The New York Herald Newspaper, June 7, 1873, Page 4

THE WAR ON THE HERALD. Cur Secret Cuban Commissioner's Story of Three Herald Men's Captivities. Gerona, Morro and Cabanas-- Millen and Price. Kelly, Mr. Millen’s Return from the Cuban Lines. His Surrender in Manzanillo and Imprison- ment in Fort Gerona. EXAMINATION AND RELEASE. The Mystery of an American Citizen Being Set Free. BRITISH CHAGRIN THEREAT A Visit to O'Kelly in Fort Morro, at Santiago. CUBAN DUNGEON LIFE. AMENITIES OF Journey with O’Kelly from San- tiago to Havana. INTERVIEW WITH MR. PRICE Arrested at the Instance of Mr. O’Kelly’s Prosecutors. 18 THERE A SECRET HERALD CIPHER ? 2h DEBRIS The Capiain General’s Sarcasm on the British Consul. ieee An Expose of Spanish Cruelty and Malad- ministration in Cuba. HAVANA, May 26, 1873, Having arrived in this city after my recent re- lease from imprisonment by the Spanish military authorities, I first proceed to give the HERALD an account of that part of the mission confided to me Occurring between the date of my departure from the Cuban lines and the present time, touching niso the days passed in eonflnement, my journey with Mr. O’Kelly from Santiage de Cuba and the interview had with Mr. Price in Fort Cabanas. Judging these points of more immediate interest than the recital of my successfal journey through the Cuban lines, I write them here. My reasons, in addition to the above, for not writing at length my experiences before and alter entering Cuda libre are obvious, Ido net feel that I could render jus- tice to my subject while under the shadow of the Spanish fag. I therefore commence my story with my return to the Spanish lines. OUT OF CUBA LIBRE. On the memorable morning of my unexpected advent in Manzanillo J jumped out of my hammock at daybreak, made a surprisingly hasty toilet, grasped a stout staf, and, throwing an overcoat across one arm, declared myself ready to march, MY GUIDES. Of the two volunteers whe had faithfully watched | my repose during the night one mounted his nag 4 show me the way to the town, while the other | took my hand in his, pressed it with the iervor of a true man and bade me an earnest adieu. Manzanilio was about a league and a half dis- tant. Iexpected to reach the tewn and get into | the United States Consulate before many people were astir, Could I only get under the roof from whose summit waved the starry flag my life would | be in no immediate danger, but should I be caught by any of the patrels, or apprehended at an ad- vanced post, immediate deuth at the hands of the goldiery awaited me. It was a thing of everyday occurrence, that of persons from the insurgent lines | being HEWED TO PIECES by bloodthirsty ruftians in uniform, and reporting | ‘what they liked to superiors, who rarely took the trouble even to inquire who the unfortunate dead Might be, If caught in the Spanish lines before | presenting myself I would be immediately shot as | aspy. There was no alternative, then, but to ran | the desperate chances. The success or otherwise | of the next hour's march was to me a matter of | life and death importance. THE TRAMP TO MANZANILLO. The birds twittered cheerliy on many a dew- Bpangied spray, the trees, lowers and plants had | on their brightest hues and bloomed with more | than wonted verdure; each gentle acclivity, bathed 4n freshening light, assumed its fairest guise; the @entle zephyrs of the opening day stole calmly over the scene, attuning the seul to a delicious | Bense of nature’s harmony and loveliness. In this iad morning, as the ancing light was lifting ‘the veil from nature’s charms I wended my way long the road in the direction of Manzanillo, I knew the danger of my situation, was armed and @etermined not to be taken cheaply. My Vi NTEER GUIDE kept in sight of me, and from time to time stopped gt some turn in the road, waiting to assure him- Belf that I was in the right path. He was a young man of ingenuous countenance, but appearances Bre deceptive. I never saw him until last night, He knew the peril of my position. What it he had galloped off and denounced me to the nearest troops? He could do it with impunity and receive ‘the applause of his officers. My life was in his | hands. But no; he was a creole, a Cuban, a Patriot, disguised with the uniform of Spain, and I ‘Was secure in his Feeping. , NEARING THE TOWN. 2 @ distance of a mile or so from town I began meetoccasionaily a travewer early on the road— two or three together. It was only then I realized the fact of being far from the most Cuban outposts, and was again com- ely within the Spanish lines, which I nad left Santiago de Cuba just two months and two Mays ago. 1 confess to having felt a little Mmervous; but, putting on the semblance of careless« and nonchalance, cloxely eyed each approach. | passenger lest treachery or mischance might the secret of my coming. Yet, although my must have been singular at that time Bnd place, it seemed to escape the notice of the flew passers-by encountered on this eventful morn- Ing. I gained the outskirts of the town, and pres. Patly came within sight of A BLOCKHOUSE POST, sitaated on an eminence to the left of the road. 1 was within short rife range of the place. The Movements of the solaicrs within and about it were plainiy visible. They did not perceive my ap- NEW YURK HERALD, SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 1873—TRIPLE SHEET, T looked for my guide, but he was gone and never again seen by me. Fortunately the right road was that followed, and I was soon on a side street that Presently led toa principal one from which’ could be seen the volunteers’ barracks, situated on the east side of the plaza. I passed this building, crossed the plaza and made for the store of Mr. Frederick Roca, who a tew months betore was United States Consul for this port, It was just about six o'clock. Even at this carly hour