The age-herald., 1898-09-30
THE DAY IN THE
 CENTRAL CITY  Billy MiIISpaugh Gives Up the
 Albert Hotel. THE FREE ALABAMA BRIDGE Arranging for a Big Race Meet to Take Place in November Captain of Cuban Cav
 airy in City.
THE FREE ALABAMA BRIDGE

Selma, September 29.-(Special.)- )-At the expiration of the lease, January 1, 1s99 w. H. Mllspaugh & Co.,, will give up the AL bert hotel here, having already closed a deal for the Southern hotel in Meridian Billy" Milspaugh, who ran the Florence hotel in Birmingham so successfully before coming to Selma, has had charge of the Albert hotel since 1883. His popularity has given the place q widespread reputation
 Messrs, k. R. Kornegay and McD. Camp bell have l6used the hotel for a term of years. They will have associated with them in its management MT. Henry Lloyd, who will have an interest in the business and be manager of the hotel. He has b. en chief clerk with MT. Miilspaugh ever since the latter has been in Selma, and was with the Exchange in Montgomery prior to that time. He is destrvedly popular and an ex- perienced hotel man. The travelling pubic can but fare well in his hands.
 It looks now that the bridge across the Alabama river at this point vii not be made free btTore January, the county has no authority to borrow money or issue bonds without an act of the legislature. It was al first thought the money could be secured on a promissory until the legis.a- ture meets, but this cannot be done. Last night an enthusiastic mass meeting of citizens was held to arrange for a great
 
 some time in November. Eight $500 purses will be offered, and many of the grand cir cult racers will contest for them. central committee was appointed to so- lcit subscription al.d put the matter in the proper shape. The following were appoint ed V. B. Atkins, chairman; N. Wools y, w. c. Ward, Jr., II. k. Dawson, R. E. Kornegay, A. D. Pitts, Ca!van Young, Jr.
 Selma had as visitor this morning Juan Valdes, captain of a squadron of Cuban cavalry. In appearance he resembles a light n4ulatto and talked very good though broken English.
 He served two years and niae months i1 Cuban army in Santa Clara province and was captured in November, 1897. He Was C. nfined in Cabanna fortress and was tn n moved to Morro Castle, where shortly af CT the Maine was blown up he managed to communicate with Consul Gene al F tz- hugh Lee, who & cured his re.casa. The grounds of his release was that while bo; n in Cuba his {: her was an Amer ican c ti- zen, having bvon naturalized w-ie living in Key West. Captain Valde's father went from Key West back to Cuha, when tne revolution occurred, and was killed in the war.
 Valdes is 2S years old and is well e1ucat- ed. He joined the Cuban army as q pri- vate and rapidly rose to captain. He bears four wounds on his body secured at differ ent times. Three shots in his leg, a ma chete cut unQer ms leIt car, one Ol top of his head and another above lis right wrist that nearly severed the hand from his arm. This last cut was received during the engagement in which he was captured. With a detachment of thirty men out on a siSirmish he ran upon 2,500 Spaniards and had five of his men Ri led and himself captured, but not before they had killed several of the Spaniards.
 Captain yaldes says he owes his life to FitZhugh Lee, and when he gets to Ha- vana he is going to call on him. He reach ed Selma last night and had to remain here until 10:47 this morning, when he left over the Mobile and Birmingham for Mobile. From there he will go to Key West and on to Havana.
 On being asked to the sentiment of the Cubans the question of being annexed to the United States, he said that tn Spaniards had always said the Cdbc ms were incapable of seif-government, and that first they want to show they can gov ern themselves and that they would be vii ling to be annexed to the United States.
 Valdes says he was lay ing in his ham mock in a cell in Cabannas fortress asleep on the night of February 15 when the ey- plosion of the Maine occurred, and the whole town was shaken
 On being asked about Weyler's trt a ment of prisoners he smiled and said he killed them on the slightest pretext, and if Con- self would have been shot. During the seventy-four prisoners shot to death. Saw ing of his cell.