The New York Herald Newspaper, December 30, 1872, Page 3

INSURGENT CUBA, el The Herald Mission to Cuba Again on Foot. Captain General Cebal- los Interviewed. BE REFUSES A SAFE-CONDUCT. & Passport All the Herald Com- missioner Will Receive, HE REST AT HIS OWN RISK. Correspondence Between: the Captain General and the Commissioner, Spanish Dignity that Will Not Be Doubted. A VEXED QUESTION. What the Spaniards Say of Hen- derson’s Hurry. WAS IT FEAR OF THE VOMITO! Motes of the Voyage from Gotham to the “Ever Faithful.” Havana, Dec. 2, 1872, It is arather novel sensation for the native of a Morthern clime to sit down on Christmas Eve with the thermometer among the eighties to record wome few of his impressions de voyage for the ben- efit and amusement of his less fortunate fellow- @itizens who are doomed to freeze and shiver through a checriess Winter. So much atten- tion has been lately called to Cuba that every thing relating to the “Ever Faithful Isle” Ras 68 «deep interest for the American public, and, in order to begin. at the beginning, your Special Commissioner will en- @eaver to hastily conduct, in imagination, the public from the pier on the North River into the very fastnesses where Cuba libre defies the arms of Castile, For the present the political and moral aspect of the struggle that now agitates this faland will be passed over, to be taken upata foture day, when the opinions, hopes and aims of the various parties will be laid before the public, free from all traces of passion or prejudice ; but for the moment I shall NEITHER MORALIZE NOR DISCUSS but endeavor to give the readers some faint notion of the trials and tribulations of a special corre- spondent. The City of Havana, advertised to sall precisely at three P. M., swung out into the river some half hour later amid the waving of handker- ehiefs and kissing of hands that usually accompany temporary separations, There were some tears shed by a few extremely sensitive or lachrymose people, who either could not help it or thought ‘that it was the proper thing to do, but for the most part the scene. was gay and lively enough. A fellow who has no one to see him off generally feels cynical, and inclined to sneer at those who have. Some of the scenes were, however, toucn- ing enough, for among the passengerse were INVALIDS GOING SOUTH asa last resort, and as their anxious friends bade them goodby, with words of encouragement and oheer, it was only too evident that there existed an underlying sentiment that they were taking an eternal adieu. It was curious to notice the flecting expression of pain and sorrow passing over the faces of the assistants fm those scenes, and the brave endeavors made to conceal the truth from the sufferers, By far the greater number of the passengers were, however, of a different type—people who looked forward to the trip as a means of pleasure or profit. These chatted gaily enough, and seemed Father to enjoy the fuss that their friends were making about them. Some of them were ungrate- fai enough to look upon their friends as bores, While I was making these mental notes my eye suddenly lighted on George, the colored boy, whose face was radiant with smiles. He had just caught sight of me and was advancing towards me with a letter. I glanced over it. ‘It contained instructions to interview Mr. Delano, the Secretary, should he, as Was expected, be among the passengers. As my eye took in the few lines of the note my courage e@ank below freezing point, and I almost wished ‘that I would be sea sick during the whole voyage, After a few moments, however, my spirits railied, and I forgot all about Delano until dinner time, when I carefully, and with some misgiving, scanned all the cards ia my neighborheod to see if the Secretary of the [nterior was placed in a position m which! could interview him at a disadvantage. HE WAS NOT IN VIEW, however, and again I felt somewhat relieved. ‘The dinner, which was a very plain joke, consist- ed of little bits of cold ham, some unmistakably galt butter, one or two ehops, very hard and ex- tremely small, which were to appease the hunger of avout a dozen famished adults. After waiting some time I politely asked the waiter when dinner ‘would be served. He opened his eyes, then smiled in a ghastly manner and informed me that it was already served. Being interested inthe matter I asked him “Where?” The wretch coolly pointed to the bits ofham, the rank butter, the mahogany chops and finally, in a triumphant manner, te @ platter of potatoes, that were in reality about the most respectable and acceptabie dish on the table. I tooked at the man reprovingly, but he was made of ‘brass, so I took refuge in @ bottle of wine and some crusts. While he was filling my glass the fellow sardonically suggested that the morning’s breakfast would be much better, and that he hoped I would enjoy it. Llooked at him again in- quiringly, but he was @ perfectsphinx. Dinner over, I wandered about the deck, as the night was @ beautifal moonlight one. It is impossible to find anything more = deligitful thin No York Bay on such a night. We had left Sandy Hook behind us, When steam was set off and the speed of the vessel began to slacken ‘all knew that the pilot was about toleaveus. We crowded the sides of the vessel to see him descend into his mysterious little boat, and charge him ‘with our final adieus to native land, It ts the work of @ moment—he drops over’ the vessel's side, sliding down by a rope into thé frail-looking boat that is waiting to receive him, and rowed away into the ever-deepening shadows until he becomes @ speck, and flually is lost to our sight. Just at this moment we pass pilot boat No. 7, looking like a fairy craft in the moonlight,’ Her lines are swoep- ing and graceful, and the cordage and rigging are 60 clearly defined in the sliver bright light of the cold moon they seem like @ delicate web. It ‘was justone of those pictures that nature makes fall of admirably -combined effects—vroad, yet dell- cate and suggestive, During the evening I re- mained in the saloon reading Dickens’ “American Notes” and consoling myself for my dinner by pk- turing his sufferings. ut even this harmless cousplation Was £00 taken from