the store was open. I went in and inquired for the Consul, and was informed that ROCA WAS DEAD and Mr. Lanton appointed in his place, As the young men in the store evidently knew me and were wondering at my singular appearance, the premises were evacuated by me on the instant, and my footsteps turned in the direction of Lan- ton’s place. By a little judicious manceuvring the house was reached without challenging any par- ticular attention, The doors were yet closed, but J I sought a sanctuary in the upper stery of the house, where another family live. 1 was at last within the shadow of THE STARS AND STRIPES and thought myself comparatively safe. Presently the doors of the Consular office were opened, and I sat down to await the arrival of Lanton. A little after seven o'clock Mr. Lanton was in the office, He had already been told that some strange-look- ing American was awaiting him. I announced my. self asan American citizen, showed my passport and the Spanish cedula given me in Havana, He examined the documents leisurely, saying that they were the only proof he had of an applicant’s right to Consular protection. When informed that Thad just entered the town FROM THE INSURGENT LINES and intended to surrender myseif to the Governor of the town he readily agreed to go with me, and evinced a warm desire to do what was possible for my safety and comfort. 1 WAS HUNGRY. Reader, there is & tretiendous force of meaning in these words. A tine bowl of coffee and a plenti- ful supply of bread and butter, to which I did ample justice, seemed to me the mest delicious meal in the world. see the Governor. from it. Upon arrival AT THE GOVERNOR'S HOUSE the Consul and I were immediately ushered into his dread presence. A polite salutation all round and an invitation to be Seated followed. Mr, Lan- ton, with my passport ana cedu’a in his hand, ex- plained that I was an American citizen, who had presented in the Consulate my papers in due form, nd that I was anxious to proceed to Havana with out delay. The Governor examined the cedula and found that it had not been noted by any Spanish authority since passing through the hands of Gen- era! Benegassi in Holguin on the 24th of January last, It was then the 15th of May. “How is this,’ asked the Governor, ‘where have you been all the time since this paper was last noted ?” My reply was that [had been tn the insurgent camp and had just returned that morning, stating also the fact of being a special correspondent of the New York Herat. The Governor gave a visible start, but, quickly recovering himself, and bowing rather stiffly when I concluded, he turned to the Consul and said :— THE FIAT OF THE DON. “Tt is impossible for this gentleman to proceed on his journey. He is for the present and until further orders detained as a prisoner.’’ This was, of course, expected, so that the launch- ing of the fat caused no surprise. Here Lanton generously proposed that I might remain under ar- rest in the Consulate, and that he would be re- sponsible for my appearance when called for. The Governor thought this proposition not acceptable, and said that I must go to Fort Gerona. flere the Commandant of that stronghold made his advent on the scene, and I was very ceremoniously introduced to my future keeper. The Governor having granted me per- mission to telegraph te my friends, I immediately despatched messages to ¢he HERALD, to Consul General Torbert, Consul Young and some frends in New York. Inow took leave of the Governor and of Mr. Lanton and accompanied the Com- mandant of Fort Gerona to partake of his UNSOLICITED HOSPITALITY. That bright May morning was pleasant. Every- thing looked fresh and green. Nature seemed to rejoice in the renewal of Spring. My soul was in harmony with the surrounding scene; but the thought of to-morrow doubtful and dark, The littie hill on the northern outskirts of Manzanillo, that is crowned by Fort Gerona, was soon topped; the narrow, unsteady drawbridge crossed, the sally-port passed and the square space forming the interior body of the workreached, Over the doors of the diflerent rooms my eyes caught the words “Comandancia de Artilleria,’’ “Cosina,” “Escu- ado,” “Deposiio” and “CALABOSO,”? and to this last named habitation, the common black hole, 1 was blandly introduced. The Com- mandant placed himself at my service, teiling me to give him my orders in whatever I pleased. To those unacquainted with the:extravagant flights of Spanish politeness this might have seemed like heartless irony, or an unnecessary adding of insult to injury. I took the offer for what it was worth— thin air, words that meant nothing. THE QUESTION OF DOCUMENTS, I expected to be thoroughly searched for papers or documents, Ample preparations for that dis- agreeable process had been made by me days be- fore. My notes, letters from President Cespedes and other papers were already on their way by the underground railroad. They reached Man- zanillo by secure hands other than mime. By the same means my papers were safely conveyed here, and they will not reach my possession until I shall have sailed at least the conventional marine league out at sea, beyond the limits of Spanish waters. Let the Dons divine how the thing was done. To their credit be it said, however, no search was made of my person, nor was lever asked for papers. THE HERALD CELL. Leaving me, the Commandant politely bowed himself out, and I was alone with my thoughts, in aroom about twenty feet long by ten feet wide, with a rough, breken, tiled floor. In the rear of the cell was placed a iarge window without glass, high from the ground, and closed by a row of stout iron bars. The door looking into the interior of the fortress was terribly strong, doubly locked, bolted and barred on the outside, with a barred space in the upper half extending across its whole breadth, This space was just high enough