The New York Herald Newspaper, June 16, 1873, Page 3

| ——— LS ee eS eens ———— CESPEDES. The Herald’s “Secret Commis- sioner in the Cuban Presi- dent’s Camp. CUBA LIBRE MILITANT. Long and Toilsome Tramp to Gain the Goal. BEAUTY IN NATURE---HARD FARE ON FOOT Midnight Marches Through the Trackless Wild. WATCHWORD AND REPLY. “Halt! Who Comes There?” “Cuba Libre.” THE FOOD OF THE FREE. Dried Beef, Chocolate and Sweet Potatoes— Wood Rats, Heart of the Palm Tree Tops, Oranges and Bananas. A TRAVELLING GOVERNMENT. Its Inconveniences to Interview- ers---Its Necessity. CESPEDES AT LAST. His Views on the Subject of the War of Independence. ‘Che Proposed Purchase of the Island. What is Thought of Annexation and the Conduct of Our Government. THE CASE OF THE PIONEER. A Presidential Opinion of Luke- warm Patriots. ‘THE CONFEDERATION SCHEME. Desertions to the Insurgents from the Ranks of the Volunteers. A BALL IN THE CAMP. Al Fresco Dancing---The “Music The Tumbandero. ATTEMPT TO LEAVE FOR JAMAICA. A Canoe That Was Ship- wrecked on Shore. RESOLVES TO SURRENDER. A Night of Anxiety—Sudden Appearance of the Volunteer Guides, Graphic and Exciting Picture of the In- ner Life of “the Struggle at Gur Doors.” At the time of my leaving Santiago de Cuba for the Insurgent lines it was believed by friends there that Cespedes was in the camp of Calixto Garcia, Or at least a few miles from there. Hence it wasa great disappointment to find, upon my arrival, that he had left some time before for the district of Bayamo, and, it being his custom to stay but a few days in cach halting ground, it was impossible to to say at all times where he could be found. The ‘ofMicers, and even the soldiers, nearly always knew that the President was in a certain part of a eertain district, bat not the precise locality. This Circumstance arose from the distance between Garcia’s camp and that of Cespedes, and did not originate in a desire or attempt to conceal the Movements of the Executive. For imstance, in Gua, where I saw Cespedes, his camp was ata distance of about three leagues from the general headquarters of Modesto Diaz, and every soldier, or camp follower for that part of it, kaew very ‘well just WHERE THE PRESIDENT Was, For these reasons, and because of the unexpected Operations practised by the Spaniards, I had been delayed in the camp of Calixto Garcia from the 17th of March till the 24 of April, There was an adat. tional motive—that of waiting for the courter from Santiago. It was no easy task to make a march on foot from the Yaya, on the Cauto, to Gud, in Man- fanillo, Leagues of dense forest, bare savanna, high mountains, deep gullies and rapid streams Were to be passed. The most exacting vigilance of the enemy’s movements had to be maintained all the way, and numerous posts of the watchful foe passed. To accomplish this a distance of OVER TWO HUNDRED MILES HAD TO BE TRAVERSED because of the curves and angles that bad to be made to travel 4 distance of about ninety miles on the direct road, Instead of going directly across Piguani and Bayamo it was necessary to bend our course to the south, west*of La Caridad, east of El Horno, Guisa, Datil and other fortified Spanish Hosts, all the time in danger of being pounced Upon by any scouting party or prowling detach- ment from these places, and to be captured was sertain death. THR SECRET COMMISSIONBR'S ESCORT. » SIX men, three oMcers, four servants and your ‘commissioner formed our party that started from the Yaya on the afternoon of April 2. The officer in charge—Captain St. Estevan—had care of the correspondence and A PACKAGE OF HRRALDS Sor Cespedes, all of which were done up in a bag and carried by one of the aaiers, For a journey Of this kind, aa there were little or no provisions NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, JUNE 16, 1873.—TRIPLE SHEET. on the roaa, one would naturally expect that some preparations would be made for taking food along with the party; but the Cubans seldom think of such materiakmatters,|and on the present occasion, if the commissary department was not altogether lost sight of and fergotten, it was at least sadly neglected. Our route lay for a sbort distance along the nerth bank of the Cauto, We passed, intact, Calvar’s camp, which was abandoned on the 234 of March. The little huts were undisturbed as when we left them; but the silence and lpneliness that reigned around in that calm, quiet evening struck a sad and melancholy feeling to the pensive heart, ag though we were traversing the deserted streets of y A CITY OF THE