The record-union., 1897-09-03

HAVANA, Sept. 2.-If the Duke of
Tetuan's order for the removal of Evan
gellna Cossio Cisneros from the Recog-
dlaS to convent has been received
here, which the authorities will not ad-
nit, no action has yet been taken Ac-
cordlng to precedent nothing will be
done until General WeYler returns
from the field. The date of his return
is uncertain. In the meantime there
is no danger that the girl will be harsh
ly dealt with. 1t would appear that
her release from prison is only a ques-
ton of time. The evening before Cen
eral Weyler started for the front he
wrote, with his own hand, the most
friendly letter to Consul Lee, in reply
ing to the letters appealing for the lib
erty of Evangelina. General Weyler
said is his letter that as the case was
still sub-judicio he could now do moth
ing, but she would be brought to trial
very shortly.
The recent agitation in the American
press, General Weyler continued, made
his favorable action difficult, but he
trusted that when the time came he
would see his way clear to accede to
General Lees request. This means
that General Weyler is disposed to par
don the girl.
Evangelina does not wish to go to
convent. Her chief desire is to face
her accusers in open court. She still
remembers that she has a sweetheart,
and she is very anxious concerning her
fathers fate. She is as comfort
able situated now as possible in a
Spanish prison. She is we'll dressed,
has her meals sent from a restaurant
and is afforded privacy.
There is a fortune lying in chancery
here to which she has a better claim
than anybody else. 1t is not publicly
alleged that any official is trying to
cheat her of her inheritance, but the
matter will be investigated.
Evangelina's father, with his wife,
and two girl babies, drifted to Key
West in 1888. There were a lot of Gu
bans there at the time who were desti-
tute. Then the Captain General sent
warship to bring to Cuba as many as
wished to come. Evangelina's mother
was very i'll and told her husband she
wished to die in her native1and. The
family returned on the warship and
settled in SaGula Grande. There the
mother died.
The father became improvident
through grief, and his friends appealed
to the municipal court for authority to
have the two girls adopted by some one
who would care for them. The court
acceded, and Evangelina was adopted
by a wealthy Cuban named Rafael
Cauto. Her sister was adopted by
Panchito Machado, who still lives near
Sagua.
Evangelina's foster father had neither
wife nor relative. He was an &C.
centric old man, but beloved by all who
knew him. Evangelina grew as dear
to him as his own child. He lavished
money on her education and vowed
publicly that she should be his heiress.
But he died suddenly four years ago
without making a WILL Envious dis
tant relatives stepped in and disputed
the adopted daughters rights and car
ried the matter to the inheritance
courts, where it lies at present. Cauto
died worth nearly $1,O00,000. Shortly
after this Evangelina returned to her
father.
Five thousand of proud Spanish SOL
diers, commanded by blue-blooded Cas-
titan officers, down on their knees,
pulling sweet potato vines, is not a
very edifying spectacle, yet that is
what General Wevler and his troops
are doing since they left the camp last
Sunday. General Weyler's idea is to
cut off the food supply of the rebels.
From the outskirts of Havana to Ia
pasta, where he is at present, General
Wevler has cut a swath of destruction.
Every horse and cow in sight has been
seized and growing crops uprooted
Some military commanders would sim
pIify matters by destroying the rebels
first. but that is not Weyler's plan.
According to a statement to a cor
respondent, the Cubans can always de-
pend uoon sweet potatoes for food
These grow wild in abundance and
they mature quickly. For these rea-
sons the Captain General is personally
conducting the campaign against the
potatoes.
The organ of the Conservative party,
ia Union Constitutional, commenting
upon the dispatch from Madrid an
nouncing that the Spanish Government
is considering the manner in which to
present claims against the United States
for damages as a result of the depart
ure from America and landing in Cuba
of filibustering expeditions, So % that
the contemplated action of the Govern
ment is justified, adding:
rs il not notorious that the influence
and sympathy of Americans has been
used in support of the Separatists and
Of the rebellion, and is there any doubt
of the responsibility before the world
of The fortunes which we from Spain,
in asking for damages, not only act
within rights based on justice and the
spirit Of neutrality which has not been
accorded US, although we have relig-
iously satisfied the representations and
demands of Washington in the cases
which were not justified? Therefore,
there is all the more reason that the
United States meet the demands of a
nation whose interests have been de-
stroyed by many American citizens"
INSURGENT FORCES SURPRISED.
HAVANA, Sept. 2-It is officially an
neunced that force of 200 Spanish in
fantry, commanded by Captain Cesario
Ponton. surprised an insurgent force
camp on the nights of Joro. province of
Pinar del Rio, killing twenty-five of the