for me to converse with the sentinel outside by sticking my face against the bars. The window in rear and the open space in the door kept the cell well ven- tilated. Through the door nothing was to be seen but the kitchen and the Commandant’s quarters, Through the window, under which was the ditch of the fort, a rather pleasant view was obtainable of the eastern suburbs—such as they are—of the town, while to the south the sea and a portion of the roadstead of Manzanillo could be well seen. My gallant colleague, Mr. O'Kelly, occupied this identical cell during the greater por- tion of his imprisonment in Fort Gerona, THE INNER MAN. Mr. Lauton was s0 prompt in sending things for my comfort that they arrived at the cell nearly as soon as myself. Some chairs, a table, the inevita- ble cot bed and some refreshments, made my new billet assume an air of comfort, if not of luxury, that was quite consoling under the circumstances, Iverily believe that if one had no money or friends he might starve in a Spanish prison. No provisions, that I could see, were made for feeding prisoners, and had net the kind Lauton promptly ordered my meals from the tavern, nothing, appa- rently, would have been done to keep me from starving, INCOMMUNICADO, T was now in strict solitary confinement, incom- municado, 80 that my nearest and dearest friends on earth could no more get near me than if the proach, I slipped by unaoticed, and this danger- ous point in the road was left benind. By one of the stores at the entrance to the town ‘Were @ number of persons talking together. They gnust be passed either to the right or left, and the question was now WHICH ROAD TO TAKE, grave had opened its jaws and swallowed the poor Venant of the cet, From the times of the Inquisition—that terrible Monument Of Spanish religious lunacy—thsir code of criminal procedure dates the introduction of the order Of incommunicado. This barbarous decree Manto ngtabew sanecsace o lore! topostephy. le founded an the theory that if the acgusca were The hour had now arrived for me to ‘That meant to go straight to a military prison, Heayen knows when to emerge allowed to communicate freely with friends 8 sys- tem of evidence that might defeat the ends of justice could be concocted by the defence. Here, the law supposes that a prisoner, his counsel and friends are all perjurers; and while charging him with the commission of a crime, requires him to prove his innocence by DEPRIVING HIM OF ALL POWER AND FACILITIES FOR DEFENCE. True, after the accused has given his deposition he is then allowed tree communication, but the State has taken an unfair start and isa long way ahead of him in the proceedings, where, at every turn, he is completely at the mercy of the prose- cutor. When the boy from the tavern came with my meals he was allowed to walk into the cell, accom- panied by the sergeant of the guard, leave the meals, walk out again and wait outside until he could remove the dishes and return home. A strict watch was kept during his stay, to prevent the boy from communicating with me. I earnestly begged of the Commandant te LET ME HAVE A BOOK TO READ, any kind, even the Bible; but, notwithstanding his protests of service, under one or another pretext, the coveted means of passing away the time was withheld until the aiternoon of the second day of my incarceration, when the military at- torney detailed to try me, as a great favor allowed me to have an odd volume of @ trashy Spanish novel. As I did not smoke, and was not allowed to read, during the first and part of the second day’s imprisonment time hung heavy on my hands, The hours were passed in mentally debating my chances of life or death by sentence of court martial; whether the American government would afford me any protec- tion, and how long, under any circumstances, I would have to remain in prison. Burted in such like cogitations, I would, in the evening, mount the window sill, and, pressing my face against its cold bars, watch, with unwearying®ye, the calm, glori- ous descent of the setting sun, surrounded by the refulgent rays of his thousand glories, until, de- scending with him, they were ‘in the deep bosom of the ocean buried.” CARLIST PRISONERS ON GUARD, The troops who mounted guard in the fortress had but arrived from Spain, via Havana, the day before my arrest. They were Carlist prisoners, who, having suffered longer or shorter terms of confinement, had consented to volunteer for active aervice in Cuba rather than remain indefinitely in jail or be sent to Fernando Po. I made friends with nearly every sentinel placed at my door. They were WEARLY ALL. MERE BOYS, some of them not exceeding fourteen years old, and none over nineteen or twenty. One of them repeatedly offered to convey outside amy secret message to my friends. There was nothing very urgent, indeed, to employ the lad’s service, but had there been I would have hesitated to use him. Several of them told me confidentially that they were out in Cuba against their will,and that upon the first opportunity they would “go.” They did not say where, buta significant wag of the head and shrug of the shoulders told me it would be anywhere but to the front. They would desert, in fact. ‘THR DEPOSITIONS. On the second morning of my confinement, May 16, Majer Carrean, the military prosecutor ap- pointed to try my case, accompanied by a subordi- nate officer as clerk and the man Caceres, Alcalde of the town, entered my cell. The short courtesies exchanged were ceremonious andcold. The Major read his authority to proceed agatnst me on A CHARGE OF “INFIDENCIA” (anfaithfulness, a crime equivalent to treason) against the Spanish government. I expressed my- self ready to give my declaration, provided the United States Consular Agent were present. Caceres wanted to know if 1 were a native born or naturalized, This question he asked several