The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-05
FEW OUTRAGES COMMITTED
LAWLEsS ELEMENTS IN THE ISLAND
PUT UNDER SUBJECTION.
Decisions of Spaniards, and How
They Were Treated by the Amer
icans-COmpIaints of Natives.
Copyright, 1898. by the Associated Press)

evacuation OF Porto Rico nave been emil
nently successful in their dealings with the
Spanish commissioners and it is believed
that within three weeks at the most the
last of the Spanish troops will have sailed
for home and the stars and stripes will be
unfurled over San Juan. Their mission has
been accomplished without friction. More or
less trouble was anticipated at the out
set, but our commissioners have been agree
ably surprised at the frankness and candor
the Spanish commissioners have displayed.
While General Macias and General Ortega,
the second in command in the island and
one of the Spanish commissioners, in their
conversations with our commissioners have
fully acknowledged the fact that the loss
of Cervera's fleet cut off all hope of succor
from Spain, they still maintain that
the American army had a tremend-
Gus task before it in crossing the
mountains and Macias contends that
the army could not have reached
the gates of San Juan without a
loss of ten thousand men. The little Skin
mishes on the south coast General Macias
refuses to call reverses because he claims
his troops retired by his orders to the
stronger positions in the mountain passes
AS a matter of fact, the only action of
importance-the bombardment of MORO
Castle by Admiral Simpsons fleet early in
May-Macias insists was distinct Spanish
victory SIMPSONS guns pounded away for
three hours. They wrecked several build
ings in the city, but for their effort on the
thirty-foot walls of that old fortress, the
eight and twelve-inch projectiles from the
American war ships had as well been paper
wads. Not gun was dismounted; not man
was killed. After the fleet had retired-"re-
pulsed" is the word the Spaniards used-the
victory was celebrated throughout the
city. All the military bands paraded the
streets playing martial music, a grand con-
cert was given in the plaza and the cafes
that night echoed with the cries of viva
Espana!'' "Abajo los 4Americanos."
So it was that the military chieftains who
met our commissioners, met them not as
defeated soldiers to deliver up property lost
in battle, but rather soldiers martyred
by the defeat of others to yield that which
they still claimed they might have been
able successfully to defend. Gen. Brooke,
Commodore Schley and General Gordon
were exceedingly careful not TO disturb their
illusions in this respect, and to their ex-
IRENE tactfulnesS is due the ease and facil-
ity with which the negotiations were finally
| concluded. They decided before the first
meeting to stick to the main issue, which
was the immediate evacuation of the island
and to be generous to the point of mag
nanimity in minor and nonessential mat
tiers.
NO ''MANANA'' ALLOWED.
The Spanish commissioners, especially
General Ortega, were at first disinclned to
discuss the main question. They raised a
myriad of minor matters, few of which had
anything to do with the business in hand.
All Of these questions the American COM
missioners waived aside pending the
decision of the main questionable
evacuation. But for several days they
allowed General Ortega to talk on
until he and his colleagues were COM
PEELED to revert to the main ISSUE The
language of the protocol was plain, definite
and specific 1t provided for the immediate
evacuation of the island. On it's text our
commissioners stood and to their gratifca-
ton they found the Spanish commissioners
not only acquieScent, but seemingly were
anxious to retire from the island at the
earnest possible moment. The Spanish au-
thorltleS realized that the entire population
had become suddenly hostile to them that
they had been dispossessed by the high
court of war and that they were there no
longer by right, but by suffrance. They were
already strangers among people of their
own race, blood and language. Those who
nad Iawned upon the captain general in the
old days no longer came to the palace He
had no more favors to bestow and they re-
NAMED away lest association with the old
regime might prejudice them in the ewes of
the new. The position of the Spanish au-
tnorltes was painful one and though re-
turn 10 Spain mean heavy reduction in
salaries and the complete loss of rich per
qusites. the sooner it came to an end the
they assumed. 49,
II was then that they were confronted
with new embarrassment. They had no
transports to convey their troops back to
IN DlAo
Ihey were compelled to announce this to
the American commissioners. Until the
portation they could do nothing orr com
missioners, realizing the force of this argll-
r me IT.. MAGE 7t no attempt to unduly hasten
matters. although it occurred to them as it
did to other Americans in San Juan that
transports of other countries could have
been chartered for the purpose Had there
been too much delay this view of the Sit
uauon would have been presented officially
6ut IN TINS our commissioners preferred to
accept the Spanish statements in perfect
good faith, and in due time their course
was indicated. "
While aner, awaiting the arrival of the first
transports the whole scheme for the retire
ment of the Spanish troops to San TlIan was
! arranged. Both the Spanish and American
authorities were being flooded with anneaIs
Tor protection. The former was beseeched
by the Spanish residents living between the
lines and within the American lines to
guard their lives and property from the ra-
pacity of the. native inhabitants. who were
threatening them with all sorts of persecu-
tlOii, diSl the natter were subjects of the
opportunities of the ricn Porto Ricans
within the Spanish lines. who feared that
the Spanish soldiers. as a last act of cruelty
would despoil them of their property and
perhaps murder them. Some Of the aDpeaIs
were both frantic and hysterical But stems
were Immediately taken to prevent disor-
ders as far as possible
OUTRAGES BY BRIGANDS.
1t was but natural that in the transition
from the control of the Spanish government
tc condition of civil liberty those who had
suffered for generations at the hands of the
governing class would seek vengeance. or
that private individuals should seize the
opportunity to redress private wrongs. that
there were outrages is beyond question The
natives burned Coata and many fine Span
ish haciendas in various parts of the island
The Spanish troops massacred about ninety
people in GALES. and later, in suppressing
an incipient riot at Arecbo shot four ma
time near Cocoas in the center of the
island. About two hundred brigands many
of them said to be convicts released by the
American authorities at Ponce and others
it is said. from Haiti. with their headquar-
tiers in the heart of the mountains pillaged
and ravaged the country during the inter-
regrum. There were also disturbances at
FajardO when the Spanish troops left.
Some OF the rich sugar planters had been
driven out after the small force of marines
landed there had been withdrawn, and up
on their return after the Spanish civil guard
retired the natives set upon the Spanish