DEAD. About an hour’s travel east of the Dos Bocas, and of the junction of the Cauto and Contramestra Rivers, we passed the former stream for the last time. My servant carried me across on his back. We were now on the borders of Jiguani and San- Uago, but eon took leave of the latter district and entered aefinitely the territory of the former. Night soon overtook us, but as there was a glori- ous moon, whose silvery light sometimes pene- trated the depths of the forest, we determined to continue the march by the additional light of crude wax candles, of which there were a few among us. This determination became all tle more !m- perative from the fact on that day THE, PRESENCE OF THE SPANIARDS, was reported near the abandoned camp of Dos Rios, thugugh which we mast pass. This place we entered after having reconnoitred it, alter ten o’clock at night. It had been a large, square camp, evidently constructed with care. We found it burned to the ground, a deserted and desolate masa ofcinders and ashes. A few weeks ago it afforded quarters to 800 Cubans, but wes aban- doned by them and burned during the late opera- tions by the Spantards, We intended reaching Eb Salado, about twenty-five miles south of the La Yaya, but, having to make along march on the morrow, deemed it best to CAMP IN TIE WOODS. Striking, therefore, off the trail, we cut away about two nundred yards into the mazes of the forest, and, clearing a space, hammocks were slung and @ fire lighted, General Garcia had sent tomy servant belore starting several strings of dried beef and some sweet potatoes, a present to himself from Colonel Sanchez. This enabled the officers and myself to have a splendid meal, after which we slept as soundly as tops, forgetting the probable proximity of the Spaniards and the con- sequent dangers that surrounded us. The ensuing morning we were on the road at half-past five o’clock, and reached El Salado near nine, At one time there had been families and homes in the Salado, but they were things of the past; they had, been swept into nothingness by the tide of war and now the name merely signified a locality. But there was @ Sub-Prefecture established in the woods near here, that only our guide could find, THE GUIDE is @ personage of the utmost importance in Cuba. Without him nothing can be done; the setting out ona march, the changing of a camp, the move- ment and route of the troops—all must depend on the guide, Without him, not knowing the miracu- lously intricate windings of the paths and trails of Cuba Libre, one might as weil sit down in despair on the read. From point to point he is chanved, and the guide of to-day delivers the party he has charge of into the hands of another to-morrow, and returns to bis post. Our guide here, after some beating about in the woods, found the Sub-Prefect, ‘who was to guide us in the afternoon. We had a Jong march to make, in order to reach the ‘Camino Real de la Isla’—the high road of the island—and leave it behind as far as possible. It was one of the most dangerous crossings on the march and had to be approached with silence and caution; for it was constantly patrolled by the Spaniards, who had a series of detachments planted along it 70 GUARD THE LINE OF TELEGRAPH constantly threatened and frequently cut by the Cubans. One o’clock P. M, saw us upon the road, through an open savannah among the tall guinea grass that reflected with terrible force the vertical rays of a tropical sun. Passing along again under the cool arcade of thé sheltering Wovts and along towards the high road, at an angle in the trail, suddenly the soldier we had in advance shouted “SALT! WHO COMES THERE?” and brought his piece to the ready. His movement was quickly imitated by the others, who quickly put themselves in a posture of defence, thinking that the enemy were upon us. The party challenged also prepared for fight, and responded with the glad words, “CUBA LIBRE!’, The parties remained in this attitude while their respective corporals advanced towards each other to satisfy themselves that all was right, and in a few minutes were mixing with each other in the most fraternal way. The new comers were a small detachment escorting a courier with correspond- ence from Oespedes and from Modesto Diaz to Calixto Garcia, They were under command of a negro lieutenant, and had been eleven days on the road from the seat of government, near Zarral. They confirmed the truth of the report that the volunteers of forts Calisito and Congo had passed over tothe Cubans, with their arms and ammuni- tion, &c., bringing