times, and each time he received the answer, “AM AN AMERICAN CITIZEN.” Major Carrean said that my demand for the presence of the Consul was right and that he would have Lauton cited for the next morning, at seven o’clock, and in the meantime adjourn all preceedings unti! that hour. Caceres sneaked out in a discomfited manner and I have not seen him since, The Major and his clerk took @ friendly leave till the next morning. A THE TELEGRAPH GAGGED. Fearing that some accident might have happened to prevent my first telegrams from reaching their destinations, I requested the Commandant to ask the Governor for leave to send the HERALD the tel- gram of which the following is a translatien :— “I am prisoner in a Spanish fortress for having visited the camp of Cespedes.”” ‘The Governor replied that there was no use dis- guising the fact of my arrest being caused by going to the rebel camp without authority, and that my telegram, to be allowed to go on, must bear that acknowledgment on Its face. I had no hesitation in adding the words “without authorization” to the telegram, and returned it, trusting the message would be sent off, In a short time the Comman- dant returned, telling me that the Governor was NOT SATISFIED WITH THE PHRASEOLOGY ofthe telegram, and would retain it until one to his liking should be made out, This was provok- ing, but, determining to take things coolly, I de- sired the Commandant to write out a message in such words as he chose, and, provided it contained the sense of what I wanted to convey, in words pleasing to the Governor, I would signit. Between us We made out a telegram that we both agreed ougnt todo, and he carried itetf to the Governor. In an hour or so the Commandant returned the third time, having in his hand a note from tne Governor, which he showed me. The letter, di- vested of verbiage, circumlocution and Spanish compliments, meant to say that the form of my message not yet satis{ying him, it WOULD NOT BE PERMITTED TO GO OVER THE WIRES, with a thousand regrets, assurances, apprecta- tions, &c. My heart sunk within me at this news. Was I to be arbitrarily cut off from communication with my friends and remain here at the mercy of @ remorseless military despotism? I contented myseif with the resolution of appealing next day to the Consul. On the morning of May 18, at seven o'clock, my cell door was opened, and Major Carrean, Consul Lauton, the Count of San Luis, aide-de-camp to General Menduina, and Carreon’s clerk entered. Everything was now ready for the taking of my deposition. The man Caceres wisely did not put in an appearance. PROTESTS IN POINT. Before replying to any questions I asked the privilege to say that, while willing not to place any obstacles in the way of the proceedings, it be. came my duty to enter a couple of protests, which the prosecuting attorney could place in whatever part of the case it might be customary. I pro- tested In the first place to being tried by a mili- | tary tribunal for the reason that the United States, of which Iam a citizen, does not recognize the existence of a state of belligerency in Cuba; the Spanish government dentes that there is any state of warin the island, and, while so denying, they could not at the same time try a foreign citi- zen by a military judge, he having nothing what- ever to do with the army. In the next place, I protested against being tried on the charge of in- fidelity, or treason to the Spanish government. I am an American, and never owed any allegiance to the government ef Spain. Where NO ALLEGIANCE I8 DUR, NONE CAN BE EXACTED. Tcould not, therefore, possibly be guilty of un- faithfulness to Spain, If the charge were that of levying war against the government of Spain, or would stand; but the charge now made coulda not be sustained. The prosecuting attorney heard me ont, and said that my right of protest was well founded, but that it must be made through the United States Con- sulate and to the Governor directly, as according to the laws under which he proceeded, which could not be altered, these protests, however just in themselves, could have no place in the case that he was consulting. I recognized the justice ef his remark, and said that I was thus saved my right of protest declared myself ready to proceed ‘with the deposition. A CUNNING SPANISH FARCE. Tsubsequently fearned that while all this farce was being played out, the Governor ef Mansanillo hed | for giving ald and comfort to her enemies, then it | to release me, they having reached him the night beiore. AN ENDEAVOR TO “PUMP" THE PRISONER. The subject matter upon which they examined bore no relation whatever to! the question of my guilt or innocence of the charge of ‘‘unfaithful- ness.” On the contrary, the questions put to me were touching the manner of my getting inte the insurgent lines from Santiagode Cuba; where I had met Cespedes and the other Cuban chiefs; how many, and where they were, and how I had managed to reach Manzanillo unobserved, ‘to many of the questions asked I gave no reply what- ever, to others of them vague answers that served to save me irom being proceeded against for con- tempt of Court, but furnished not the slightest scrap of information that could be turned to the least account even by the most ingenious Spaniard, THE SUB-STORY OF A SPANISH DEFEAT. My Prosecuting Attorney, with a detachment of about two hundred and fifty men, while on escort duty to Bayamo, about three weeks before this time, had been ambuscaded and completely de- feated by the Cuban patriot General Modeste Diaz. Carreau was, therefore, very anxious to know the whereabouts of Diaz, “Who,” said the Major, “in the late fight had KIGHT HUNDRED MEN AGAINST MY ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY; and he ought, therefore, to have annihilated my whole command." Diaz, to my own certain knowledge, had less than three