me, Jor, ap the Www YURK HERALD, MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1872—WITH SUPPLEMENT. bells out ten o’ a Lahaias| pein gg Pity ode sn sinsh9) very cold gray eyes, glided quietly through the saloon end, without the slightest warning or ex- . ‘EXTINGUISHED THF LAMPS, one after another, to the astonishment and dismay lofthe passengers. ‘The old fellow recalled vividly the remembrance of the mysterious ‘persons in the fairy tales, and if] am. not very greatiy mistaken he is. some relation Lo the Old Man ot the Sea; be that as it may, he certainly established a mute kind of terrormm over the passengers, and as soon as he appeared they seemed to melt out of the saloon. Driven from my converse with Dickens I took refuge on deck, where I walked ebont in the bright moonlight until nearly eleven. o'clock. All the passengers had retired, and I was Jefe alone to contemplate the beauties of the might. Above, the clear sky, with its millions of twinkling etara; below, the phosphorescent sea, bathed in moonlight and feeked with the foam of our gallant seahorse, that ploughed on- ward, panting and straining every nerve, overcoming every obstacle and carrying us gallantly on our moontit way. At last I was forced to turn into my little state room, where I coiled myself np on @ narrow shelf, that appeared to me not more than five fect long. It was covered by & faultiessly white counterpane, on which stood out in bold relief, in red letters, the words “City of Havanese.” The herribly monotonous motion of the screw prevented my going to sleep for some time, but at last tired na- ture gave in andl dozed of, Not to sleop only, but, alas! to dream. The image. of Secretary De- Jano arose to my mind. I thought he was in league with the Spaniards to re-establish the inquisition, and that on our arrival in Havana he had me ar- Tested and condemned to have the flesh twisted off my bones for having dared to interview him on the voyage. I could feel the horrible motion of the screw twisting my Hesh into small twine, but in the maldst of my torture I derived a diabolical satisfac- tion from the thought that the managing editor had been pitched into Purgatory for having ATTEMPTED TO INTERVIEW THE POPE. At length morning dawned, but let me draw a Vell over the occurrences of thig day. SuMice it to bay that Scotch ale, brandy and water and other Pesources were relied upon in vain. The decks were deserted, except by a few of those men who seem to have been intended by nature for sea gulls or porpoises, They look into your state room with provoking coolness to assure you that it 18 splendid weather, only a little fresh, and advise you to getup and walk about a little. The third day out sees most of us on deck; no one inciined to admit that he has been sick, but only a little squeamish, youknow. The weather is delight{ully fine and the sea calm, and we are about to settle down to enjoy it, when THE ALARM OF FIRE 18 SOUNDED, and there is an immediate rush of alarmed passen- gers to the deck. Watters suddenly drop towels, plates and glasses, and rush up stairs in a frantic manner, looking in some cases awfully frightened; others seize upon Babcock’s fire extinguisher and rush to the rescue, As I move out I meet a sub- stantial, middle-aged lady, who mistakes me for & sympathetic person and proposes to faint. I try to appear preternaturally cool, and assure her that there is no danger whatever, thougn at the time I can’t really make out whether there is or not. Some of the men look so frightened that I feel my courage sink several degrees at the prospect of be- ing roasted. In order to assure myself of the exact state of affairs I walked out. Some sailors were working at the pump, so I give a hand and spoil my gloves. In a few minutes, to my infinite disgust, I fad that it is a false alarm, with the INTENTION OF TRAINING THE MEN in case a fire shoul! really wreak out. I move round to watch the experiment with the hose, and to my horror find that they are all ina wretched condition. Hada fire really broken out nothing short of Divine iuterposition couki have saved us from the fate of the Bienville or Missouri. The hose leaked all over the deck, and owing to the want of force in the pumps and the smaliness of the nozzles they were unable to ahrow a stream of water to a greater distance than a few fect, and even then it fell like spray. Can nothing be done by the authorities in New York to prevent selfish corporations exposing the lives of passengers to such terrible risks in order to avoid incurring the expense necessary to make the equipment of their vesseis thoroughly and effectively complete? This was the last unpleasant incident Of the voyage. We had left already be. hind the bleak northern climes, and the day was warm as in our Summer time. We seemed to glide through a palpitating sea of mojten glass. The air was balmy, and that exquisite, sensuous feeling which is only felt in the neighborheod of the tropics enabled us to bear the monotony of the sea voyage with equanimity, for here the sense of life is itself pleasure enough. On Thursday morning THE COAST OF CUBA looms up in the distance, seen vaguely through the merning mist. Over the dark, shadowy purple- tinted outline of the coast rise immense piles of cumulus clouds, grand and impressive. Looking at them, J almost fear that we should enconpter a storm before we reach the port, but as the sun shines out, dissipating the mists and bathes the aerial regions in vaporous hues the cloud masses sail along the sky and reveal the deep, clear azure of the firmament, my confidence returns and I go into my stateroom to make my final prepara- tions for disembarking. We were nearer to Havana than I imagined, and long before the last strap of my trunk had been buckled the grim mass: of ‘the Morro Castle had come clearly into view. It is an imposing-looking structure, and eyidently very strong. It. is mounted with heavy Dahigren guns, and is from situation and solidity of construction a very formidable work, Situated on the left of the harbor, as we enter the Batteria dela Reina, @ semicircular fort on the op- posite side of the harbor mouth affords it eMcient support. Both works are dom- imated