with them as prisoner their commander, @ Spanish major. CROSSING THE HIGH ROAD. Approaching the high road, the guide and two men were sent forward to reconnoitre. The road just then was clear, as it happened, and we passed without any adventure. It was picturesque, doubt- less, the manner of our crossing. The road ran broad and grass-grown, between forests far ex- tending on either aide; our trail crossing it eb- liquely, was faintly marked, so as hardly to be per- ceived. We crossed rapidly, following each other in single file, each man with his arms prepared for instant action. On the roadside, opposite to our entrance, separated by the trail, the Corporal and a soldier were in a kneeling position, one behind a little bush and the other in the clear space, still as statues of stone, with rifles prepared, in the attitude of breathless watchfulness, scan- ning the road in different directions, while we filed through between them, they closing up the rear when we had passed. We plunged into the forest with a speed that threatened danger can only impart, and rapidly put leagues between us and the “Camino Real de la Isla,” or high road. Alter nightfall OUR GUIDE LOST HIS WAY, and we wandered about in the woods until near midnight, when, perspiring with toil, weary, thirsty, hungry, we came to a halt near the cross- ing ofa half dried up stream, in an exposed posti- tion, a few yards from the roadside. Candle light was used the next morning to show the way be- fore daybreak. We had now passed a good por- tion of Southern Jiguani, were in a rolling and broken country, approaching the mountains. At sunrise the Cobre road was reached at a distance of about fourteen leagues west and inland from Santiago. As we journeyed a couple of miles cast- ward along it, our steps covered THE FRESH TRACKS OF THE SPANIARDS that had been made the night before. We might suddenly come upon them round the next curve of the road; but our route lay that way; there was no other and we had to take it. Luckily it was clear, A short distance west of the Cobre road we passed the Guanomao River, where I noticed what seemed to be a good deposit of marble. At eleven o'clock, near Limnones, we had to ford the Contramacstre River, to do which it was necessary to UNDRBSS AND WADE ABOVE THE WAIST, through its clear, deliciously cool waters. We s00n came to an instancia, or clearing in the wood, the new home of a Cuban family, where we passed the night. Five o’clock the next morning saw us on the road west from Simones, through some pleasing and pretty scenery, reaching the Magote River for our mid-day rest. After five o'clock we got to Arrayou, where Cespedes had passed some time while on his way to the camp of Modesto Diaz. It was near Arroyou where Mr. O’Keily had THE FIRST INTERVIEW WITH CEsPEDRS. We had marched about twenty-eight miles that day, We had climbed the rugged sides of Mount Bias, from whose summit, threugh the opening of the branches of the umbrageous trees, I looked With delight into the broad yalley beneath, in the Gireetion of Jiguani town, on the right, and on the left into a system of high mountains and deep ravines, whose sun-lit faces and shady aldes were here and there scarred and furrowed by the increasing clearings of the numerous Cuban fami- lies who bad sought refuge in these fastnesses. These people were. MAKING THE WILDERNESS RLOOM with rich crops in places where the Spanish sol- diery never set foot; places whose approaches and outlets were only known to the sons of Cuba Libre, but whose rapidly increasing refuge and resources would enable the patriots to maintain unfurled the banner of Cuban autonomy. THE SINEWS OF THE WAR, APRIL &,—We reached the headquarters of Colonel Benjamin Ramirez, commanding the sub-district of South Jig . This oMcer is intelligent and energetic, heen two years in the clearing (or tstancia) where we found him. He has caused his men and the many familles living in his district to ooo sitet as he hag don. They neve che lowed nls good example. The reguit is that the mountain aides are fertile to the very tops and blooming witn flourishing crops of sweet potatoes, yuca, corn and tobacco, and families formerly starving, whom the vengeance of Valmaseda drove into these at first desert places, are now in a position to not only help themeelves, but to lend some aid to their fel- low patriots in the field. This system of cultiva- tion receives the protection of the Cuban govern- ment, and is gradually extending itself into the other districts where itis practicable. When, in