The herald., 1898-06-01
A FLORIDA FILIBUSTfR|
WRITES TO HIS FATHER AT KEY
WEST
CUBAN NATIVE POPULATION
Consists Chiefly Of Women Whose
Husbands and Sons Have Been
Murdered by the Spanish


Associated Press Special Wire
KEY WEST, Fla, June IA prominent
Cuban here has received the following let
ter from his son, who is a member of Flor
Ida expedition, dated May rs:
Dear Father: At last we are In Cuba
Libre, In The midst of our brave and valiant
brothers. The Spaniards operate but little
in this section, and always with the most
disastrous results to themselves. Since our
arrival 1t has rained necessarily, and under
these transforms we are working like Titans,
having had no rest since our arrival, on the
morning of the 26th. Our cargo is the
largest landed to date not only as concerns
arms and ammunition, but also provisions.
1.-THE moment we landed we established
communication with the Cuban forces, and
were Joined yesterday by Brigadier General
Teria and United States troops. Today we
expect further reinforcements.
vegetables and fruit abound in this zone,
and especially plantains. Horses are also
plentiful, but cattle are scarce. We are
told, however, that oxen are very plentiful
In Camaguey.
1.-THE Spaniards are abandoning the less
important villages and are retiring from
the seacoast. At this place we found the
forts abandoned and In ruins. The Spanish
general In command Of the forces in this
vicinity has only two or three thousand men,
The natives are destitute. msny not having
clothes to cover their bodies. They relate
unheard Of cruelties of Spanish soldiers.
1.-THE native population consists principal
ly of widows and mothers whose husbands
and sons have been massacred by Spanish
soldiers. I heard Of one family of eleven
whose number was reduced to four in one
day. A few days ago a child IL years old
was seized, killed and quartered by the SOL
diers.
"As I write the infantry corps under Brig
adler General Feria files past, all armed, but
over half naked, as our troops have no
clothes.
"Our mess this morning consisted of
stew of plantains, corn and smoked bacon
and coffee.
general sanguilly leaves camp today to
report to the seat of government"
Indignant Prisoners
HAVANA, June 1.-(Copyrighted. 1898,
by the Associated Press.) Gov Gen. Blanco
has published an edict announcing the award
of the Cross of the Civil and Royal Order of
Beneficence to Chief of Police Paglieri for
his HUMANITARIAN StTNlCSsS AShNSASu W eAAS
crew of the U. S. S. Maine on the night of
the explosion in Havana harbor.
4 Spanish schooner with cargo OF pro-
visions has arrived at Nuevitas from Bar
celona.
La Lucia publishes picture OF Fort
Mcpherson and an interview which has
been had by its reporter with Col. De Cor
tito and Surgeon Garcia Julian. who were
recently given up by the American warsnips
In the exchange of prisoners.
They express themselves as very CRATE
full for the attentions of the Officers IN
whose charga they were and aiso'for the
kindness of the American people whom
they met. On the other hand, they COM
plain that the American government
treated them as criminals and not as army
officers, as is done In other countries with
prisoners of war. Colonel De Corti5o said:
I'VE were PLACED in a cage utterly un-
worthy of our military ranks"
Refugees Stories
NEW YORK, June 1.-The Herald pub
fishes the following: On board the Atlas
line steamer Adirondack, which arrived
Tuesday from Kingston, Jamaica and Car
thagena, United States Of Colombia, and
POTt lIlInOu, SOStd IhiSe, WSAS ehASS O>N0s~~-
refugees. Alfred La Cassato, Leandro
Aquin and Jose A. Gonzales. Messrs.
Aouin and Gonzales escaped from Cuba on
board a schooner several months ago and
boarded the Adirondack at Kingston
Mr.. La Cassato came from Savanna,
where he was in business He reports there
Is a strong pro-Spanish feeling throughout
Central America.
Captain SAMSON Of the Adirondack re-
ports that the island of Nevassa, which
was occupied by American laborers, Is de-
serted through fear of attack by Spanish
warships. Captain SAMSON also told of the
daring of a Yankee skipper. Captain Dram
of the schooner Belle Wooster, which was
at Savanilla when the Adirondack arrived
there on May Is. Captain Dram boarded
the Adirondack and inquired If 1t had met
any Spanish warships.
"He told u.s." Captain SAMSON said, "that
he had been there for month, afraid to
go out and risk a capture.
1--WE laughed at him and told him he was
a fine Yankee to be afraid of the Span
iards. This fired his courage and he
brought out an old smooth-bore cannon
mounted it on the deck forward and armed
his crew with machetes and cutlasses. IIe
sailed for Pensacola tn enext day, vowing
that if he met any Spanish ships he would
sink them. Captain Dram has not arrived
at Pensacola, but no anxiety is felt for his
safety"
Pay for Soldiers
WASHINGTON, May 31.-PaymasteI
General Stanton Of the army has directed