The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-06-08
CALHOUN NOT H|NGS
Cuban Commissioner Talks but
Says Nothing
THE DEATH OF DR.. RUIZ
MIR. CALHOUN WILL MAKE NO
FORMAL REPORT.
LEE TO MAKE FINAL REPORT
Situation in Cuba as Commissioner
Calhoun Found lt--Balances His
Statements in Way to Stamp
Him Diplomat.
THE DEATH OF DR.. RUIZ
LEE TO MAKE FINAL REPORT

New 1OfK, Jun" i.-N 1llldm u. Odl-
houn, who was sent to Cuba as a special
commissioner to investigate the circum-
stances of the death in prison of Dr.
Ruiz, an American citizen, reached this
city on his return today. He was ac-
companied by George W. Fishlack, his
secretary, and Charles NJ. Pepper, a
Washington newspaper correspondent,
who went to Cuba with the commits
sioncr.
Mr.. Calhoun said that the commission
held three sittings between May 20 and
June 1, at Havana, Regulus and Gu
anabacoa.
The papers examined in the case were
chiefly military records The final report
will be made to Washington by Gen.
Lee.
In a conversation, Mr.. Calhoun said:
'sThe island of Cuba is rapidly being de-
vastated by a relentless, cruel and bit
ter civil war, so that in a short time it
will lot be worth anything to anyone.
1t is difficult to get at the exact situa-
ton there. In the first place there is a
severe censorship OF the press, and those
who are naturally friendly to the Cubans,
hardly dare to express their views and
opinions. Furthermore, the adhcrentS of
both sides are exceedingly intense. They
tell their stories just rs they want you
to believe them. From the Spanish point
of view, the island is practically paciied
and fIom that Of II" Curr,. the in
s,ugents never were in such excellent
shape as they now are"
Did you go into The interior tf the
island?" asked the reporter.
"Yes; l went from Havana to Matan-
zas. While botl are cn the sea coast,
still to go from one point to the other
by railt it takes you through a large
part of the interior country. | also made
several short trips from Havana in other
directions"
What is the condition of the eoun-
try?'
1T seems to be entirely depopulated
and there are no signs of any buildings
starldng except at the railroad stations.
These, by the way. are practically forts.
| was generally informed that the same
condition of affairs exists throughout
Cuba from Havana to Pinar del Rio, ex-
cept in the extreme eastern end. There
is where the Cubans get their supplies
and their cattle. They control that section
now. 1T was the portion of the island
which held out ten years in the last war.
Cuba is undoubtedly magnificent
country 1T is rich and beautiful and the
soil responds bountifully to the seed.
while | am not called upon TO make
any formal report to the President, be-
cause | acted merely as counsel to Gen
eral Lee, in the Ruiz case, still l may be
asked to tell Mr.. Mckinney and the See
retary of State of the things which
have seen and heard in my brief trip to
the island of Cuba. IN that case, /
readily will do so"
"At the session of the commission"
Mr.. Calhoun said, in response to re-
porter's questioning, 1--WE examined sew
eral witnesses, but when You ask me 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 surround
ed with safeguards that il was impos-
| sible to get at the naked truth. One per-
| son whom we would have liked to hear,
| could not be found. This WINS Fonds=
deyela, who commanded the Spanish in
| the Guanabacoa territory. lie dsap-
| peared and it was impossible 10 find
him. Captain General Weyler did not put
in an appearance at the investigat ton,
| We inspected the Jail at Guanabacoa aud
when we were there it was suspiciously
| clean. We learned that DIR. Ruiz WIS ar
rested on February 4, charged with hay
| ing some connection in an assault which
took place on n railroad train between
Guiana bacoa and Havana. He was placed
in solitary confinement, or as 1t is known
there, he was incommunicado. 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 secret of his injury Is buried The
/ question Of the deceased doctors Ameri-
can citizenship was never denied Thc
| autopsy showed that he died from CON
| gestion of the brain. His remains are
/ inferred atGuanabacoa. We had no posi-
| tive 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 II
now on its way to Washington. |, my
self, will make no report aud / prefer
| not to say anything as to my idea OF the
affair until the report is made public by
the proper authorities at Washington.
Il shall go to Washington tomorr@w
morning at 10 o'clock"
Mr.. Calhoun said that he had been
treated courteousy while i'm Cuba by all
those with whom he came in contact. His
visit was a very pleasant one, but owing
to the bad weather which prevailed dur
ing his stay he was unable to visit the in
| terror.
Mr.. George w. Fishback, who is Mr..
] Calhonn's secretary. was reticent when