The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-29
ALL ARE DEAD.
(Concluded from First Paee.l

leaked out from an almost authoritative
source that they are not in exactly the
in the niche. When the remains were
placed in the mausOeum a small caSket
was inclosed containing coins, gold and sill
yer medals, precious stones and rolls of
parchment, as was then the custom upon
the occasion of burial. 1t appears that
this casket has been tempered with and
rlned OF its contents. and further rumoss
say that only portions of the remains are
left. Gossip and scandal and speculation
are rife, the exact truth of which the au-
thorities make no effort to affirm con-
tradict. quaSi-off1cial explanation, how
ever, is to the effect that secrecy was given
to the ceremony because cable dispatch
ceived here reported that General Toral had
been murdered in Madrid the day before, and
fears were entertained that disorders might
occur If the public and military came to-
gether in great numbers.
Some OF the more radical Spaniards go to
the length OF saying that the whole cere-
mony was a farce, the Washington govern
ment having objected to the removal of the
remains ana their government going through
the pantomime in order to make the public
believe that the remains, which really are
left here. were shipped to Spain.
The distress, disease, DEATH hunger and
starvation at Matanzas continue undated
The daily average of deaths upon the street
corners exceeds twenty, and the condition
of the poor in Havana is not much better
than in Matanzas. Mothers gaunt and fam
ished, hugging the shadows of skeleton chill
dren to their breasts. beg food and fall by
the wayside, but the government refuses to
admit the gravity of the situation and has
closed the soup kitchens, prOclaming to the
world that want and restitution no longer
exist here.
The colonial Cabinet is making a record
worthy of it's Spanish predecessors. The
wholesale pardoning of life criminals lately
by the colonial secretary has caused a great
sensation. The case which caused the great
est revulsion of popular sentiment is that
of Florentine Villa, who was serving life
sentence at Ceuta for a murder committed
four years ago, which at the time caused an
immense sensation owing to the circum-
stances surrounding the crime, and was
known as one of the causes celebre of the
century His pardon came as bomb, caus-
ing such surprise here and in Spain that the
Madrid government last night cabled to the
colonial Cabinet demanding to know the rea-
sons on which the pardon was based.
This case was not the only one OF glaring
irregularity. Criminals of deepest dye, SEN
fenced for the most horrible and inhuman
crimes. are daily pardoned by the colonial
Cabinet. This causes the gravest fears in
every rank of society and diStrust and ap-
prehension as to the future more than any
other agency, and reacts in favor of an
nexation by the United States, as the first
steps in the direction of autonomy menace
the preservation of law and order by turn
ing loose criminals upon the community
General Blanco has signed decree releas-
ing all political prisoners confined in the
fortresses of the island, but the edict has
not yet been published.