by an important fort behind the Bat- teria de ta Reina.” The lighthouse is on the left of the port and bears on itin large letters the inscription, “O’Donnell, 1844.”” As we pass it the harbor opens to our view. It is narrow at the en- trance, but as we proceed it widens with a semi- circular form of considerable extent. On all sides low ranges of hills protect it from the violence of the winds 80.48 to render it a remarkably safe an- chorage. The narrow passage is defended at in- tervals by old batteries, that recall the time when the Spanish flag swept the Southern seas in all THE HAUGHTY PRIDE OF UNCHECKED CONQUEST, To-day these batteries but too truly refiect the changed fortunes of the Iberian nation. The old stones remain, grown gray with the havoe of time and ravages of age, are only made the more notice- able by the efforts of the moderns to conceal them, New cement has been placed in the interstices, and the old brass guns that were young in the days of King Philip peep out from the crenellated bat- teries with senile curiosity and impotence, They, however, give to the place an air of antiquity that more than compensates the traveller for their want of efficiency. The town lics to the right a8 we enter, and presents @ scene unrivalled in picturesque effect. The square, solid houses, im which the Spanish race de- lights, rise up in exquisite coniusion, in which ever-varying effects of light and shadé, comming- ling with brilliantiy-contrasting color effects, give brightness end interest to the coup dtl such as we never find in the Northern climes, There is more of the color and animation of the Eastin the view of Havana than in any other city] have ever seén, either in Europe or America, The interior slopes of the low hills, of whose summits the lines of fortification: are continued, are clothed with verdure. Here and there little clusters of white houses with red. tile roofs and some sparsely planted trees in their vicinity present @ picturesque effect that is per- fectly charming. But what adds more than per- haps anything else to the charm of the harbor are the lumbering passcuger boate, thatseem to belong 1o another age. These boats resemble somewhat a RUDE KIND OF GONDOLA, but are propelled by two sails, They have only one mast, whien supports @ squarcsall, by which the boat is principally managed. The dexterity with which thege graft dasa about is absolutely mar- wellous 40; spm¢ of the @Meinls happened ta be at break- fast when we arrived there wag plenty of time to enjoy all the beauties of the harbor, and it was nearly two o'clock in the afternoon when our per- mitito Jand arrived. In the meantime a Spanish mail steamer entered, having on board ® number of, soldiers, and civiliavs. The expedition with which these were attended te and landed con- trasted strongly with the cavalier mannen ip which some Americans were treated. Those of our pas-| séhgers who had infuence on shore were allowed to land by special permit; but those who were not 80 fortunate were obliged to. remain UNTIL THE OFFICIAL STOMACH HAD BEEN SATISVIBD. Even a Spanish oficial cannot well remain at Dreakfast af day, 80 the looKed-for permit arrived in its own good time. ‘Then the gronp of little boats that had been moving round. us suddenly ewarmed toward the ship’s gangway, and their occupants, who were strong and rather: ‘hurd’ looking Span- lards, set np babel of appeals for employment, As We shoved off from the vessel’s aide we were enjoying by anticipation the novel sighta upon which our ¢yes were sdon to-dwell, while the black Prophet of the party shook his head with evil fore bodings of what was to happen to ug in the Custom House, While we were in this happy frame of mind ‘@n incident occurred which might have hades fatal termination: Our boat was heavily laden with baggage and carried six passengers in addition to the two Spaniards in charge of her. ‘We were scudding before the wind.at a fair rate ‘when 8 man-of-war’s boat, propelled by a dozen Tusty arms, appeared rowing direetly across our course, It was impossible for us to stop or to change our direction with saMcient rapidity to svoid @ cohision, a0 we held on, the sailors shouting tw the man-of-wars crew to change their course. The latter, however, paid nat the slightest heed, but rowed down with a sweeping stroke. The position be- came critical, as it was evident that a collision wasimminent, Our sailors shouted and gesticu- lated with increased energy, and at the last mo- ment the Spaniards backed water, not an instant too soon, for in spite of the frantic efforts of our boatmen, AR PROW OF THR MAN-OP-WAR'S BOAT. struck ours ou the quarter heavily and ihade heP reel, The lady of the party only escaped injary by jamping up from her seat just in time to escape being struck by the colliding prow. Inthe stern of the Spanish boat a nabob of an officer was seated, whose white hair ought to have been a guarantee against such an outrage, but the hidalgo sat quietly and unconcernedly by, as if it were @ matter of sublime indifference to his decorated soul whether or not some half dozen mere civilians were sent to the bottom. Before we landed we were treated to another sample of official insolence by having our boat thrust back to allowed some uniformed swell pass before us—an incident that cost us half an hour of struggle before we could regain our lost place, The quaintness and peculiarity of the city of Havana, architec- turally and socially, have been thoroughly aescribed. The narrow streets, the open stores, the pedestrians, the carriage folk, the police and the uniforms are almost familiar, In order to un- derstand why it is that the vomito and other pesti- lencea make their home here it is only necessary to pass through the streets, When it has not rained for some time the stench is absolutely over- powering, and there are some quarters where even the tropical tempests which they call rain here are UNABLE TO PURIFY THE ATMOSPHERE. Very little effort seems to be made by the Town Council to promote inteiligent measures of sanitary reform. As @ result of this indifference @ con- siderable proportion of the population is swept of every year, especially of the immigrants, But