Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-15
NOTIONS IN CUBA
Graphic Description Of Them by Col. Myron
NJ. Parker.
Devastation and 7Desolation of the
Worlds Most Fertile SpOt-In-
terestizE Details.

Col. Parker ta.ked-in a most entertaining
and interesting manner this morning with
a Star reporter on the subject of his visit
to Cuba and what he saw there He de-
ptcted In a graphic manner the pitiable
condition of the starving reconcentrados.
sketehed the character of the Spanish SOL
dieIs and the disposition of their forces in
the island, and in the course of his con-
versation declared with much emphasis
that the letters of Mr.. Charles NJ Pepper
which have appeared in The Evening Star
were conservative In their statements re-
garding the real condition in Cuba.
Incomprehensible Suffering.
You might believe, but you could not
realize" said Col. Parker, 1.-The condition
of the reconcentrados in Cuba. 1t passes
the comprehension Of "a man accustomed
to the usual phases of life. Their emacfa-
ton is terrible, their suffering indescrib-
able. We saw warehouses full of starving
women and children. These people have
been forced into the villages and towns by
the SDaniards, and the whole country
where they lived has been devastated
Vivid as the descriptions in Mr.. Peppers
letters to The Star might seem to those
who read them, can honestly state, from
what l saw in Cuba, that they have been
conservative. Miss Clara Barton and Mr..
Elwell, who is associated with her, are
doil,g most noble work In behalf of these
poor people, and are saving many lives
that would otherwise be sacrificed to
starvation. =
I'm the ride from 94axana to Sagua de la
Graude, a distance OF about two hundred
miles or more; the country presented pic
ture of desolanop. For miles and miles the
showed where the torch had been applied
by the Spanish end the Insurgents alike
the Spaniards having destroyed the pIanta-
tons Of the Cupans and those who sympa.
thfZe with the insurgent cause, and the in
surgents having burned those which did
not pay tribute to them. At intervals are
block houses, occupied by the Spanish SOL
eief's. Above each block house Is a cupola,
where Spanish soldier is always ON the
lookout. If recorcentrado attempts to
go out from the village and cross the
trocha, he is shot, and If an insurgent
tries to, come in he Is treated likewise The
trocha serves. however. to prevent sudden
dashes by the insurgents into the villages
at night to burn them"
Trains Mt Insurgents' Mercy.
"Teli me something about the Spanish
army" suggested the reporter.
THE Spanish army is largely employed
along the railroad; said Col. Parker. But.
as closely as the ro8d is guarded, the in
surgents can do With 1t as they please. 1t
is generally understood in Cuba that the
railroad company pays tribute to the in
surgents for running the passenger trains.
Every one of these trains is preceded by
pilot engine. that goes ahead to look out
for explosives, and upon each is train
armored car with. loopholes in the sides.
These cars contain Spanish soldiers. The
trains don't blow whistle or ring bell
from Havana to Sagua de la Grande, Tor
the Reason, l. suppose. that the signals
might attract the insurgents, who are in
the hills that skirt the road on either side.
The insurgents don't want to bother the
passenger trains. but they are alert to in
terfere with freight and troop trains. The
day before we reached. Matanzas the In
surgents blew up q sugar train only three
miles out of that town. They cross the
railroad at any point they desire. and
whenever they please. In my opinion, Go
lneZ virtually has control of the island.
There Is not an estate in cultivation, SO
was. reliably informed that does not pay
tribute to the insurgents.
.. Character of THE Insurgent Army.
'.There is a very. mistaken idea in the
United Stat.s.'r continued Col. Parker,
''about the character Of the men in the in
Surgent ranks, The IMPRESSION prevails