The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-18

been devastated.
In the ride from Havana to Sagua
de la Grande, a distance OF about 200
miles Or more, the country presented a
picture Of desolation. For miles and
miles the charred stalks of the burned
sugar cane showed where the torch
had been applied by ne Spanish and
insurgents Xix AT intervals are
blockhouses. occupied by Spanish SOL
dfers- Above each blockhouse is a
cupola, where a Spanish soldier is al
ways on the lookout. II a
trado attempts to go out from the viii
lage and across the trocha, he is shot.
and II an insurgent tres TO come in he
is treated likewise. The trocha serves.
however. to prevent sudden dashes by
the insurgents into the villages al night
10 burn them.
The Spanish army is largely employ
ed alcag the railroads. But as closely
as he road is guarded. the insurgents
do with il as they please. II is general
iy understood in Cuba that the railroad
company pays tribute to the insurgents
for running the passenger trains. The
insurgents don't want to bother the
passenger trains, but they are alert
TO interfere with freight and troop
trains. The day before We reached Ma
tanZas the insurgents blew up a sugar
u Gill oIlIs NlTeS IIlliCS OUT OIL LOW II. lLlcy
cross the railroad at any point they
desire, and whenever they please. In
my opinion. Gome virtually has on
troll OF the island. There is not an
estate IN cultivation, SO / was reliably
informed, that does not pay tribute TO
the insurgents.
The best people in Havana told me
that the young men Of the best Cuban
families in the island were in the ranks
of the insurgents, just as the best rep
~resentatives of our best families We're
in h southern and northern ranks dur
ing the civil war. My informants also
told me that the insurgent army was
never as firm and strong as it is today.
1t gets a very large proportion of its
medical supplies from Havana and its
discipline is said to be all that can be
desired. The insurgents have COM
piete control Of the provinces of San
tiago de Cuba and Principe. They
| claim to have all the supplies neceS-
sary for their subsistence, having great
herds Of cattle, beside c~ultivating a
large proportion of the island in the
provinces mentioned. What they need
is arms, ammunition and clothing. 1t
is generally understood in Cuba that
the insurgents known as p~resentados,
who came in and gave themselves up
to the Spaniards in response to the Of
fer Of pardon, were all men who had
met with the disfavor of Gomez because
they had disregarded the discipline he
so rigidly enforces in his army"
did you investigation lead you to
form any opinion on the subject of au-
tonOmy?" inquired the reporter.
| fNO one wants autonomy in Cuba
replied Colonel Parker, with emphasis.
Even the autonomist governors do
not favor it. / know of several al
caldes, or mayors, of towns outside of
Havana, appointed as autonomists,
| who are wholly in sympathy with the
INSURGENTS"
MIR. CLEVELAND INTERVIEWED.
Princeton, n. J., March 15.-Former
| President Cleveland was Interviews
today by an Associated Press reporter
upon the subject of the Maine affair
and the existing relations between this
country and Spain. Mr.. Cleveland al
firAt declined to express n opinion
upon the matter. Il should only be
| misunderstood" he said. Il have beer
resting here quietly since leaving
Washington and I do not wish to say
or do anything which may be construed
in n way as a comment upon public
affairs"
Finally, as the reporter turned g
leave, Mr.. Cleveland volunteered this
statement: Though I have nc wish tC
be interviewed, you may state for me
that, in common with others, I think
every patriotic citizen ought to loyal
ly support the government during {
period of trial like the present, no mat
ter what eXigencieS my arise. | viii
also say hat 1 hope the present diff
culties will be settled without blood
shed. 1t is possible that an HONORABLE
way out will be found eventually, an(
that there will be 30 war" Mr.. Cleve
land said he preferred to reserve al
comment upon the possible and prob
I able outcome of the Maine affair unit
after the official publication Of the re
port Of the board OF inquiry.
THREE BODIES FOUND.
Havana, March IA body that wa,
discovered in the mud below tn,
Wreckage this evening will be RAISED
tomorrow. This will make three bJdie
recovered within thirty hours, nOne o
which can be identified.
The congressional party returned
here from Sagua tonight, but they re
port nothing important in addition t
what has already been cabled rs to rth'
death of Mrs. Thurston. She was in
tensely seasick at Matanzas and a
Sagua, and this undoubtedly aggra
waited the heart rOuble
What pleasure Is there in life with &