the Rip Van Winkles nod away their lives, simply say- ing, like the lazy Turks, that the wil! of Allah must bedone. When the Common Council meets two ropes are drawn across the street to prevent the trafic from disturbing the wiseacres in their coun- cil, Ifwe except the sole duty of imposing taxa- tion, Idon’t, for the life of me, see what these people have to do, except, perhaps, to agree among them- selves as to the distribution of the pickings; for, if my information be at all reliable, these gentry can fleece tne public in a way that would astonish a New York Alderman of the good old time. As there is no public opinion here, no liberty of the press or of speech, or of motives, ex- cept by the will of the authorities, we never hear anything about these abuses. The people here seem to be content if they are let alone, and in this respect they are free cnough so long as they are not too inquisitive and confine themselves to strictly minding their business. The inhabitants of Havana are chiefly Spaniards, for the negrocs and Chinamen do not count for anything in the social or political world, and are only considered in the matter of labor, in which they are, as a rule, singularly industrious and devoted to their busi- ness. After my arrival I set about my business proper, and was fortunate enough to obtain an INTERVIEW WITH CAPTAIN GENERAL CEBALLOS. It was not, however, fortunate in its results, as His Excellency politely but firmly refused to grant Ine the sase conduct extended to the HERALD's late commissioner on the island, This determina- tion on the part of the Captain General I subse- qaently endeavored to induce him to alter. The result is best told in the correspondence which I enclose without comment. LETTER TO THE CAPTAIN GENERAL. HOTEL San CaRLos, Dec, 22, 1872, To His EXCELLENCY, THE CAPTAIN GENERAL:— Your EXcELLENCY—The gracious reception ac- corded to me on the occasion of my first interview with your Bxcellency, and the kindly senti- ments you were pleased to express, en- courage me to request that yon will re- consider your refusal to grant me a safe con- duct, or military pass. In the following letter I propose to submit to Your Excellency the reasons that to my mind appear sufficient to justify you in adopting this course. Iam deeply sensible of the irritation that the failure of my predecessor on this mission to avail himself of the opportunitics and facilities procured for him by Your Exccl- lJency’s kindness, has naturally produced, but, as I explained to Your Excellency, WHATEVER FAULT HAS BEEN COMMITTED in this connection is the fault of an individual, for which neither myself nor the journal which f repre- sent can be held responsible. Had Mr. Henderson fully performed the task which he accepted volun- tarily my presence here would be unnecessary. if, therefore, your Excellency has reason to be disc tented Mr. Bennett also has reason for dissati tion, The object of my visit, as explained to me by Mr. Bennett, is to examine, WITHOUT PARJUDIOB OR PARTIALITY, into the state of the insurrection, and through the columns of the HERALD to make known to the world whether the statements put forward by the Spanish authorities or those advanced by the in- surgents represent more accurately the existing state of affairs. . For this purpose, and in order to present fairly both sides of the question, I have been instructed to visit the insurgent camps as ‘well as the Spanish lines. In order to be able todo this with gréater facility, I have applied to Your Excellency for such protection as would prevent the minor officials throwing obstacles in my way, or the Spanish outposts STOPPING MY FREB PASSAGE through the disturbed districts. In feet, such a recognition of my position as @ neutral aa would |, Drevent my beimg mistaken for an emissary of the insurgents in case 1 sheuld encounter outlying parties of the Spanish troops, Belonging to a people by whom the remem- brance of 014 alliances with Spain is still warmiy cherished, Iclaim to be free from the prejudices tat are too often entertained by Northern people against the Spanish nation; and I have come here in the full confidence.that I will have to deal/with brave and honorable. men.. There ts, in my mind, no fear that any Spanish soldier will degrade him- self by becoming an assasmn, and 1 comprehend fully your sensitiveness lest SOME URFORSERN ACCIDENT should lay the Spanish cause open to the suspicion of being stained by what would be a crime against civilization. For myself, while comprehending and appreciating your caution in declining to expose youreéif to the danger of misconception, I cannot. accept the justness of your deductions, Availing myself of the express permission you assured me would hé given to my passing ‘freely through the island at my own risk, 1 will endeavor, BY FAVOR OF THAT PERMISSION, to carry Ont the mission which I accepted in New York, even ‘stiould the special protection which I seek be refused to me. Shouid the event—which you foresee a8 among the contingencies of that migsion—unfortanately befal me, then, indeed, the authorities are more likely to be censured for not having granted the facilities, of the case, and for’ having, by their refusal of ® safe’ conduct, given’ my undertaking an appearance» of hosulity, which in reality is, foreign to it, I would not have dwelt ona ‘question that, after all, is of so strictly a personal nature, but for the emphasis Your Excellency laid on this point during our interview. ‘The broader and more important considerations which must influence Your Excellency's decision are those which touch THE HONOR AND, THB INTEREST OF PAIN. It fa impossible to ignore the fact that the civil- ized world desires to know how it happens that an insatrrection. which the Spanish authorities pro- claim to be of no importance continues unsup- pressed after four years. of armed contict, If, as ‘We have been assured, the insurrection has been Tedueed to the last extremity, and has no longer the spmpathy of any large clase of this community, it is for the interest of Spain that the representa tiveot AN INDEPENDENT AND XBUTRAL JOURNAL should be able to place before the world an un- Diased etatement of the Ouban