The Indianapolis journal., 1898-03-16
Col. MyrOn NJ. Parker, Senator Proc
tors COmpaniO=. Tells what He
Saw During His Recent Trip.
SUFFERING OF THE PEOPLE
WAREHOUSES; FILLED WITH sTARv-
ING WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
Miles and Miles of BIacI<ened Sugar
Plantations Showing where the
Torch Had Been Applied.

WASHINGTON, March 15.--Col Myron M.
Parker, who was Senator Proctor's COM
panion in his trip to Cuba, in an interview
with a Star reporter to-day said: You
might believe, but you could not realize the
condition of the reconcentrados in Cuba.
It passes the comprehension of a man ac-
customed to the usual phases of life. Their
emaciation is terrible, their suffering in
describabe. We saw warehouses full of
starving women and children. These peo-
pie have been forced into the villages and
towns by the Spaniards, and the whole coun-
try where they lived has been devastated.
In the ride from Havana to Sagua de la
Grande, distance of about two hundred
miles or more, the country presented pic
fure of desolation. For miles and miles the
charred stalks of the burned sugar cane
showed where the torch has been applied by
the Spanish and the insurgents alike. AT
intervals are blockhouses occupied by the
Spanish soldiers. Above each blockhouse
is a cupola where Spanish soldier is al
ways on the lookout. If a reconcentrado atV
tempts to go out from the village and cross
the trocha he is shot, and If an insurgent
tries to come in he is treated likewise. The
trocha serves, however, to prevent sudden
dashes by the insurgents into the villages
at night to burn them.
1.-The Spanish army is largely employed
along the railroad but as closely the
road is guarded, the insurgents can do with
it as they please. 1t is generally understood
i'm 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
Matanzas the insurgents blew UP sugar
train only three miles out of that town.
They cross the railroad at any point they
desire, and whenever they please. In my
opinion, Gomez virtually has control of the
island There is not an estate in cultiva-
tion, so / was reliably informed that does
rot pay tribute to the insurgents.
"rhe best people in Havana told me that
the young men of the best Cuban families
in the island were in the ranks of the in
surgents, just as the best representatives of
our best families were in the Southern and
Northern ranks during the war. My in
formant also told me that the insurgent
army was never as fra and as strong as it
is to-day. 1t gets a very large proportion
of its medical supplies right from Havana
and its discipline is said to be all that can be
desired. The insurgents have complete con-
trol of the provinces Of Santiago de Cuba
and Puerto Principe. They claim to
have all the supplies necessary for
their subsistence, having great herds of
cattle, besides cultivating a large proper
tion of the land in the provinces mentioned
What they need is arms, ammunition and
clothing. 1t is generally understood in
Cuba that the insurgents known as pre-
sentados, who came in and gave them
selves up to the Spanards in response to
the offer of pardon, were all men who had
met vita the disfavon of Gomez because
they had disregarded Che discipline he so
rigidly enforces in the army"
did your investigation lead you to form
any opinion on the subject of autonomy"
inquired the reporter.
No one wants autonomy in Cuba, re-
piled Colonel Parker, with emphasis. Even
the autonomist governors do not favor it,
I know of several alcaldes or mayors of
towns outside of Hayana appointed as au-
Economists who are wholly in sympathy with
the insurgents.