The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-08


ana the direst punishment inflicted upon
those engaged in the attempt He further
told them to notify Gen. Martini that if
any of his men were found in the pre-
cincts of Baracoa within the next thirty
days with arms upon them that they
would be arrested and severely punished
l thought Tom was giving them a pref
" strong bluff" said Mr.. Bond, 'consid-
erinS that he had less than 400 men at mis-
command while the Cubans surrounded
him on all sides with nearly ten times as
many men. The bluff went all right,
though, and nothing more was heard from
Gen. Martini"
Besides establishing a city govern
ment' said Mr.. Bond, either work of an
important character has been accomplish
ed by Col. Wylly. Two pubic schools
were authorized to be opened by Jan. 1,
ana one Q the new features of all educa-
tional institutions on the island will be
the study of the English language.
system of light taxation, sufficient to make
the city self-sustaining, has been inau-
gurated and already improvements of a
material nature, such as a complete sys-
TEN of house drainage, water works, cleo
trlc lighting and street paving are under
consideration"
The feature of Christmas day at Bara-
Goa was the barbecue given to his men by
pretty tight rein since their arrival at
Baracoa, Mr. Bond said and about the
only leeWay given them was at this Christ
mas day feast. Squads of men were sent
INTO the country to buy goats, sheep and
pigs, and sufficient supply having been
secured the work of preparation was be-
gun on Christmas even and continued
squarely through until the next day at 4
O'Clock, when the dinner was served Each
soldier W al to
and as a result nearly all the senorjtas of
any degree of responsibility in Baracoa
were present, as well as a large percent
age of the population generally. The men
mad a great time and enjoyed themselves
hugely. Col. Wylly so far relaxed his
military severity as to release the soldiers
who We're Imprisoned in the jail on var-
Gus charges for the occasion. Among the
number were young man named Ashton,
OF a well known Georgia family, and a
Savannah Irishman named McGiilicuddy
who were in the stocks for having broken
Jail few days before. When Col. Wylly
demanded of Ashton to know why he
broke jail, the latter saluted and replied:
well, you see, colonel I devised the
means, and me pard put em in execution"
Ashton wrote a very amusing appeal to
his company commander expressing his
desire to participate in the Christmas
Ddl OCNuO. Ills Captain showed the letter
to Mr.. Bond, and this led the latter to
urge upon Col. Wylly to grant the pris-
oners holiday along with the rest of the
soldiers, which request was granted
Mr.. Bond said that the conditions in
Cuba are far from reassuring. The COM
merce of the country is in the hands of
the Spaniards, and likely to remain so for
some time to come, as the treaty grants
Spanish goods admission to the country
he
For shrewd business men who will make
investments only after careful investiga-
ton, there are good opportunities, he said,
but those who expect to find wealth lying
around loose had better keep away.
Cuba is not a new country" remarked
Mr.. Bond. 1T is an old country. older
than this, and the conditions are entirely
different from all new territory hereto
fore settled by Americans. 1 do not doubt
that more money will be lost by Ameri-
cans in Cuba during the next two years
than there will be made there by them
because of unWise Investments -
The problem of restoring the country to
a state of law and order is a very serious
one, Mr. Bond says, and one the solution
of which he pgards with grave doubt.
The country Ras been so devastated and
the population so unsettled, in addition 10
the degeneracy resulting from long years
of Spanish misrule, that it is simply out
of the question to think of governing the
people there as people are governed IN this /
country. Only the iron hand of military
rule will suffice, he says, and even then
the task will be no easy one. The Cubans
are simply in such a state Of degeneracy
that they are hardly fit to be governed, let
alone govern themselves. The insurgents
are the most unruly and turbulent of the
population. They are too proud to work,
and as soon as the United States ceases
the free distribution of rations, Mr.. Bond
expects that there will be trouble. The
country is exhausted as the result of the
war, the people have no means of cult
waiting the land, their cattle and mules
have all been eaten, and they are without
the means to procure others. A portion
of The population is willing to work, Mr..
Bond says, if given the opportunity. AS
for the insurgents, the most of them do
not want to work under any condition.