question, The in- surgents, through their sympathizers in New York, have alréady promised to the HsRaLD corre. spondent every protection and facility once he enters thetr lines, and if the Spanish authorities refuse on their part to allow the examination to be made, or if they throw obstacles in the way the universal public opinion will argue that they nave some interested motive for the adoption ofsuch @ course, The fact that Mr. Henderson, through PEAR OF ASSASSINATION OR OF THE VOMITO, abandoned his post will not be accepted as sufm- cient explanation, in view of the tact that one ofthe editors of the HERALD has presented. himself to take the abandoned post. For myself I have but one desire, and that is TO FULFIL HONORABLY THE MISSION entrusted to me. I wish to leave no effort untried to obtain all the assistance ana information that will help me to form a correct judgment before I record it. Ifthe authorities, by the appearance of discouraging my mission, prevent me from obtain- ing that fall and broad view of the situation which itis my wish and aim to obtain, they must not blame me if my conclusions and deduc- tions become partial from the want of that very information which they refuse me the facilities to acquire. Before my departure from New York a telegram was received by Mr. Bennett from Admiral Polo, the Spanish Minister at Wash- ington, promising that he would use his good offices with Your Excellency to procure for me the assistance of the authorities in Cuba. Requesting the uonor of an early reply, I beg to subscribe myself Your Excellency’s obedient servant, JAMES J. O’KELLY. THE CAPTAIN-GENERAL'S REPLY, Havana, Dec, 24, 1872, SR. Don James J. O’KELLY :— Dear Sin—I have received your polite letter which you have been pleased to direct under date of the 2d instant, inviting me to reconsider the causes which hinder me from granting you a safe con- duct to visit the enemy's camp, which you solicited in the interview which 1 had the pleasure to-con- cede to you. It is easy to understand how pertl- nent these reasons must appear to me when they OVERCOME MY DESIRE TO GRANT YOUR WISHES, As you remark opportunely, in your Ictter, this is an affair of a personal nature and easily granted. For this reason independent goveruments and their legitimate representatives deny or con- cede permission (not to go and remain in the enemy's camp—a thing against the es- tablished practices of war—but what is much more generally observed aud regular) to permit in their own army the presence of foreign- ers with a private or official character. The de- nial, when it is given, does not give cause fo. un- favorable interpretations, as you state in your let- ter, because then the government of THE UNITED STATRS WOULD NOT HAVE DENIED its permission, as it did, in the last civil war to Spanish officers to visit the federal camps when solicited by the representative of the Spanish na- tion in Washington. It was not then the object to go to the Confederate camps to declare to the world if the Generals and Confederate authorities circu- lated faise facts, or if their assertions were worthy ofcredit, as you say you pretend to do in respect to as by order of the proprietor of the Naw Yorg HERALD, but solely to study professionally the in- teresting incidents of that war. Such pretensions, so clearly manifested, cannot by any means be assented to by the first authority of this island, nor can he sanction so OFFENSIVE AND. UNFOUNDED A DOUBT. The pretensions of Mr. Henderson were less ab- solute, and, therefore, I granted him the permis- sion to accompany our columns, and even to visit some of the rebel bands, ashe did in oneof the two departments not yet pacified. Bat for mo- tives, which Mr. Henderson undoubtedly under- stands, notwithstanding the attentions he was the object of as'a guest and subject of a friendly gov- ernment, he thought himself in danger when he ENJOYED THE MOST PERFECT SKOURITY under the banner of Spain, and this belief sppears to be sufilcient cause to excite against the authori- ties and respectable corporations public opinion attributing to them the intention to exercise over the opinions and conduct of Mr. Henderson a re- prehensible pressure. What would it have been if he had fallen @ victim to the undisciplined hordes to which to-day the insurrection is reduced, or if, in some encounter, @ Spanish soldier had not recognized him as a pacific and neutral person? Fortunately, Mr. Henderson. finds — himself in his country, and he can say what he ought to, or wishes, bat A SECOND REHRARSAL CANNOT BE PERMITTED, nor your unusua! pretensions, nor (admitting your good faith) the species of violence which appar- ently you intend to exercise in some of the para- graphs of your letter, aa in Spain, whatever has the air of intimidation is without precedent. Aslhave already had the pleasure to tell you verbally you will be furnished with the competent passport TO TRAVEL THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND, as could be done by any Spanish subject or stranger; and be assured that you will not be mo- lested nor will your trip be fruitless, as in our town, youcan acquire news relating to the in- surrection by consulting the thousands of the sur- rendered who fight in our ranks or live quietly in their homes pardoned by the Spanish government. Any other course you adopt must be understood to be AT YOUR OWN RISK. Thave had the satisfaction to answer your letter, but this condescension I could not repeat, because you already must understand that it ts not cus- tomary that suthorities explain to private in- dividaals, respectable as they may be, the motives of their conduct or the foundation of their tion, wecan to-day maintain supported by facts, General Higueline? Colagel “ot ihe wolaaiors net v re where courted, gave him all kinds of asa en the General to the treme Of answering. with his head for ‘his complete . Mr. Henderson showed himeeit examen Pleased with the attentions which he was con pally receiving, there, being however, a marked noes to allow himself’ to be frig as if he bec ‘acted to ee Matters in such a w: ber that the volanteers i¢_his life, which was not . Henderson, upon BeAvIng made attempts