addition to this means of support, it ts considered that the Cuban forces endeavor to live as much as possible by foraging from their enemics, it will be readily understood how they have been able to keep the feld for nearly five years, and why their means of attack and chances of success are EVERY DAY BETTERING. Ramirez has blished a powder factory. He showed me some of the grains. It certainly was not of the finest quality, but answered pretty well in case of emergency. For this purpose he had a lot of men engaged in extracting saltpetre from guano, found in large quantities in the caves of certain localities, It was this oMfcer who escorted Mr. O'Kelly from the camp of Calixto Garcia to near Arrayou, where he met Cespedes. The next day two leagues’ travel over terrible mountains bronght us to the house of Palenque, at the foot of the mountain known as the Giant, and said by those who live nearby to be nextto Turquino, the highest mountain in Cuba, APRIL 10.—We leit Palenque’s at six o’clock A. M. and soon reached the foot of the Giant, Before starting 1 had @ slim breakfast on CHOCOLATE AND COLD ROASTED SWEET POTATOES, At nine o’clock we reached the River Guisa, Here we had a rest, and the guide went and found some wild honey, upon which I fared sumptuously, Passing around the feet of the terrible Giant, over his forest-covered legs, up his rock-bound, rugged sides, mounting his pine-clad chest, wearily struggling through his tangled beard, wringing with perspiration and panting for breath, now struggling with hand and foot—fighting the mon- ster “tooth and nail” as it were—until at last, fainting with fatigue, but triumphant with success, we planted our aching feet upon THE GIANT'S PROSTRATE HEAD. Near the summit of the Giant, through openings between the branches of the tall trees, some of which looked like shrubs in the distant depths of the abyss beneath our feet, the several towns and cities of Bayamo, Holguin, Jig- uani, Guisa and even Tunas, were pointed out in the great valley below that spread out before us like a birds-eye view of a whole king- dom. It took usa struggle of five long hours to successfully wrestle with this colossal mountain, Even at the summit of the Giant—an elevation that cannot be less than six thousand feet—the charac- ter of the trees, plants and shrubs seenfed to dtifer but little from that of the vegetation found in the valleys below. And even almost so high as the head peak of the Giant I have been told that crops of all kinds raised on the island could be cultivated, A good way down the western side of the Giant lob served a large clump of pine trees, which I had rather expected to see at the top of the mountain, Both the ascent and descent are extremely dimicult, and toilsome. In.the afternoon we reached the’ Guam4 River and camped at a rancho in @ secluded and picturesque spot on its eastern bank. The next day’s march, from Cebolla Blanca to Hormas, on the Guama River, a distance of about eighteen miles, was not less interesting or pic- turesque than the journey of the day before. . Our line of march lay down THE BED OF THR GUAMA RIVER, over sach rocky angles and bonider-blocked passes as only those who have seen California or the Rocky Mountains could imagine. We had to leap and spring over pointed rocks and slippery stones, swing ourselves over deep chasms and leap swift torrents, in @ fashion that would be no disgrace to an acrobat. My stout New York gaiters, although heavy and wearisome—they were the only boots in the party—had protected my feet well along the road. This had been noticed by an envious young imp ofa negro soldier, who saw me slipping and struggling over the abrupt rocks, when he showed his ivories in a broad grin, maliciously exclaiming, “Ah, hal Sejor, aqui los zapatos no valen.’? (SHORS ARE NO USE HERE, SIR.) But I paid the wretch off in the afternoon, for when he slipped from a mossy stone and plumped into the pool beyond, 1 exclaimed, “Ah, ha! mi amigo, los descalsus aqui no valen.” (My friend, barefooted people are no use here.) He good navuredly joined his companions in the laugh that ‘was against him. On the night before we had THE HEART OF THE PALMTREE TOP FOR SUPPER. This morning @ little piece more of it and a drink of water for breakfast, About the middle of the day wecame across a sweet orange tree loaded with its yellow, luscious fruit, nodding to the breeze, that would have set crazy the caterer of Delmonico, In a trice the fruit and the branches bearing # were cut from the mother trunk and de- voured