huptired men in the action alluded to. Finding that nothing useful could be extracted from, me, the prosecutor put a good face on mat- ters and declared the examination closed, I was glad of it; but imagine my sarprise and boundless joy to find, when the Commandant came to me, shortly afterwards, that MY RELEASE HAD BREN ORDERED. Thad the pleasure of breakfasting, a free man, with Lauton, and lost no time in obtaining a pasd for Santiago de Cuba—for which port I sailed a couple of hours after my prison.doors were opened, THR MYSTERY OF RELEASE, Before the arrest of Mr. Price, Englishmen at- tributed my release to the influence of the Ameri- can government, and the fear which they thought the Spaniards entertain of hostilities with the United States, Others think that it was due to a misunderstanding on the part of the Captain General of the true nature and gravity of the charge against me, while a few shrewd ones with whom I have conversed think that Pieltain regrets .the absurd severity of the treatment of O’Kelly by Ceballos, and which he is endeavoring to remedy without confessing openly to the world that the official conduct of his predecessor entitled the world to write that gentleman down an ass, Were it not for this the same shrewd people believe that Mr. O'Kelly would have been immediately released. As I have before said, immediately upon my re- lease I determined to set out without delay for Santiago de Cuba, where my colleague and friend, Mr. O'Kelly, was imprisoned, in order to ascertain if I could be of service to him before returning to New York. THE COSTUME OF CUBA LIBRE. Acouple of hours after getting out of prison I ‘was aboard the Villa Clara and steaming for the- port of Santiago. On board the sbip my tremen- dously seedy linen suit, torn boots and awfully broad-brimmed hat, & /a mambi, attracted a good deal more of attention than was quite agreeable. ‘The oficers and passengers seemed at a loss to make me out, but some way tt got winded about that I was the released HERALD correspondent. This discovery brought me a good many SCOWLING SIDE GLANCES from beneath lowering brows, to whicn I paid not the slightest attention. I exchanged not a word with any one during the entire trip from Manza- nillo to Santiago. The same afternoon of our departure from Man- zanillo the Captain of the ship and some officers got into a warm discussion about the manners and customs of the United States. The Captain loud. monuthedly condemned, in unmeasured terms, everything American. He lashed himself into a fearful fury of wrath; and, attempting to imitate, in his own peculiar way, some of our national traits of character, denounced ali Yankeedom as barba- Tous, savage, unctvilized and hateful in the ex- treme, I felt more sorrow than anger for the fel- low who gave this provoking EXHIBITION OF HIS OWN IGNORANCE and narrow-mindedness; but thinking that there might possibly be a trap laid to draw me into a dis- cussion and a quarrel, in order to procure my re- arrest, 1 took no notice of this preposterous out- rage on the rights and feelings of inoffensive trav- ellers—by the very man, too, who should be the first to protect from insult passengers of all na- tionalities, placed temporarily under his care. Travelling Americans should not, by any mistake, get on bohrd the steamer Villa Clara, SANTIAGO DE CUBA. The next morning, May 18, we passed the Morro Castile at daylight and steamed up the magnificent and very picturesque bay of Santiago de Cuba. Upon disembarking I went straight to the United States Consulate. The Vice Consul, Mr. Schmit, was already stirring, and just on his way over to the hotel of Consul Young, to accompany that gen- tleman to the Morro Castle, on a visit to Mr. O'Kelly. The Consul was already aware that I had been released and expected my coming. It was my ardent desire to accompany these gentlemen to see Mr. O’Ketly, but I was obliged to postpone the visit until next day, because of the difficulty in immediately procuring a pass, and the fact that the Governor of the Morro Castle would admit no one excepting by an order irom the General, MORE SPANISH COURTESY. At night I accempanied Consul Young to pay my respects to the General commanding the district. He received us very ceremoniously, but graciously, Through him { thanked the Spanish authorities for the promptitude with which my case had been despatched in Manzanillo. The General wreathed his face with a variety of smiles at this compli- ment, unwarranted, perhaps, to his fellow oficials. He is a bright, dapper ilttle fellow of about forty, with a good, restless brown eye, and as nimble and exactingly polite as a French dancing master. He at once acceded tomy request for permission to see Mr. O'Kelly. This being the object of my call, it was not deemed prudent or convenient to at- tempt to interview the little gentleman, THE ARCHBISHOP of Santiago de Cuba and three or four other per- sons prominent in local affairs were with the Gen- eral His Eminence looked benignantly and con- descendingly enough upon us, wreathing his rubi- cund visage in a multitude of what were intended to be pleasant and patronizing smiles. The Arch- bishop is a large man in every sense of the word, more particularly with regard to his girtn than his stature. He is a man of about fifty, of command- ing presence, with a good Spanish eye and a weil- shaped head. He was dressed, not to speak it pro- fanely, in the uniform of his order and rank, lintended going early the next aay to the Morro Castie, but had to wait on the Chief of Stat, Colonel Martinez, to receive the permit; also for Consul Young, who kindly agreed to accompany me, but who was detailed in his room between three and four hours in giving a long deposition to the military prosecutor, or jiscal, in Mr. O’Kelly’s case. The object of this examination seemed to be to find out