Year: 1873

described at being thus suddenly robbed OF their
prey and, In response to the protests made by the
Commander OF the Niobe. and subsequently py
Commander Cushing OF the Wyoming-the teie-
gram to the latter, when at Aspinwall, from the
American Consul having been purposely detained
by the authorities at santago-vented his rage In
arrogant epistles by way Of justification for MS
crime.


puRRIEI,s FLlqHl.


Meanwhile, the American nation had become
thoroughly aroused, and. for the first time, the
guilty wretches began in some measure to CON-
prehend the enormity OF their crime, as well as 10
foresee the effects OF the portentous storm lower.
ing over their heads. Burrlel aed to Havans-for
what purpose it can readily be surmsed-nor did
he venture to return until the forbearing hand OF
diplomacy had commenced It's work OF pacincation.
Wnen the sloop-o-war Juniata arrived. matters
were In an exceedingly complicated state. All the
surroundings Indicated war-sudden and de-
cisive-aithough the proposed chastisement oil the
miscreants should scarcely be dignined by that
name. Communication by telegraph was entirely
cut on, and to some extent we were at the mercy
OF the people whom we believed 1t our bounden
duty to punish. The absence OF al
Information as to the actual Atua-
zion OF affairs was felt severely, and
the mysterious operations OF our supposed enemy
such as strengthening the forts all around the
harbor, the drilling Of large bodies OF soldiers
both day and night-led us to believe that the
moment for action was close at hand. ON our ar
rival Commander Drsine, accompanied by Vice
Consul Schmitt, Commander Gushing. Lieutenants
De Long. Chpp, Hutchings and your correspond
ent, proceeded to the palace, where We were re-
ceived by the Acting Governor, General Morales dc
los Rios with whom


VERY FORMAL INTERVIEW


was held lasting over An hour. have already for
warded you the substance OF what took place on
that occasion-of the request Of Commander Braine
to deliver to him the survivors and the refusal
thereto OF the solemn promise made to him
that in the event OF any further executions
he should be notified beforehand; also
OF our subsequent visit to the prisoners,
or those or them claiming to be American citizens
have endeavored to acquaint you OF the deplora-
BILE condition In which we found them and OF the
assurance and broken pledge Of the Governor to
mitigate il possible, the horrors OF their situation
by proper supply Of clothes-for the poor fellows
were in rags-and improve the quality OF their
food. Of which they bitterly complained But in all
intercourse with the Santiago officials their de-
pertinent was marked by certain amount OF arro-
gance and suspicion that betokened anything but
peaceful solution Of the grave question at issue.
Add to this the utmost retcence the part of the
authorities as to any negotiations, and our disa-
greeable position can. perhaps be the better ap-
preciated. The bearing Of the volunteers, more
over, was that OF defiance. and their avowed de-
termination never to surrender the remainder of
the prisoners tended to confirm the impression
that hostllities were imminent. American off,
GERS, while not treated with any outward tokens
f~- nN:. ..lxv
proved a source OF sterling benefit to many an i'm
poverished shopkeeper-there was nevertheless
an amount of respectful GOODNESS displayed towards
the city was full OF Cuban sympathizers, but their
fears restrained them from expressing any opinion
on the situation. There were


SPIES IN ALL DIRECTIONS.


Nothing escaped the vigilance oil the city officials,
and the visit OF our commanding officer ashore
gave rise to the most conflicting rumors Mean
while the men-ofwar in the harbor had In
creased to the number OF sx-three American,
two British and one French-each having more or
less interest in the fate OF the people In prison
so that for the time, little apprehension was enter
tanned as TO the result OF any inimical movement
that might be made. The crew OF the Juniata were
drilled night and day, and the same watch
fulness that would mark the discipline of
well regulated vessel in war times was strictly
maintained. Every day brought its quota of news.
Now the volunteers were to attack US in a body,
and, II possible, capture our vessel Again. it was
rumored that torpedoes were sunk all over the
harbor, and all hopes Of exit were cut of. But so
numerous and conflicting did these reports be-
come that while We dad not relax our vigilance,
they finally gained little or no credence whatever.


ANOTHER CARNIVAL IN PROSPECT.


Yapo shn ctorSl
another batch OF victims had been selected to fol-
low In the wake oftheir dead companions, and what
seemed to confirm the impression was the fact that
all the prisoners save these confined to the hospital
were secretly removed to the Moro Castle, dis
tance from the prison or some six or seven miles.
Imagine our CONSERVATION when, on the morning
OF the 4th OF December, news reached us from
the American Consulate that on the midnight pre-
ceding the prisoners-93 in number-had been
taken from The castle, placed on the gunDoat
Bazan and transported to Havana. And now, to
all appearances their doom was sealed forever;
1or, among other things it was unhesitatingly as
serted that the volunteers were loudly clamoring
for their blood or their memorable trip to Cien-
fuegos, the grounding OF the gunboat near that
place and their transfer to the mail steamer bound
for Santiago-despatche had arrived TO take them
back; OF the suierings which they underwent
leave TO the prisoners to describe. 1t seems im-
possible tina: human nature could become so lar
degraded as to descend to such revolving means to
maltreat their fellows as were practlsed by the
cowardly ofcials In charge, as well as by the off,
GERS or the steamer. Nothing that


HATRED AND HARD-HgARTEDNEss


could suggest was left untried to complete the
horrors ofthe situation, and when the dying people,
now almost courting death, were landed at the
wharf they were scarcely aoie to crawl back to
their oathsome dens In Jail. No sooner had Com
mander Braine learned OF the removal OF the pris-
oners than he forthwith proceeded to the palace in
no even frame Of mind, and the Acting Governor
was led to understand that the secret and Illicit
manner In which the unfortunate victims hat, been
taken away was violation Of the pledge already
given and an explanation was promptly demanded.
With characteristic suavity and evasiveness the
Acting Governor blandly stated that the prisoners
had been removed to the MORO Castle simply for
want OF accommodation in the jail, that sanitary
measures alone demanded the change
49,, xhat tha nrda~ fov THAR tranocor.c.a~