The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-03-16
PRISONER Of VENEZUELA
Cruelties of bygone Ages Prac-
ticed in Southern Republic.
FORTRESS, LIVING GRAVE

Andres Duarte Level, Former Revolu-
tionary officer Describes the Con-
ditons Captives are Rivited in
Heavy Shackles Two by Two for
life.-Beaten and Starved.
From a Venezuelan prison, where
had seen scores of hls fellows per-
Andres Duarte Level, once col
.l in the revolutionary forces of his
ntry, has gained his freedom and
come North to breathe the free
of the United States, OF which he
soon become a citizen, says the
York Herald and to tell tale
scarcely credible cruelties rrac-
ticed with the permi sion and often
with the active participation of Presi-
den Castro upon his helpless enemies.
1t was due in no small part to his
youth-he is only twenty-seven-that
Level was able to escape from the OPP
preston of the Dictator. His father,
who had been Vice President under
Guzman Blanco, and who afterward
held other offices of Importance, left
behind him-he Is now in exile
friends who were more fortunate than
he in preserving their balance on the
see-saw of politics in the South
American republic. These friends
Put forth their efforts to obtain the
release of the son from the fortress
of San Carlos, where he had been
confined in irons since the suppress
sion of the recent rebellion, in which
he had seen active service.
Death was not feared by the prison
ers of San Carlos it was the great
est boon they asked for. Shackled
one to another with irons that often
weighed fifty pounds, beaten. starved
denied an ccupation, they saw their
fellows drop one by one, and they
counted them lucky, for, with escape
out of the question and rescue impos-
sible, 1t meant death or worse-in-
sanity.
Fifteen hundred men, the greater
part of them political prisoners, were
crowded into a space that would have
been taxed by one-third of that mum.
ber. The cells were in the easements
of the fort, and those facing the sea
were swept by waves. there being
high tide.
On account of the peculiar manner
In which they were ironed and the
lack of room, these unfortunates were
compelled to assume half sitting, half
wing postures. the while the heat.
orful during the day, became abso-
ely unbcarable at night. with no
ter to quench their raging thirst.
into this living death Level was
unged not quite two years ago.
hen he emerged he was a changed
lan.
The son of a wealthy and yromi-
nent family, Level, who is of pure
Venezuelan blood, derived his name
from French fOrebear, was educated
abroad and in this country, being a
graduate of st. Francis College, in
Brooklyn. He remained in New York
until 1893, when he returned to his
native land and was commissioned a
lieutenant.
1t was at this time that Cipriano
Castro began the revolution that
eventually resulted in the overthrow
of the administration and the triumph
OF his cause.
After he had seen service in the An.
des Young Level returned to this
country upon the victory Of Castro,
but was unable to join the revolution
melted by General Nicholas Rolando
In 1900. This was partially suppress
ed, but at the beginning of the follow.
Ing year 1t broke out afresh, the cause
hau utvxo G,1a,
A. Matos, millionaire banker, whose
interests lay in Paris as we'll as in
his own country
Level returned to Venezuela, and
after some difficulty Joined the revolu-
tonists, being made a captain in the
artillery arm of the service, was CAP.
tured and brought to Bolivar in chains
fortnight later. With his compan-
ion he was sentenced to be shot, but
the sentence was finally changed to
imprisonment. Refusing to reveal the
hiding place Of the insurgents am
munion, he and Farreras were strung
up by the arms and weights tied to
their feet, almost pulling the legs
from the sockets. They were relieved
from further torture through the ac-
cidental discovery of the contraband
war by soldiers of the government.
For eight months Level dragged
out his existence with his fellow suf.
ferers. Their clothing had been TAX.
EN- away from them and they were
left only with their underclothes.
Soon these fell apart and the rags
were pieced together.
When for some real or fancied of.
fence a prisoner was ordered to ne
whipped, corporals guard of ten
men were detailed and each of these
gave a certain number of lashes to
the victim. When the blows were
not sufficiently severe in the opinion
OF the corporal he would lash the
soldier twice and then add three to
hA .h<..~ h.