The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-04
IN CUBA DURING THE WAR.
AN IMBRICANs EXPERLEwCEs ON A
SPLNISH PLANTATION.
Courteous and Kindly Treatment By Span

sPINISH PLANTATION.
Courteous and Kindly Treatment By Span
inrds, Including Military Omoers -
Meeting with BIanco-spain's Broken
Hopes-The Wonderful Crop of Rumors.
Were you not afraid ?" asked a travelling
American tho other day when I mentioned
that remained on plantation In Cuba dur
ing the blockade mo. l was not afraid"
was my answer; but my friends In New York
were and az soon as war was declared re-
ceived several cables urging my return. had
been In Cuba for nearly two years and half.
acting as manager OF a sugar estate near Glen
fuegos. and my duty was to remain. 1 must
say here that I was persona ordtd with the
Spanish officials. that the owners Of the estate
were leading Spaniards. and that one was In
Havana at the side Of Gen. Blanco.
We had all hoped that war would be averted.
but with tho destruction OF the Maine there
seemed to be but one outcome. though Gen.
Woodford's daily assurances OF peace. cabled
from Madrid. buoyed us up with what proved
false hopes. Throughout the month OF March
the excitement increased and everything
seemed TO be getting at red heat. Our New
York papers still reached us and the Havana
and local papers were full OF all sorts Of extraor-
binary AUTHORIZATIONS between our navy
and SPANS. between the armies. plans for the
defence OF coast cities and for attacking New
York and Washington In the event Of war.
Every conceivable method to stir up tho
patriotism OF tho people was resorted TO.
Then. In April. came the news that tho Con-
suls had been withdrawn.
One rather unusual incident happened on
April II. 1t was Sunday and had to 60 to
Cienfuegos In the afternoon. When the owner
Of the estate. Don Emilio. and arrived In town
we noticed much animation. many flags flying.
and groups Of volunteers and soldiers in the
streets and park. While we crossed the park.
an officer OF volunteers. who. in private life.
was a friend OF mine. came up. shook hands.
and told us that the new Colonel Of volunteers
was to be presented to his command that aftep-
noon. and the regiment was then to be re-
viewed by Gen. Aguirre. commander OF the
province. Amoment later we met the General
and his staff. I was walking in front Of Don
Emilio and the General. turning. caught sight
OF me and Immediately stepped forward and
offered me his hand. saluting MI most cordial
~ His stan did the same. and he then mo-
toned us both to stand with the staff. as the
band OF the volunteers was approaching
There stood. an American. by the side OF the
Major General commanding the province OF
Las Villas. watching parade OF the dreaded
volunteers. l even went so far as to offer the
General q cigarette and to accept one OF his In
return.
Three days afterward. when again in Glen
fusgos. l met the General in the street. and
spoke to him OF thu curious situation Of Sun
day afternoon. then said to him:
General in the event OF war between Spain
and the United States. I propose to stay here.
Have you any objection. or do you think there
is any danger for me2"
"Objectionp No." he said. "As for danger
from the Spaniards there 10 none. and you
know your country people better than do. so
you can Judge as to danger from them.'
Then I said: have no Consul now"
He promptly answered: I'm your Consul
Do you need better?" said did not and
parted from him.
On April % we received the news Of the dec
laration OF war. or course. the newspapers
were at fever heat. and yet 1t seemed to be re-
garded more as q Joke than anything else
The terms Of the ultimatum. the sixty hours
to evacuate Cuba. seemed to afford tremen-
dous source OF amusement Ono Cienfuegos
newspaper published a cable, said to have
been sent by several officers to President Nc
Knley. asking II they could not walt until
their wash was returned: and In such spirit
the war began. And now one might say We
were shut of from the outside world. No let
ters or papers were received. and tho only
news was what the Spanish Government al
lowed to be printed In tho Spanish papers and
the rumors which ran from side to side.
How rumors did run and Jump and ny!
Fleets sprang up like mushrooms in q night,
70 vanish IKE the dew with tho morRine sun
On April % I think It was that a gunboat.
fuegos. and the following day the ArRonauta
was captured on her voyage from Batabano.
landed here. These passengers brought the
most extraordinary reports-that the crew OF
the war vessel were, negroes and that when
they boarded the Argonauta they at once
sacked the bar and robbed the passengers OF
money. Jswelry and clothing. In fact one ywo-
Cleniuegos and complained Of being robbed Of
$4,000. all he money she had In the worl ID. and
s6rss o 81 the
which were really believed by many people OF
The presence OF the gunboats OF CienfueRos
seemed to put more heart in the insurgents
who before this had been keeping pretty quiet
show activity. One Of the rumors which
gained currency was that the Americans sig
b aio@ns n' One nsht Just sS after dark was
farm about ,atteen miles away that they saw a
up two or, three other points over, the tele
they had all seen it, but each one saw II move
in differept direction What this might por-
sna h ss E nG much
when on a second and third night the same
phenomenon was reported. Finally we be:
came rather skeptcal, and one night placed
high. with pair OF strong fedglasses to see
II i could discover these much talked
balloons. went up at dusk and waited pa
tiently as the night fell, constantly looking In
the direction where all agreed the balloon
came from. though none agreed on its, course.
As sat there alone. overlooking Wide plain
proper direction beautiful evening star clear
and bright 1t was the balloon
what seemed peal OF thunder. followed by a
second For some time we. had been in great
need OF rain. and the sound was grateful; but
ms looked from the window saw a cloudless
sky and heard soldier in the patio exclaim.
came a third discharge. which left no dou BIT In
my mind that something in the way OF real war
was beginning So il proved. as these were the
firing in the affair Of the lighthouse at Glen
fuegos. 1t took me hut minute to call ur the
my agitated questions he answered:
Il am not sure. but they say from Cienfuegos
that the Spanish fleet has met tho Yankee one"
1t certainly seemed as II this might be the
case. as roar followed roar. almost necessarily
We were soon advised. however. that 1t was
not the two fleets that had met, but that an