the dan; Gener uelme by one ofthe om 7 sof his etal @ olticers of his & in view of the fact that he had been especially recommended to him by our chief author! Wye At once he called upon the General, accompanied by Aguero. He conver: With Gengrat {afueime twattours, during which ne uring which the latter set Forth ine state of the inaurrection, and offered him @ column of ndred men, nore than force suificient, to scour the entire depart- ment and to conduct ver he itsted. It was Guring thie hat Mr. Hen- relat the incidents of his trip janded in mH (gana showing the di the latter by his lieutenant, Sena teal What the few rebele who accom! a among whom there were but seven or it whites. imed with the and in Henderson the evening received attentions in the Casino ‘The next evening General spigveime ful, where ‘e_ found’ Mr. Henderven. discussing with “his in ter con he terpreter conce! wished to forward to New York. the General learned that a journal of San! de Cuba had that morning published an article inviting Mr. Henderson, is an, Sakeating. and poli ithout expreaning the ressions of tion. compromised him and contained a serious threat by the volun- teers against hie life, if he did not comply with what he supposed they arbitrarily exacted of him. General Riguelme, in presence of the British Con- sul and other persons, demonstrated his error, and added that he would answer with his head for the em! * bye say? The next day after this discussion rrdeende fo son Went with a Lieutenant Colonel of t and an escort of eight to ten cavalry to reconnoitre the zones of the large farms of the jurisdiction, and Ep ge hed, gt niidence m on al siden at ih & with which the farmers and Planters travelled alone in directions, without the slightest fear or danger, sn aN fig regularity with which all agricuftiiral abo: was performed om those valuable plantations, The same evening General Rigueime, ing, with Mr. Aguero, and the latter remarking tha‘ Mr. Henderson was afraid of being assassinated by the volunteers, declared that nv one who had the least interest in the cause of Spain had the slightest interest in his death, which, without beiug of any kind of profit, might occasion some complication (condicto), and that Mr. Henderson’s fear was en- tirely groundless; that if there was any one who could feel an interest in assassinating nim it would be the laborantes, because thereby they would attri- bute his death to the volunteers, would raise a tumult in the United States, aud endeavor to turn the deed in favor of their cause, adding that it was against the laborantes he would have to take pre- cautions, although he, the General; had alreas taken such and continued to guarantee him hi personal safety, The subsequent day Mr, Henderson and his inter- preter visited General Riguelme and agreed upon @ plan to leave the following Monday in a steamer for Guantanamo, and thence, escorted by Colonel Valera and 300 men, would i to the coffee estate “Ana Matilde,” which is situated on the height which commands all the important points of the Toro Mountains, and from which, changing at will, he might march until he acknowledged himselt satisfied. Mr. Ienderson then told the General that the British and American Consuls and many other persons had assured him that he ran con- siderable danger of his life if he fell in with the Tebels, and desired to know his opinion, General Rigueime then informed him that the bands coimn- manded by negroes and mulattoes, and without the least organization, would oiler him no security, but that if ne could reach Maximo Gomez or Cespedes he believed his life would be in no anger. The General added that such would be diificait to do, as, notwithstanding all his efforts, he was ignorant ef his whereabouts, and if he knew it he would not have delayed one moment himself in going him. Without any further conversation they separated, agrecing that the following Monday tne expedition to Mount Toro should take place in the manner referred to. ‘Two hours after this cordial interview, durin; which was settled the plan which would~most at in the complete discharge of Mr. Henderson's mission, the latter returned to headquarters, ac- companied. by the American Consul, applying for his passport, as he wished to leave that same af- ternoon on the French steamer to St. Thomas. Surprised at ‘this sadden determination, General Riguelme asked the Consul its cause, and was in- formed by him that during the few days past four members of a family with which Mr. Henderson was acquainted been attacked with cholera and others with yellow fever (vomite), and Mr. Henderson had become frightened, partly by these diseases and the danger he run in the city as much as in his incursions out of it. Besides, as he had been already simost unanimously informed of the insignificance of the euemy, and he was convinced that he could ascertain nothing new unless he got among the rebels, which he was atraid to attempt for fear of losing his head, he had deeided to leave the island, and considered his mission terminated, Then General ime, in presence of the Ameri- can Consul and r Morales de los Rios, said, in an oficial character and with insistance and wi repetitiou, which have verged ‘upon impertinence if it had not been consid. e necessary, the following or words to the —1t ap) therefore, same effect. are, Mr. Consul, that Mr. Henderson leaves because he is afraid of the cbolera and yellow fever, to which 1do not object; but his life runs no danger in Santiago de Cuba or in any part of the territory where 1 command, for | have guaranteed and stil answer with my head for his personal safety; and far from putting any impediment to his visitin; with the greatest conacientiousness the centre 0 the rebellion, 43 at his orders a column, com- manded by a distinguished officer, to accompany him everywhere with the greatest security, and if he desires to visit the imsurgerts, he may be sure that everything pessible will be done to find them. It appears, also, that I have been he who has least ex: rated the danger he mignt meet at the hands of the rebels, ana that, if he had intended to take any precautions in case of dec to. visit. them, it would only have been to avoid a calumny upon the Spanish troops, in case of any unfortunate event taking place in the enemy’s camp.’’ Having repeated this solemn rotest, and delivering to him his sport, Mr. lenderson respectfully took leave, stating his thanks for the attentions and kindnesses of which he had been the object. At four o’clock he very quietly embarked for St. Thomas, ‘This is the plain, unvarnished account, and truth will prevail over all the fables, past, present and future, which it may please the Heracp to invent, WAR NEWS—SCENES ON THE BATTLE FIELDS, Atelegram from the Commanding General of Puerto Principe. announces that on the 9th inst. a numerous band of insurgents kad made their ap- pearance in the neighborhood of Guimaro. This band had been repulsed in an attack upon the garrison of that place and was pursned by the Reina column, which was at Cascorro; and the guerillas of the same place, with Colonel Marin’s forces, were also on their track on thelr retreat towards Santa Lucia, One ofticer had been reported slightly wounded, ahd the commander of the advance guard (a major), who joined at Cascorro, had disappeared. Forces of the Trocha guerillas had taken twenty-one able- bodied men prisoners, among them a sub-prefect, an aid to the insurgent General Ruloff, and, be- sides, eleven women; also seizing several revol- vers and machetes, A force under command of Captain Gracia had fallen in with a party of eight to ten men, between Cocal and Deseada, and made two Chinese prisoners and destroyed their huts, The Moron guerillas, in operations, had made prisoner an insurgent officer, killed a “nigger” and wounded a Venezuclan; & colonel also somewhere picking up seven women and four children, ‘The stereotyped account continues and says:— “The Rayo battalion, on. the 18th, attacked an in- surgent band, which was intrenched on the hill opinions, 1am, your attentive servitor, FRANCISCO DE CEBALLOS, Spanish Havana, Dec, 24, 1872, The fellowing is the translation of an article referred to by the Captain General during his inter, view with your special correspondent, Although it appears im the form of an editorial, Sefior Don Juan de Ariza, the director and chief editor of the Diario, assured me that it is, in fact, ‘THE STATEMENT OP GENSRAL RIGUELME. We are ol now to refute with the most impeachable data, all of ‘which Henderson forwarded te oenned after Raving left Santiago de Cubs voluntarily, through fear o vomito and cholera. Al! we did not before possess the important data which we now have, we wrote on bd 14th as sr frag 0 coer te comprised Matory » Henderso: expedition, Ina former telegram be had said that the Commanding General of the Depart- ment informed him that he would answer for his (elendersen’s) Sate ‘With his head, and we dare assert that he alterwarde declared that he did not Tun the slightest See from the. volunteers,” What we then assured owr readers through intui- ¢ un- Mr. called Del Vapor, dispersing them with con- siderable joss, and having themselyes three ‘wounded and one bruised,” and 80 the story is continued: from day to day with tao same monotonous repetition of insignificant. en- counters with which the HRALD’s readers have been bored by your correspondent for some time past, as no encounters of importagce take place, and the Iaborantes of late have ‘desisted from circulating brilliant versions of un- important skirmishes, althongn one of that class related to your correspondent a few days ago that he had received reliable information from Holguin of the captare of Colone! Prucurull by the -insur- gents under Vicente Garcia, and that in conse- quence thereof the Spanish soldiers at Holguin tied taken to the outakirts of the town the two sisters of that Cuban insurgent general and hati cut them to pieces with machetos; but the Cubana in New York deny that the Spaniards use the machete, and, therefo'e, your correspondent did not and does not believe the foregoing, and your readers need not credit \t either if they don’t care to, THE SLAVENOLDERS TEMPORARILY EXCITED, A great deal of excitement has reigned bere for the past few days among the slaveholders on ac- count of the change of some of the portfolios in the Ministry of Zorrilla, but elt fear has been allayed since the following telegrams were interchanged, which are much of the same tone as othera re- ceived on stiailar occasions :— No, 1.—My name, my antecedents and the cone duct t observed during the first Ministry presided Lo Ruiz Zorrilla make tanecessary ail manifesta- tions on my part relative to the policy Intend ta follow, and which will be impelied towards the complete pacification of that Antitle, with the postponement in regard to the same of meh trp social and political questivn until the term on of the war. salute Your Excellency, and request that you will, in my name, salute the other author- ities, she army, navy, voluuteers and all other loyal inhabitants of the island, TOMAS MAR(A MOSQUERA. No, 2,—His Excellency the Superior Political Gov- ernor to the Minister of Uli r:—The authori- tles, army, navy, volunteers aud inhabitants of this Spanish province salute Your Excellency and congratulate you upon yeur appointment, All ex- pect, trom Your Excetlency’s antecedents and from the love you bear to the great Spanish interests. existing in Cuba, that you will adopt the necessar; means to obtain an early peace. Allinhabitants (7) are grateiul for the assurance given them that thie country shall not be disturbed by political or social reforms which would alter again the conditions of Wealth and prosperity of the island, CEBALLOS.. MEXICO. Cuban. Press Representatives for the Great Reilroad Opening Fete. Havana, Dec. 24, 1872, | Messrs. Triay, Verger, Espinosa, Ortega and Vil- lar, the representatives of the Voz de Cuba, Diaria dela Marina, Boletin de los Votuntartos, Juan Pad tomo and Aurora de Mentanjos newspapers, leave this afternoon in the steamer City of Me: hav- ing accepted an invitation from the press of Mexico to be present at the inauguration ccremoniais of the railroad from Vera Cruz to the city of Mexico. THE PAOCIFIO SLOPE Strike of Coal Miners—Heavy Storm in San Joaquin—Immense Land Slidcos im Oregon—A Gorman Suicide. SAN