Sistersville oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1896-1901, 1898-07-20


keener recollection Of Spanish atrocities
than Captain J. J. Allies of Celestine, Ills.
SIN November, 1885," says Captain
Allies ~ went to New Orleans with raft
of timber from the Yazoo swamps. On
my arrival found they were organizing
an expedition to assist the Cubans to their
freedom. Being young and anxious for
adventure, I joined them, as did also my
partner, Robert Weathers of Tennessee.
General Narcisso Lopez was in command.
We were paid $25 each in Spanish gold,
and if we succeeded in freeing the island
we were to have a farm apiece. There
were 400 of us, and we went into camp be-
tween the United States barracks and the
Jackson battle-ground Lopez placed us
under regular military discipline, and we
were not permitted to go into the city
without pass.
"After we had camped there for three
weeks President Fillmore issued a proc
lamation stating that the United States
was not at war with Spain and those who
went to Cuba would not be protected by
the government of the United States. He
issued special orders, afterward learned,
for us to disband. We were not allowed to
know this. The same night the procla-
nation was issued an old ship was moored
for us. I believe her name was Pomperio.
We were hurried aboard, and the next
morning we were 90 miles below New Or
leans and anchored in the gulf Of Mexico.
We staid there ten hours and then sailed
for the awful end that awaited us. 1t
seemed that our officers were afraid our
government would send vessels after us.
"As I learned afterward, the govern
ment had absolutely nothing to do with
the expedition. 1t was simply filibuster-
ing trip started by spectators from New
York, Philadelphia and other centers,
who were in land grabbing scheme with
the few insurgents who were then rebel
lious. They had promised Lopez to or
ganize other companies, and we Anchored
on the south of the gulf to await them,
but they did not show up promptly. The
officers were afraid of the government
overtaking them, so, as before stated, we
lifted anchor and sailed. We went around
the south of the gulf and were about to
land on Cuban soil one fine morning
when a Spanish cruiser came along, COB
bled us up bodily and towed us into Ha-
vana as prisoners. We were put into his
toric old Moro Castle.
81 learned later that other companies,
| hearing of ouHmisfortune, put back to sea
and disbanded. Our officers were all
| paniards-rebels. My captains name
was Rodriguez They told us when we
| enlisted that when we got to Cuba all
would be our friends except a few aristo-
Gratis. I am sorry to say that in later
events we found the Cubans our worst
enemies The descriptions which we have
had so graphically in the press deal lightly
with MORO Castle. The reporters have
evidently never explored the man consum-
ing bowels of the great monster. Men
cannot find in the English language
words that can picture the horrors of the
underground construction as it was in
1850, and suppose it is worse today. The
first thing the Americans should do when
they take Havana is to tear down the old
castle.
"The descriptions of the terrible Spanish
prisons at Ceuta on the north African
coast give faint ideas of the catacombs of
the Moro Tear down the walls and
hhere, lying in dark, damp, vermin filled
caves Americans will find people who have
not beheld the glories of the sun for years.
I cannot describe now how we tunneled
underground to these little easements.
| The one Wcathers and /, by most remark
able coincidence, were placed in was about
z feet long, feet wide and feet high.
The water was constantly dripping on the
straw we had for bed, and there was no
telling how long this straw had been
there. 1t was moldy and alive with YER
min. The odor was sickening. We were
left in continual dusk. The light from
the tunnel was the only ray from the out
side world reaching us.
"From every side of this tunnel Of star
walton and torture came groans of agony
!! and signs of resignation. Here political
prisoner told of his incarceration for
months because of some trivial act. There
q woman and her children were being
starved. The awful inquisitional horrors
and imprisonments of those of Ceuta
could not have been more terrible. But
! this is but the overture for the drama of
tragedy and barbarity that we were to
i witness.
a l,n,,t fxro xrenEc after orr iy1p r,ri som