if Mr. Young knew of the existence of ANY CIPHER OR KEY by which Mr. O’Kelley conducted his correspond- ence with the HeRaLD and with Mr. Price, and also to learn if Mr. Young was acquainted with any of the Cuban leaders in Santiago. THE MORRO CASTLE fs about an hour's easy and pleasant drive frem Santiago de Cuba. It is perched upon a rocky steep on the south side of the entrance to the bay of that name. Itis an irregularly traced perma- nent work, belonging to the style of military archi- tecture of the early part of the last century. Ad- vantage has been taken of the shelving recesses in the rock to lay the foundations of walls once formidable, now crumbling and inadequate to re- sist the shock of modern artillery. Its guns are old smooth-bore pieces of small calibre, generally of brass, I saw a few iron eighteen and twenty- four pounders and a thirteen-inch brass mortar. I was not, however, over all the works of the that might be looked upon in any country. To the south and east, far below the feet of the spectator, glisten and shimmer the bright, blue waters of the ocean, stretching their silvery expanses to the confines of the aistant horizon. To the west, the lofty, tree-clad range of the Cobre Mountains rises its dizzy peaks in the ethereal blue of the cloud- less sky. The flood of effaigent tropical light that bathes their rugged slopes shows the majestic forms of these giant sentinels of the coast, in a variety of shape and shade, exquisitely grand and beautiful. To the north lie the silvery, smiling waters of tne bay, with the handsome city of San- tiago de Cuba, pleasantly situated on a msing ground at its northern extremity. The vessels of many nations show their muitiform ensigns from tall, shipmast tops, and a goodly line of moun- tains, crowned by the blockhouse forts of the Spanish troops, forms a meet background to the picture. : HALTED, We reached the Morro; and after the vexatious delay of being halted by an avanced sentinel, at least two hundred yards from the glacis, we were conducted to the quarters of the Commandant, Captain Martinez. I had known the gentleman betore. He received us with courtesy and kind- ness, offering refreshments and instructing an officer to at once accompany us to Mr. O’Kelly’s cell. . THE PRISON. The old drawbrige creaked and swung en its Trusty hinges as we followed our guide over the main ditch of the fortress, through alow and deep sally port cut threugh the ramparts and riveted with masonry, into the body of the plage, past the main guard, through a couple of posterns and up to the tron-studded and barred door of a casemate, Having obtained the key, our guide applied it to the stout, rusty lock. A chill of horror flashed across my mind asI thought of the poor fellow jmmured within and of my own recent release from asimilar dungeon. The heavy door swung | back and the next moment THE FIRM, FRIENDLY GRASP OF 0’KELLY'S HAND was in mine. Mutual greetings of a, mutually pleasant nature were rapidly exchanged between us, to the utter forgetfulness—at least on my part—of the presence either of Consul Young or the Spanish officer who accompanied us. O'RELLY’S CBLL, ‘The casemate in which Mr. O’Kelly was confined is about twenty feet long by fourteen feet wide. The arched ceiling appeared to be about ten feet high. A strongly iron-barred, unglazed window let in noth light and air. This aperture in the mas- sive masonry is about two and a half feet high by twenty inches wide. The walls are whitewashed and bare, the floor dry and formed of a hard con- glomerate of gravel and lime. Three chairs, includ- ing a recker, a canvas-bottomed cot bed, a smail table, with some books and writing materials, formed the furniture of this unique establishment, The prisoner was allowed two hours’ exercise out of the twenty-four. He had not yet been out, so that we came in good time to accompany him round the ramparts. it ought to be mentioned that he was allowed to board him- self. As O’Kelly stood up to go out of the cell he straightened himself, passing his hand up his fore- head and running his fingers through his hair. I noticed that he LOOKED A LITTLE PALER and a shade thinner than when last we met, but the same fire that burned in his eye and lighted up his countenance as our animated conversation progressed showed that long imprisonment and many hardships had peen unable to bend the spirit. Mr. O’Kelly said that in the Morro he was much better treated than in Fort Gerbna. The officers, so far as lay in their power, seemed to be attentive and considerate, But no progress was being made with his trial. THE LUKEWARMNESS OF THE BRITISH CONSUL GENERAL, Dunlop, and of the Vice Consul, Ramsden, of Santi- ago de Cuba, was the principal cause of his long incarceration, Turning to me, O'Kelly emphati- cally remarked :— “IT look upon Dunlop and Ramsden as being my real jailers.” He then proceeded to recount some of the indig- nities put upon him in Manzanillo. In his own ary, ironical way he amused us by painting the hypocrisy and malicious cunning of the man Careres, the Alcalde of Manzanilio. He went over THE HARDSHIPS SUFFERED IN THE OLD CELL in Fort Gerona—the one that I subsequently in- habited for a couple of dreary days. He recounted the sleepless nights passed with an armed sentry by his bedside, who was relieved every half hour with the slamming of the cell door, the ringing arms and the hoarsely whispered order to prick him with the bayonet—picarle con la bayoneta—if he moved during the night. He related the fact of having thrust into his cell at one time a criminal, and upon another occasion a drunken man. The latter became furious with intoxicated madness, and it became necessary to have him bound and placed in a separate cell, FEARING HE MIGHT HURT THE SENTINEL. But no fears appear to have been entertained that the defenceless prisoner might be