Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-01
VISITS DELCADO IN PRISON
DR.. Bowen Allowed to See the American
Held Inoommunicada.
is TREATED KINDLY BY THE SPANlAROS
Mnccn's chief of Artillery suffers
DrcndfuIIy from Disease, but
Gets the Hest of Medical
Attention.

5ets the beSt Oi hcuichi
Attention.
Copyright, 1896, by Prous Publishing Company
HAVANA, Dec. 31.-(New York World Ca
blegram-Special Telegram.)-A World
correspondent has penetrated the Spanish
official seclusion known as "incommunica-
do" 1t is the first time such thing ever
was known here. Through the courtesy pf
the acting governor general, the marquis
of Ahumada. have seen and conversed with
Henry Delgado of Hudson, n. Y, pris
oner here. whose case has attracted much
attention in the United States.
Visiting today the ward in San Ambroso
hospital set apart for semi-poltical pris
oners | found Delgadp in a large, lofty, airy
apartment with an iron-grated door, guarded
outside by two soldiers. The ward con-
tained twelve inmates all sick prisoners
Delgado lay On a wide, comfortable cot
Which had clean linen, a white blanket and
a pink Chinese counterpane with frilling
around the edges. His appearance shocked
me. l knew him in health, when he was a
large, robust man, with red cheeks and blue
eyes Now he is but the shadow of his
former self, almost a skeleton, his skin yell
low, his face pnched his large eyes promi-
nent and physically greatly prostrated He
grasped my hand feebly. said was the first
person to visit him in his captivity and eX-
pressed much surprise that | had been able
to reach him. He Is suffering from an i'm
mense abscess in the lower portion of the
abdomen on the right side, Just below the
line OF the umbilcus. II fluctuated, thus
indicating that the suppuration was con-
fined to the abdominal muscles and not COM
municating to the abdominal cavity. Be
sides, he has general malaI'a poisoning
contracted in Pnar del Rio. He suffers lit
tie pain, but says he is so Frustrated he
cannot eat; can only drink. He had beside
him mug of fresh milk, which he pro-
nounced the richest and best he had ever
drank.
An attendant brought him a capsule of
quinine, which he swallowed with diff
Guilty. He said he could not eat the eggs
and beef broth offered to him. He de
scribed his capture in Pinar del Rio in
house with other sick persons (realy an
insurgent hCSpitaD. EV was suffering from
the abscess in his side then, but it was
not far advanced, and from malaria.
DELGADO's STORY
Some insurgents who were outside, not
sick, were fired on" Delgado said, "by an
advancing Spanish column. | crawled out of
bed rolled down a side hill and hid in the
tall grass, where two hours later | was
found by the soldiers | was at first tied
with ropes. but Colonel San Martin, com
manding the column, ordered me united
anu permitted me 10 rue one OF MS pack
mules. The troops marched all day and
camped at night. Colonel San Martin al
lowed me to sleep at his headquarters in
company with his adjutants and the med
ical director fed me from his own table.
The next day | rode again, but with great
difficulty, being much in pain. Colonel San
Martin continued to feed me and displayed
kindness l never can forget. Arriving at
Damas, on the north coast | was detained
several days and then placed on a small
freight steamer The voyage to Havana
took four days the steamer touching every
where.
II was untndly treated by the seamen
and kept on the foredeck. | could eat moth
ing and the captain and purser would do
nothing for me. They were common, ig-
norant fellows. l was taken to the Cabanas
fortress, too weak to walk up the covered
way to the interior. While waiting at the
wharf a rabble of boatmen and laborers
insulted me. After being detained part Of
one day l was removed to San Ambrosio
hospital. where have been eight days"
Delgado said the Spanish regular officers
and men were always kind A sentry on
the steamer shared his food with him when
the captain of the boat did nothing. | asked
If he was kindly treated in the hospital.
He replied that he would recover. He had
no special message to send to New York
except love and best wishes to his family
and friends Tears flowed from his eyes
when he bade me good bye.
HAS A SPLENDID SURGEON.
Surgeon Major Mendoza Of the Spanish
army medical corps. Delgado's attendant,
gave me full particulars of the case. He
said the prostration is so great he feared to
open the abscess. If that does not break
internally there is a prospect of Delgado's
recovery. Delgado cannot take enough food
and is given bitter tonic. The complca-
tion OF malaria is greatly to his dsadvan-
tage. Surgeon Mendoza is highly educated.
Men of his profession assure me that he will
do all that is possible TO do for his patient.
He promised that he personally would re-
ceive letters and newspapers addressed to
Delgado. and give them to him. Friends
may address, Antonio Mendoza, Medico
Mayor del Cuerpo de Sandal Militar Hos
pital, San Ambroso, Havana
| asked Delgado three times If he was
writing for an evening newspaper in New
York. He replied: Nothing OF the kind,
nor for any newspaper" He gave written
statement of his case to the military author
tiles at Damas before reaching Havana. He
had letter to Maceo and one to his sister
in New York when he was captured.
San Amhrosio Is full OF sick soldiers down
with malaria and yellow fever.