Evening star., 1898-11-16
CASE OF SPANISH CRUELTY
Victor Hohenstein the Victim of Appalling
Atrocities
Imprisoned in an underground Dun.
geOn and . Cell Lined With Spikes
AT the White House.

Victor Hohenstein. a German, but a nat.
uralized citizen Of the United States, told
a story at the White House today of helm
Gus treatment by the Spaniards which IL
perhaps as horrible as anything yet made
public. Hohenstein went there to see Sec
retary Porter, who gave him q note to
B. Fl. Warner Of the Washington Red
Cross. to whom the story was repeated.
Hohenstein came to this country eight
years ago, leaving a position as lieutenant
in the German army. He was also a men,
ber Of the German Red Cross. He had
democratic IDEAS, was soon naturalized and
grew to love his adopted country. He
swears that he can never again have love
for his mother country, because the Ger
man consul at Havana openly sided with
the Spaniards and endeavored to make him
Join the Spanish army.
Tells a Straight Story.
Hohenstein Is vouched for by q number
of documents in his possession, and his
story has nothing in 1T Of an adyenturer
and a dreamer. Hohenstein went to Ha-
vana in January to aid in Red Cross work
Tor the benefit of the starving reconcen-
trados. He can speak Spanish fluentiy and
ne believed that he could be useful to the
Red Cross officials for that reason Dur
Ing his work he had many heated disputes
this country to feed the starving Cuhans-
Because Of his tenacity spies were mt
upon his track. Just before the Maine wa G
blown up Hohenstein was at work in a
yellow fever hospital about twenty miles
from Havana After the blowing IN or
the vessel. and when General Lee advised
all Americans to depart Hohenstein re-
NAMED too long. On the day that he was
packing MS clothes to get away he was ar
rested and taken to the fortifications at
Punta Brava a.
fut IN an Underground DUNGEON.
he was put in an underground Dungeon
among number Of thieves and was tainted
as Yankee pig. Water dripped into the
cell regularly, and he had to wiring out
Els clothes before he could wear them.
fohenstein addressed letters to Consul
General Lee and several newspaper CORE
spondents he knew. but was told that these
would never be delivered Six days later
he was removed to Cabanas prison. all his
clothing being taken away from him ex-
cept suit he had on. He was thrown into
cell filed with Spanish thieves, most of
Wnom were shackled to the CELL The pris-
orers were informed who he WAS and they
heaped insults and injury upon him. BY
this time Consul General Lee and the
americans had left and there was no hope
The night before war was declared two
Spanish officers went into the cell, tore a
button containing the American flag from
his coat, threw it down and stepped on it.
iioiicuSlcil lolu lne1n- IDat the Americans
would do them the same way.
Cruelties Beyand Conception.
A week after war had been declared Gen
eral Prado had Hohenstein brought before
him and offered the5brsoner his liberty on
condition that he would tell all he knew
OF this country and accept a captaincy in
the Spanish army General Prado said that
the German consul general desired Hohen-
stein do this. Hohensfein denounced the
proposition and flung, a. lighted cigar in the
face of Spaniard, who was taunting him.
This enraged the Spaniards, and Hohenstein
was put in cell as dark as night and con-
tanning spikes. He Shows scars all over
his body where hefGame in contact with
these spikes. He was 80 badly hurt that
the Spaniards became frightened and trans
| ferred him to another cell They kept him
confined in this for four months, giving him
! two cups of whole corn each day. He lost
| his hearing and sight temporarily from the
| cruelties inflicted.
Faithful to the Unions Flag.
One day Hohenstein was led out to wit
| ness the shooting of twenty-five Cubans,
and was told that this was the way Amer
| leans would be treated. Another time he
, was ordered to kiss the Spanish flag. He
| told the Spaniards to kiss the dirty rag
| themselves. and yelled hurrah for the stars
| and stripes. For this he was knocked down
| and an officer cut his head with sword.
| The long scar shows now. The Spaniards
| thought him in dying condition. and Gen.
| Ruberto had him removed to a hospital.
| About the time Santiago surrendered he
| was ordered to sign paper saying that
| he had been treated with kindness. He re-
fused to do this.
| Hohenstein was released in September
I through the connivance of a young physi-
clan, who declared that he was too brave
| a man to die like a dog. On the Gath of
| September Hohenstein sailed for New York
| on the City of Washington and was in a
hospital three weeks. He is still weak,
but desired to get to Washington to tell
| mis- story.
| Hohenstein affirms that the German con-
| sui in Havana visited him several times
| and endeavOred in every way to induce him
| to go into the Spanish army The German
consul repeatedly spoke of what we
| would do. Hehenstein one day asked him
| what he me.lnt by we and said he
| thought Germany was neutral His obsti-
! macy caused the German official to desert
him entirely.
| The story has every appearance of being
| truthful Capt. Page of Gen. Buffers staff
| at Havana gave him letter to bring to
| this country, to the effect that Hohenstein
had been imprisoned in Havana for seven
months
|