with avidity. Arriving at Hormas there was no guide to take us on to Corajo, and there was a prospect of being detained on that account, perhaps, ton or fifteen days. The next morning @ messenger was sent back to Cebolla Blanca to try and get a guide there. On the way the important person sought for was met and brought back to camp in triumph. He gave us fresh news of tle whereabouts of C pedes, saying that the President was IN YARAGUAY, AND NOT IN YARAYAGUAS. That did not matter much to us, both places being in the sub-district of Zarzal, whither we were bound. The day after finding our new guide we continued the march from Hormas, descending from the mountains and passing the rivers Guisa and Bayamo, the former within four leagues of the town of that name. We passed some pieces of lovely scenery in the interesting foot hill country of this district. We saw many rich spots, where the rich istancias of other days lay mouldering in charred ruins. The midday hour and siesta were passed in Corajo. We halted for the night in the woods, near a place called Cayito, Resuming our march from Cayito we came across a newly planted Cuban cordon, a detached post in the woods. It consisted of two men, whose duty it was to perform the services of couriers and guides. They told us it was about TWELVE LEAGUES TO THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT, and that we could get there to-morrow. The rascals lied, though perhaps they did not know it. Here our guides relieved each other. The new one took us to anear-by sugar-cane field, where the men ate to their entire satisfaction. The new guide broke the cane and squeezed the juice (deuce) out of into @ cocoanut cup, from which I drank heartily. At this part of our journey we were near the Spanish fort of El Datil, and hence nad to cou- tinue the route with great caution, _ A SPANISH COW TRAP. Going through the grounds of a ruined istancia, just after fording the Bayamo River, we came across a cable trap, or snare, artfully and newly , set, inatrail, 80 as to catch the first cow that might pass. It was the Spaniards, who could not be far off, that had adopted this means of supply- ing themselves with butcher's meat. On this aiter- noon we passed some of the most enchanting scenery of the kind I have ever seen. Gentle, un- dulating bills, with Paradisiacal valleys between, all covered with the majestic and graceful royal palm. Groves of cocoanut trees, fruit trees of the most exquisite kinds, as nisperos, manzana rosa, caimita, guanavano, mango, juayava, mama, all in Plentiful profusion. Inever before met a spot on earth that so brought before my imagination the fabled Paradise of Moses as that tract of country lying between Potrero and Jicotea. A HARD TASK. . APRIL 13.—Left Jicotea to climb a five-mile moun--| tain on an empty stomach, getting to Manaca, in the mountains, early. Here I met General Marcus Garcia and Colonel Juan B. Spoturns—both mem- bers of the Cuban Congress and both from the Cinco Villas district. They were on their way to the residence of the Executive; but as both were suffering from ulcers (Wagas) in the legs or feet, they could only walk a short distance daily, and had been 4 month on the way from Garcia’s camp to this point. I had an interesting conversation ‘With both geutiemen, who say that the Spaniards mhst evacuate the island or exterminate the peo- They both favor THE DOCTRINE OF ANNEXING CUBA to the United States. When we were approaching the house of the corporal in charge of the post the ‘Women mistook us for Spaniards and fed in fright tothe mountains, but, finally, being convinced of their error, came back, I dined on a broiled rib of beef, without salt, and chocolate; supped on the same description of meat, with honey instead of the chocolate. Leaving here we were greatly dis- appointed to learn that the Cuban government bad left Yaragabua and gone to the sub-district of Gud, fifteen or twenty leagues further south, in Manzanillo, I began to think the Cuban govern- ment AN IGNIS FaTUUS that could never pe caught, The next day’s march, though short, was over a terribly trying piece of Mountain. On the way we met the command of Captain Augustin Acosta, of Calixto Garcia's forces, on his way back from the camp of Modesto Diaz, whither he had gone to escort the Executive from Jiguani to Manzanillo. We climbed Devil Mountain and SAW THE LITTLE DEVIL HIMSELF, @l Diadlito; but that is nothing, gentle reader, 1 have passed Purgatory several times and have been near Hell—el Inferno—since coming to Cuba; so