Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-08-09
Havana Newspaper Office
Was Closed
|BY ORDER OF LUDLOW
Its Editor and Manager Give Out a
Signed Statement in Regard to the
Cause Leading Up to the Action Of
the Authorities.

New York, Aug. "a. Cervantes, edl-
tor, and Ricardo Nunez. manager of Ell
Reconcentrado, the suppressed ava
newspaper, who are on the way to WASH
ington to complain of their wrongs, have
issued a joint statement as follows:
Eel Rec~oncentrado was in existence
long before the war between America
and Spain had begun. Because of the
radical and l~iberty-loving policy of the
paper. the Spanish officers thought we'll
to suppress the paper, and for a time its
regular issue ceased. 1t was only on
July 81, and by order of General Ludlow
OF the American army that the office was
finally closed. Ell R~econcentrado was an
Independent organ. whose aim was the
Independence Of Cuba, and at the same
time was the only recognized organ of
the Cuban army. There is no independ-
ence in Cuba and I cannot be led to be-
lieve. after my experience as an editor,
that the American flag floats over the
island Of Cuba In fact, many of the in
habitants still think that the Spanish en-
blem floats over MORO castle. They nave
no reason to know any difference.
1.-THE police of Havana were deathly
against the principles of the paper, and
Rafael Cardenas, tine chief of police. did
his utmos to have the paper suppressed
because certain officers we're charged
with dishonesty. In order that the paper
might be suppressed the editor and staff
were threatened with arrest and impris-
onment. Though the editors and a few
members of the staff escaped imprison-
ment, some of the employees of the paper
were locked up in the bastile in Havana
for a period of 60 days, during which
time they were compelled &c break stone
after the fashion of criminals sentenced
to a term in Sing Sing. About 10 or u
took refuge in flight, and are still being
sought. Jose Armas, an American cor
respondent and a lawyer, took hold of the
case of these alleged fugitives. who were
hiding in a house in the suburbs of the
city.
Lawyer Armas brought the condition
of affairs to the attention Of General
Ludlow, who told him (Armas) that it
could be fixed up if the editor and man.
aging editor of the paper named would
sign a document asserting that they
would never again write any offensive
matter in the columns of Ell Reconcen-
trado. 1t was also stipulated that they
should not write anything offensive to
the authorities. With a communication
formulated in this manner, Lawyer Ar
mas was instructed to go with Messrs.
Cervantes and Arnauto to see Mayor
Perfecto Lacoste of Havana, in whose
presence they were to sign the document.
The editor and managing editor did as
had been directed, and it was said that
IN his word of honor General Ludlow
had declared to the mayor of Havana
that all was settled. On arriving at the
city hall the editor and manager found
the place in the possession of the police,
who placed them under arrest. Against
this action there was a strong protest
entered by Lawyers Armas and Felix
Segena. The mayor was being attacked
daily in the Ell Reconcentrado, n this
irritated him so that with the consent
and approval of General Ludlow it was
decided to imprison Arnauto and Ger
'vantes for a period of go days, breaking
stone in the streets of Havana"
Colonel Cervantes is authority for the
statement that this order was issued by
General Ludlow, and that the agreement
was of such a character that no man of
honor would affix his signature to it.
Messrs. Cervantes and Arnauto say they
entertain no animosity against General
Ludlow, who was Influenced, they think,
by Mayor Lacoste. At present Jose
Martos, one of the editors, is serving 20
days imprisonment in the Havana fort
ress, While Editor Jose Demorara of Ell
Guayamo, which was opposed to the
methods of the chief of police, is also
serving 60 DAYS in the bastile.