The evening times., 1899-04-20
ouTLAwRY IN CUBA.
Many Outrages Committed by MOur
tain Uandits.

Many OutraEes Committed by Noun
| tain bandits.
! Philadelphia, Pa April 20.-"When
left Santiago the mountain bandits were
apparently In full swing. robbing right and
left on the roads that lead to the city, and
even resorting to murder" said Charles
E. Ker. son OF ex-Assistant District At
torney w. W. Ker, who returned yesterday
from Cuba, after a seven-months' visit on
business interests. ''But their reign OF
terror vii be shortlived." he continued,
because, as l was informed Just before
left by General Wood, the Tenth (coloredl
Cavalry. the heroes Of San Juan HILL are
to be sent to the province to scour the
mountains and either capture or kill the
outlaws. who live mostly in caves or iso-
lated huts that are difficult to find
1 These bandits are mostly all men who
| belonged to the. Cuban army Joining it,
| however, for nefarious purposes whenever
| possible. such as they are at present en-
| gagged in. They have, since the close of
the war. been levying tribute upon the
| owners of plantations. whose property
they threaten with the torch unless they
are paid to keep away. Not sallsfici with
tnis, however, they roam l.odnd the out
lying country, sometimes less than Eve
miles from the Guy OF Santiago, and rob
all whom they meet. They are armed to
the teeth with Mauser rife, revolver. and
machete. and are. i. seems. nveT caught
Only few weeks ago FIVE Americans
were murdered by them OF this number
Two were teamsters who had left Santiago
Tor San Luis, almost thirty miles distant
Win wagons loaded with groceries, pro-
visions. dry goods, and household utensils.
Inc Two Americans gave the bandits a hard
nsnt. Dut, being surrounded on all Sides
al PTr--
were plundered, were then turned upside
down. and the bodies of the victims we're
placed on the vehicles in such positions
that they could be discovered by any pass
er-by.
This occurred about half way between
Santiago and San Luis. and the news Of
the crime caused the greatest Indignation
on the part Of General Wood and his Off
GERS when 1t reached the former city. In
TACT, 1t was this outrage that brought about
the determination to ask for the services
OF the Tenth Cavalry. Up to the time of
my departure no troops had been sent after
the outlaws. but now they will be follow
ed from place to place until all Of them are
driven away.
ITO illustrate how desperate the robbers
are l will tell you OF recent incident
After General Wood became military gov
ernor OF the province OF Santiago Colonel
Valentie. brave man under most cir
cumstances and warm personal friend
OF Colonel Garcia. son of the late Gen.
Calixto Garcia. was appointed chief of the
rural police. He made the only attempt
that has really been made to hunt down
with posse one of the numerous bands.
He and his men the had only six with
him) were, however, led into a trap. and
after struggle were taken prisoners
Those under him were disarmed and sent
adrift, but he was held for day or two
whom to how
The rope was around his neck, and he
thought it was all over with him. when
the leader of the gang OF outlaws changed
his purpose and said that he would be lib
Grated IL he would swear to return to San
tiago and at once resign his position. VAL
entie took the required oath, was released
and when he arrived at Santiago gave up
his place, declaring that he had had
enough OF hunting bandits. One notice
able point with regard to these criminals
is that there are few white men among
them. They are nearly all blacks who have
never cared to work. and who are as much
feared and detested by Cuban negroes In
general as by the other Cubans and the
Spaniards.
LAS to the conditions existing within
Santiago, 1t may be said that business Is
steadily growing and the work of improve
ment makes steady progress. The asphalt
ing Oh tne streets Is a Dig cnanRS Tor the
better. and the task is being pushed for
ward as rapidly as possible. The dredging
Of the harbor. with its many feet of filth
and slime, is much more difficult Job.
but every effort is being exerted TO make
the port healthy. In a military way the
latest movement of General Wood is the
mounting of four companies of each regi-
ment of infantry under his command.
These forces will be scattered about the
province in the little towns to keep things
in order.
Before I came away the former Span
ish war vessel, the Mercedes. which was
sunk at the mouth of the harbor by two
shells from .oue of Schley's ships entering
and exploding in her engine room duriu &
Cervera's attempt TO escape, had been sue
cessfully raised. 1t was found that bsfore
she went down all of her furniture. the
guns and sabres that were in the racks,
and nearly every other movable article
had been taken out of her.
Mr. Ker will return to Santiago in the
early part of June.