grievously injured. He vividly painted the incidents of the night when they removed him on ship board, bound with a file of soldiers on either side, and one following close behind holding the end of the rope. Mr. Hippisley, the Commander of the British war sloop Plover, had treated him kindly, and through his interference Mr. O’Kelly had been removed to better quarters in Fort Gerona. He believed that if Hippisley had the power and aa- thority to act that oficer would have brought him home at all hazards. A PRYING PRELATE. His Eminence the Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba, accompanied by some other persons, went to the Morro Castle to see Mr. O'Kelly. “But,” said that gentieman, “they did not come to pay me a friendly visit, sending their names so that I might know that the call was intended for me; they stood at a distance and eyed me like some natural curiosity that was a treat to behold, so I decidedly and without remorse turned my back on the Archbishop and his friends.” Taking a friendly leave of Mr. O'Kelly, it was with the impression that we would not meet again in the island, , A BRITISH OPINION. It is worthy of record that in conversation, after my release from prison, Commander hippisley re- marked to Vice Consul Ramsden :— “British influence can do nothing here; you and I, Ramsden, had better take out our naturalization papers and become American citizens.” “T think 80, too,” assented Ramsden. Upon another occasion the irreppressible and irate uippisley remarked :— “Only think of it! That confounded Millen re- leased after two days’ imprisonment, and he charged with the same offence as Mr. O'Kelly, who is treated with such rigor; and all because Millen happens to be an American citizen. It’s preposterous.”’ The fact is that my prompt release was looked upon with great dissatisfaction by British repre- sentatives in the island, because they saw in ita proof of American influence with the Spaniards and a sign of wholesome fear entertained by them of the American people. A FELLOW PASSENGER. The night before sailing (or Havana I learned that Mr. O'Kelly was to be taken to that city, where, it was generally belleved at the time, he ‘would be liberated. By a lucky accident we were to sail in the same steamer. On our way down the bay the Villa Ciara stopped in front of the Morro Castle, whence Mr. 0’Kelly was taken aboard. He was delivered over to the charge of Major Fernan- dez and two policemen. Mr. A. N. Young, Unived States Consul, Mr. F. W. Ramsden, British Vice Consul, Commander Hippisley and two other oMcers of the Plover came with him, and took their leave aboard the steamer. THE JOURNEY TO HAVANA. No restraint whatever was put upon Mr. O’Kelly’s actions on the way between Santiago de Cuba and Havana, He and I were uninterruptedly together on the steamer and on the cars, and, 80 far as I could ascertain, Major Ferrandes en- deavered to discharge his duty as inoffensively and in the least possible manner caloulated to wound his prisoner's feelings. The obnoxious policemen were only seen at sistance, of, when route, were conveniently placed in some-corner, 80 that they could see without being seen. ‘ ‘On the evening of the 25th of last month Mr. O'Kelly and [ arrived in Havana. While he went to the office of the Ohief of Staf, in the Captaim General's palace, 1 set out to find Mr, Leopold Price, the Hsgap's regular corres) tin thie city. Great was my astonishment to that HE, 100, WAS A PRISONER in solitary confinement {gr the past four or five days. Mr. Springer, of the United States Com- sulate General, went with me, and imparted the particulars of the arreat to Mr. O'Kelly. Here took final leave of my colleague, mtending to start by the first steamer for New York. The next morning I ascertained that Mr. O'Kelly was suddenly again placed in solitary confinement, and that Mr. Price continued in the same evate. Under these circumstances 1 could do absolutely nothing for either prisoner; not even Consul General Torbert could see them, In the evening, ascertaining that Mr. Price’s deposition having been taken, he was allowed to see his friends, his family were going to see him the next morning and I determined to go also. FORT CABANAS. ‘The morning followshg, at seven o'clock, I jumped into a boat and was transported across the harbor to the foot of Fort Cabanas, where Price and O'Kelly were both confined. It is a strong fortress,’ built ona blud, on the north aide of the harbor, commanding and protecting the city of Havans. Like the other Spstilsh works on the island, it is of very old standing, wretchedly out of order and totally unfit to offer any formidable resistance te modern artillery. [did not see any guns mounted on either the casemate or Narbette batteries withim view. ' After wending for some time through chasms of strong masonry and yawning gateways I was stopped by a sentinel, who demanded my business, Upon seeing the officer of the guard he said that MR. PRICE COULD BE SEEN, BUT NOT MR. O'KELLY. ‘They were in that part of the fort which is used as a military prison, near the main guard, in the body. of the plage.” Sa ae fines MR, PRICR’S CELL isa bomb proof about thirty feet tong by eighteen! feet wide, arched overhead and closed in the rears while in the front tt looks across a dreary court yard at a similar cell, or at an unpleasant looking. stone wall. His habitation rejoices in the posses- sion of two large iron-barred, unglazed windows, with an awfally forbidding looking door betweem them. The floor of the cell is hard, though not quite ary. A thriving colony of rats, assisted by) ®& populous nest of cockroaches, have succeeded im beguiling the wakeful hours of Mr. Price, in a‘man- ner hardly to be appreciated. The omnipresent cot bed, a few chairs, a small table and some books’ ornamented this cheerful dwelling. A FAMILY MEETING. It