by Gen. Lee. Mr.. Calhoun declin-
ed to give his opinion on the case. Mr..
Williams said he had been travelling
through Mexico, and had a very enjoy
able trip. When informed that his
name had been mentioned for the
Spanish mission, he expressed surprise
and said he had not received the offer.
AT the session Of the commission,
Mr. Calhoun said, in response to a re-
porter's questioning, eve examined sew
eral witnesses, but when you ask if
they were plentiful, | 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 Spaniards and
Cubans The Spanish witnesses and,
in fact, all of those who testified, were
so surrounded with safeguards 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 Fondsdevila, who command
ed the Spanish in the Guanabacoa ter
ritory. He disappeared. and it was
impossible to find him. Captain-Gen-
eral Weyler did not put in an appear
ance at the investigation. We inspect
ed the Jail at Guanabacoa, and when
we were there it was suspiciously
clean"
eve learned that DR.. Ruiz was ar
rested on February 4, charged with
having some connection in an assault
which took place in a railroad train
between Guanbacoa and Havana. He
was placed in solitary confinement, or
as it is known there, ne was incommu-
nicado. Thirteen days later he was
taken out of his cell on account OF
his mental 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
released from the cell in which the Sc
cret of his injury is buried. The ques-
ton of the deceased American citizen
shin was never denied. The autopsy
showed that he died from congestion
Of the brain. His remains are inferred
at Guanabacoa. We had no positive
or direct proof of any assault what
ever. and the conclusion arrived at
must be based on the detailed evidence
in the report of Consul General Lee,
which is now on its way to Washing
ton. |. myself, will make no report,
and prefer not to say anything as to
nv idea of the affair until the report
is made public by the proper authori-
ties at Washington.
q shall go to Washington tomorrow
morning at 10 o'clock
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 very pleasant one,
but owing to the bad weather which
prevailed during his stay he was I'M
able to visit the interior.
Mr.. George w. Fishback who is Mr.
Calhoun's secretary, was reticent when
spoken to in reference to his trip, but
he made one significant statement:
I'VE did not go within the insurgent
lines. but all the insurgents, however
are not within the lines.
In a later conversation he said:
"Tbe island of Cuba is rapidly being
devastated by a relentless, cruel and
hitter civil war. so that in a short time
il will not be worth anything to any
one. 1t is difficult to get at the exact
situation there. In the fret place there
is q severe censorship of the press and
those who are naturally friendly TO the
Cubans hardly dare to express their
views and opinions Furthermore, the
adberents of both sides are exceedingly
intense They tell their stories just as
thew want YOU to believe them. From
the Spanish point of view. the island
is practically pacified. and from that of
the Cubans the insurgents never were
in sncb excellent shape as they now
are"
Did you go into the interior of the
is,and?" asked the reporter.
Eyes. I went from Havana to Mat
anzas While both are on the sea coast,
still TO go from one point to the other
nv rail it takes you over a large part
of interior country. also made several
short trips from Havana in other direc-
tons
..,ybot is the condition of the coun-