that Ican no longer doubt the existence of these two celebrated places. The task that was left for the following day lay over as mountainous, pre- cipitous and broken a road as any we had yet trav- elled. But it did not matter; the day after we Would be at our journey’s end, and that was balm to all our wounds or brulses, mental or physical. We climbed early the Cerro Pelou de San Juan, or BALD MOUNTAIN OF 8T, JOHN. From the top of it the great savannas of Manza- illo lay to the west and north, aud to the east and south the imposing range of the Sierra Maestra, with its pine glades far beneath our feet. The unclouded sun shot his searching rays of cheering light into many a chasm and crevice in the mountain’s side, gilding their tops witha glory peculiar to themselves, In our front the wide savanna, level as a book leaf, in- terspersed here and there with clumps of palm trees, threads of woodland and patches of forest, In front, too, over there—but a jump—winds the Now historic Yara, its limpid course between well- Worn banks; while just beyond, the village of the same name, whose smoke I gee, is the spot WHERE THE FIRST VICTIM WaS OFFERED by the genius of Cuba tothe Goddess of Liberty. ‘There, away to the horizon, close to the southern shore of Manzanillo, lies the Ingenio Demajagua, the home of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, where, on the night of the 10th of October, 1868, a tew sclect patriots gathered to fing to the breeze the banner of @ new nation and throw the gauntlet in the ace of the power and pride of grand old Spain. The sight was inexpressibly beautiful; even as that which Satan showed to the Nazarene when he placed the kingdoms of the earth at His feet, saying, “All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” We reached Cataurito carly enough to have resumed the march after three o’clock, but as there was no guide to g9 on it became imperative to remain over, APRIt. 16.—From Cataurito to the camp of Mo- desto Diaz, in Gud, where the President is, there re about thirty miles which must be walked to- lay, The road lies through a level country, all eavily Wooded on both sides, It was travelled between the heurs of half-past eight A, M. and half-past five P. M. CUBAN DISCIPLINE. The outposts of Camp Bermeja were placed about balfa mile from the advanced guard, and this, again, about three-quarters of a mile from the main body. Approaching the outpost, which consisted of a couple of halt nude yellow fellows, unarmed, of splendid physical condition and ap- parent robust health, they challenged us almost before we could see them, but the corporal of our Party responded promptly. After secing that our party was all right, the road was opened to us, Soon we came on a picket of the advanced guard. Here we were received with exact military form and ceremony, and a file of soldiers sent back with us to the body of the advanced guard, where, in the same style and manner, we were sent under escort to the fleld oMcer of the day. This was very exact; it was right, and I was glad to per- ceive that the men were so weil acquainted with the important forms of guard duty. The fieid officer of the day took us to the hut of the general commanding. MODESTO DIAZ must be a man of fifty-eight or sixty years. He is tall of person and massive in frame; has a well shaped head, rather long than otherwise, iron gray hair, and fall fowing beard of the same color, but of darker hue. His eyes are deep set, of an agreeable brown, with plenty of light in them, He was dressed in a suit of unbleached drill, and had on an enor- mously large Panama hat. He looked like one of those big-hearted old sca dogs that one bas occa- sionally the luck of coming across as captain of some gallant bark. He is a native of the Island of St. Domingo, took part in the second war of independence there, and held the rank of brigadier in the Spanish service when the war broke out in Cuba, Upon learning who I was the General received me very Kindly, asking for my papers, which he had read to him by a geutiemaa present who understood English, STILL THREE LEAGURS OFF, I was told that the President was permanently camped at a place called the Maeno, three leagues off, and that I could go there to-morrow after breakfast. This news was infinite balm to my uneasy spirit; yet I was so anxious and impatient to consummate the one great object of my mission that sleep nearly forsook my weary eyes that night, even after having walked thirty miles under a burningsun, I dined with Diaz that evening on the