FRANCISCO, Cal., Dec. 28; 1872. , One hundred miners, of the Raymond and Ely mine, struck yesterday against ten hours’ work. The shaft had been working eight hours a day Both parties are determined to maintain their position. There has been a heavy rain storm throughout the Western coast. In the San Joaquin Valley an overfiow is threatened, Several bridges on the River have been swept away. There have been five immense lana slides in Oregon on the line of the Northern Pacific Ra Jroad. Two hundred men will be employed for two weeks 0 put the track in order in. [uch damage has been done on the Columbia by breaking booms and floating the eye Navigation is impeded by floating ice north of Vancouver. Charles Krager, of thie city, committed suicide to-day in his store. He hada geaparate atruggie wil is clerk, who tried to prevent him from dol Wa 80, during which Krager’s clothes were torn off. Finally, his left hand being armed with a razor, he cut his head nearly off and fell dead to the floor. He was a German and unmarried. He was in good circumstances, and no cause for his committing suicide is known, OPENING A NEW RAILROAD. Burra, N. Y., Dec. 29, 1872. On Saturday last about three hundred prominent business men of Buffalo left here on an excursion train over the Buffalo, New York and Pennsyl- vania Railroad to Emporium, Pa., to celebrate the opening of the railroad to its termination at Emporium, a distance of 120 miles from Buffalo, eighty-five of which has been completed since May, 1872. : 7: ‘The excursionists were handsomely entertained at Emyporinm., The ladies of that town waited upon the table, and specches were made by Judge Boyington, J.C. Johnson, Bronson C. Kamsey, President of the road; Colonel Wiliiam U, Alberger, of Buffalo. The party returned through the heavy snow storm late on Saturday night, the last thirty miles being made in thirty minutes. NEW YORK CITY. + ‘The police @uring the past week arrested 1,535 persons. ‘ There were forty-five new cases of smallpox dur- ing the week, of which three proved fatal. Marshal Hart granted sixty-nine licenses and re newals since last week and received $145 50. Mr. De Cordova lectures this evening in Ply- -mouth church on “The African Livingstone and Stanley.” One hundred and seven thousand eight hundred the past seven days. Daring the week ending at noon Saturday, there were in this city 445 deaths, 114 marriages, 323 births and 31 still births. The Italian school, under the charge of the Chile dren’a Aid Society, will enjoy their Christmas fes- tival at 4 Franklin street, tails evening. Professor Y. Batta will make an address, FIRES YESTERDAY. The Destruction of One Day—Five Con« flagrations=The Red Fiend in Baxter Street Last Night. At five o'clock last evening ® fire broke out in the four story building No, 20 East Tnirty-seventh street, that caused a damage of $2,000, A fire occurred yesterday in the four story dwell- ing 826 Lexington avenue, occupied by the Rev. Adolph Huifrech, that caused a damage of $50, ‘At hali-past four o’clock yesterday atternoon a fire broke out in the attic bedroom of No, 111 Prince street that cauged a damage of $200; insured for $1,000, The building was injured to the extent of 500. ee vhire occurred at baltpaat nine o'clock yester- day morning at No. 508 Broadway that. caused a damage of $50. ‘At pine o’clock last night @ tire broke ont on the first floor of the two story brick buildt No, 63; Baxter stree owned by Morris } damage to building, $1,000; insured in the Hamilton Fire Insurance Company for $3,000. ‘The first floor was occupied by Isadore Cohen as a shoe store; damage $1,000; insarcd on stock for $1,600 and on furniture’ for $800, ‘The fire extended to the next building, No. 6, occupied by Mandel Jacobs as a dealer in second hand clothing. Damage to stock by water, $1,000; in- sured for $4,000; cause of fire unknown, Fire Marshal McSpedon has been notified to hold an in- vestigation to-day. AN ALLEGED FORGER CAUGHT IN NEWARK, In the Police Court at Newark, yesterday, An- drew Neunenger was arraigned to answer a charge of forgery preferred by Lewis Strauss, a wholesale butcher, doing business at No. 45 South Orange avenue. According to Mr. Strauss’ statement Nennenger, who formerly worked for him, forged his poet yi @ check fon $0 80, and succeeded in etting it cashed by William Eberle, a butcher of julberry street, who deals with Strauss. On Mon- day last the latter’s mother died, and during his sorrowing retirement Andrew, as alleged, took ad- vantage and gone the forgery. He was fully committe A VALUABLE PROPERTY oF GUN COTTON.~A Giscoverty of some importance bas recently beem made in regard to the properties of com- pressed gun cotton. The principal difficulty ‘which has been encountered in its manufac- wre, and which has to @ great extent checked the progress of its advancement as an ex- plosive compound im Her Majesty's service, hap becn the extreme danger atieniiant on the pro- cess of drying it after leaving the hydraulic press, The lowness of the Sereneretare, at iil explode renders ft a pe ae he difficulty adverted to bas been entirely dissi~ pated by the reeuit of a of PModiwioh Mr EO. Brown, f. © ‘Say ist, has succeeded in Department chemist, discs of gua toneeRe Gora the, kydraailo to twenty per of papmittl th to th ca ot ar The sul ing them ry ing. discovery wae almost a matter of secluent it hav. ing never been anticipated that detonation could on Occur under such circumstances; byt eg importance of the fact can hi be over mated, for white the cotton in its damp condition is perfectly innocuous and le.of ee, the same cotton possesses all the explosive an other attributes of perfectly dry cotton for min: and like purposes. In the course of his experi- ments, Mr, Brown placed some discs of wet com~ pressed cotton upon a slab of iron une inch thick without any tamping or covering. On placing the electric detonator within them and firing the maas, the plate of iron was deepiy indented in the centre. A slight tamping of sand, however, placed over the dises 80 farincreased the explosive agency that slab of iron was shivered to fragments on detouating the cotton, and ninety-one dollars were paid for taxes during,