The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-01-11

Mr.. Austin Beach. city editor Of the
Pittsburgh Times, and formerly city cd
Itor Of the Intelligence, has returned
from Cuba, where he was sent by his
paper to look up the situation Of af-
fairs in that war-strlcken island, and
was at the Mcclure last night visiting
his father Gen. a. II. Beach, who is
seriously Ill.
Mr. Beach left Havana about ten days
ago, and had a rough voyage TO New
york, which could only be reached by
passing an examination by the quaran-
tine officers who were looking for cases
OF yellow fever The discomforts Of his
voyage, and the detention by quaran-
tine officers, coupled with worrying over
the condition OF his father, prevented
him from being very communicative 10
the Intelligencer scribe, who sought an
Interview, but his genial nature made
the short chat treat
There are many questions one can put
ia an observer Of Cuba ia its present
throes Of war. and those put 10 Mr..
Beach elected replies that came from
careful study. In answer TO the hrst
question, what are CQba's chances Tor
SUGGEST" no did not care to give de-
cisive answer.
But Spain viii win. feel sure" said
he. TT Is merely matter Of time.
And To tell the truth. il will not be the
worse for Cuba If she does Jose inc
natives would, II they We're successIui,
be plunged into civil war In two years.
one year / might say. CIVIL war would
be almost an annual affair, and the rich
resources Of that wealth. blessed lsllhd
would never be developed.
The native Cuban is too indolent TO
work: he abhors labor. The business,
the development. OF all that benefits the
natives. the hustllns, ] might say Is
done by Spaniards and other foreigners.
The SDaniard sebtllng In Cuba marrleS
n Creole woman; he remains Spaniard.
his son, born In Cuba. ever d cuban, ana
always treated as such, which means
contempt by other Spaniards HIS ao-
horrcnce of work. his laziness and gem
eral good for nothlngness do not IN
SHIRE anyone with admiration for the
Cuban. He suffers greatly from Span
ish mis-ruIe, and his condition Is de-
plorable; but from the present state of
affairs, / think Cuba would be more
benefited by Spanish rulers with I'M
proved laws than native rule. You
know most of the native Cuoans are
black
"They are not treated right by the
Spaniards and reforms are needed; these
think they will get, but not their indie
pendence. The island has been sadly
devastated by the war You can see
forsaken plantations Of sugar cane
growing tall and wild with no one TO
cut II. while beside IL the grinding ma
chimes rust In the weather. 1 pity. the
islanders, and Just 50 soon as l hear
that Spain wins, ] will be sorry that
Spain won. My sympathy Is with them.
try how ] may to shake it. yet think
Spain at present. the better rulec for tho
developing of the island.
as Maceo really dead?" was asked.
81 believe so, though two days before
/ sailed from Havana, 1t was reported
that he was in hiding getting his
wounds attended 10. Maceo before MS
death carried thirty bullet wounds, ana
on account Of being shot through the
lungs once, could not speak above a
whisper. A lot of sentiment clings to
Maceo, nevertheless he was a wonderful
How Is It weyler doesn't sweep the
Insurgents into the sea, considering the
many well drilled men he has?"
How was 1t the British couldn't do
that with the American ceionists in
1852" was Mr. Beach's reply in true
Hibernian fashion. Explanatory Of this
he said:
The Cuban is guerilla In warfare;
bushwacker, II you will. That is the Sc
cret OF the rebellion continuing 50 long.
Didn't you ever notice the small num-
Der of men killed In every battle? That
comes from their style Of fighting. II Is
inherent In the Spanish nature to forti-
~. You would be surprised to see the
forts in Cuba The trocha is line of
them strung across the island. Each is
the size of an ordinary bedroom, and
about as high. A cupola is placed ut the
top. often OF thatch, and from Il sem
tinel views the surrounding country.
The sides are Of thick planks, but sepa-
rated enough to allow a rifle barrel 10
penetrate. on the ground floor soldiers
stand ready 10 fire. and above them Il
shelf runs around the room, from which
other soldiers do similar duty. This
line OF forts is the trocha that Maceo
crossed. and is about fifty miles out
side of Havana,
II spent three days in the interior"
continued Mr.. Beach. part of which
time was iR the province Of Pinar del
Rio / had permits from the Spanish
authorities. or IL would have been I'M