was a sad and touching sight to see the frank, honest face’ of Mr. Price, the very image of resigned and suffering innocence, turm towards me from the midst of his amiable and suffering family, extending the hand of good fellowship and welcome to his solitary cell. WHO CAUSED THE ARREST f All that I could learn touching Mr. Price’s arrest was that the military prosecutor conducting Mr.. O’Kelly’s case had caused it. No reason was given, to justify the proceeding, but from the nature of the questions asked the prisoner in giving his declaration, it appeared to be to find out the na- ture and extent of his correspondence with Mr. O'Kelly ; if they used a key or cipher, and if any UNDERGROUND MESSAGES were habitually ferwarded to the HERALD. These, briefly, are the questions, so far as I know, to re- solve which Price was Illegally thrown into prison. Mr. Price bore his imprisonment with fertitude and manliness, but was evidently mueh pressed by the weight of his misfortune. Mrs. Price, two fine little fellows, her sons, and her sisters were greatly afflicted because of the temporary sufferings of Mr Price, but consoled themseives with the idea that his imprisonment would last only for a few days longer. SPANISH MRANNES3 AND CRUELTY. I was grieved tolearn from Mr. Price that the night before last Mr. O'Kelly aad slept on the rough, damp ground of his cell floor, not having a bed, but that last night an officer had been induced FOR A CONSIDERATION to let him have one. The officer also told Mr. Price that Mr. O'Kelly was confined in a horrible cell, without any floor save the wet ground, and that if kept there many days it would be the death of him. This will convey the contemptible vengeance whicha Spanish officer can take and how he can turn a dishonest penny without shame. Knowing that I could do nothing myself, and could not prudently venture to see the authorities, Iim- mediately went to the British Consulate and re- lated the whole story of Mr. O’Kelly’s present suf ferings to Mr. Crawford, who is acting in place of Mr. Dunlop. THE ACTING BRITISH CONSUL GENERAL appeared neither to have. sympathy nor pity for the prisoner. He said:— “Mr. O'Kelly put bis nose in the business; not only so, but his whole face.” To this unfeeling remark I was too indignant to reply. Crawford deliberately said that he WOULD NOT MOVE HAND OR FOOT excepting to save Mr. O’Kelly’s life, because the imprudent and inconsiderate course observed by himin the island had brought about all the difi- culties with the authorities; that foreigners had no right toexpect one law for them and another for the people of the vountry. A VERY PRO-SPANISH OFFICIAL, * In coming to Cuba people must abide by the laws and not try to twist them to the suiting of individ- uals. If the authorities threw their own people into prison any length of time without specifying charges, foreigners were liable to the same treat- ment. demurred to this proposition, but that did not signify to Orawford. “By the way,” said Consul Crawford, ‘you were lucky; you had a narrow escape; how did you manage to get out of prison so speedily?” “That,” said I, “you must inquire of the Captaim General; tor I can only tell you that after my depo- sition, which was taken in presence of the United States Viee Consular Agent, Mr. Lauton, I wag released.” Crawford admitted that he wag advised by letter from Mr, Vice Consul Ramsden of Mr. O’Kelly’s coming to Havana; that the letter had reached him before ten o’clock on the morning of the 26th— the arrival being on the night of the 25th—but that no steps whatever had been taken in favor of the prisoner, He mumbled out that if Mr. Ramsden had telegraphed in time something might have been done. He would now write to the proper crtiaeds and try to get admission to see ir. O'Kelly. Upon returning to my hotel I found a message; from Major Fernandez, desiring me to go to his: quarters and receive O’Kelly’s baggage. Until) that moment I thought that his things, being in the hands of the government, had, of course, beem given to him for use in his cell. Reach! the Major's quarters I found that he had gone out an@ would not return until late that ent. My first care next day was to get Mr. O'Kelly’ and take it to the British Consulate to have it sent to Fort Cabana without delay. Positively nothing: had yet been done for poor O'Kelly. THE CAPTAIN GENERAL'S SARCASM. Consul Crawford satd that he had been speaking to the Captain General about my case, and that His Excellency intimated the fact of my being re- leased under an erroneous im) ion as to the merits of the case. Crawford argued that there was no difference between Mr. O’Kelly’s case and mine, and he could not understand why an Ameri- can should be released and a British subject kept in prison under one and the same set of circum- stances, The Captain General replied that if Con- Ree FORMAL INFORMATION AGAINST MB LODGED A he would order er ate This, the smilin; Crawford blandly informed me, he did not inten doing. In fact, mpeeeroney made me a present favor of my of tl iberty, my, arrest would fi ho way assist the case of Mr. O'Kelly, To this tt, was duty, as an American and as a man, to reply that, 1 was obliged fer his good intentions, but f NOT ENJOYING MY LIBERTY oN SUFFRRANCE therefore advised him not to one, and spare mi if it should be tound that my govern- tone did’ not afford the protegtion to ¥ ich alk cans are entitled, I was red to unde: — t AN arbitrary and illegal in its caprice and the whim of the hatever ome! caging mime. The Consul slided i1 diselaimer of sinister intentions; but te EVIDENTLY HE WAS NOT PLEASED that Americans should not be treated with the ut- most of the barbarous military laws under le have Neal poy ~ groaned until patience RXPLANATORY. Here let me put it on record that Mr. one ent in connection with or indirect, that him to