usual camp fare—neef and potatoes, Jutia is seldom eaten here, there being plenty of cattle in the sdvanpahs, MR, O'KELLY’S RETURN TRAIL, During dinner the General told me that Mr. O’Kelly had left camp for Manzanillo about two weeks ago, since when he had been @ prisoner in Fort Gerona, This greatiy surprised me; for, before leaving Santiago, I had received assur- ances, to be conveyed to Mr. O'Kelly, that the Cap- tain General had consented to punish him with expulsion only from the island, provided he pre- sented himself, I was also informed that two days ago the Cubans had attacked the Ingenias of San Francisco and Rosario. Many arms and hundreds of heads of cattle were captured. This news, from evidences around me, must have been true. THE GOAL AT LAST. APRIL 17,—My mission is crowned with success, T have seen and interviewed Carlos Manuel de Ces- pedes, President of the Republic of Cuba, Ibreakfasted with General Diaz, who lent mea fine mule of his own, and, in company with a couple of officers and three or four men, started for the residence of the Executive. The route was south from Bermeja, through the forest and across the River De Los Machos, where I saw in many fresh bullet holes in tne trees signs of a fight that had taken place about a week ago between the oppos- ing forces. Cespedes’ camp was now about a league south from the scene of this late action. On the foot hills above te little river were several abandoned camps of the Cubans. In a clearing near one of these a tree stump was pointed out as being the spot where Commandant Davan, the late Spams commander of Calisite, bad pera plot, 3 Passing this point, and two or three little ravines and intervening hills, we took a newly cleared path in the direction of the mountains. Proceed- ing along this trail for @ mile or two we came upon the advanced guard of ‘THE PRESIDENT’S RSCORT. We were received with much military precision and conducted to the nut of Lieutenant Colonel Ismael Cespedes, nephew of the President, and commander of his escort. This officer received me very cordially. His hut and those of the escort were near the part of the camp where we entered, 1 was now conducted for about two hundred yards along the pathway, on either side of which were, at intervals, a few huts, there being six or eight of them in a cluster at the very head of the pathway, beyond which there was no road or trail—nothing but the unbroken depths of the forest. There was one hutat the top of all, nearest the unhewn forest; not much bigger or better constructed than the others. It was the Executive palace and mansion house of CARLOS MANUEL DE CESPEDES, President of the Cuban Republic. An officer who speaks English, mentions my name, motions me to step forward, saying in English :— “THE PRESIDENT, MR. MILLEN,’ and Tam face to face with the famous Cuban, who bows very graciously, gives me a coratal and warm shake of the hand, saying he was glad to see me— an expression of good will for which the HERALD correspondent thanked him, saying that the feel- ing was mutual in the extreme. Cespedes is fifty-tour years old, about five feet six inches in height, slight of build and spare of per- son. His complexion fs light for a Cuban; his hair dark, mixed with gray, There is a smal! bald spot on the upper back part of the head. He wears his hair of medium length, very smoothly and neatly kept. He has a high and well developed forehead, features regular, with nose rather sharp, and haga splendid set of teeth. The firmness of the mouth is partly concealed by thick, long, Mowing iron-gray beard and mustache, The cheeks are shaven to the point of the jaws; eyes small, bright, and keen, of a decidedly grayisn-blue color. He is a lawyer—having been educated for the Bar in Spain—gentlemanly, polite and impressive of aa- dress, and a native of Bayamo. He is careful of speech and converses with deliberation and senten- tiousness, When I saw him in his rancho he was attired in a suit of straw-colored linen—panta- loons, vest and sack. Ye had on a light-colored Pepper-and-salt cap; wore a black watch guard, but no appearance of other jeweiry. He wore patent leather leggings, fitting down closely over @ well shaped foot, His hands are small and rather bony. He impressed me as 4A SHREWD MAN, WELL BRED AND WELT READ. I have been, perhaps, needlessly minute in de- scribing the person and appeurance of Mr. Ces- pedes. My reason for doing so is that his identity has been questioned, and I nave tried to draw his portrait so that his friends cannot fail of recogniz- ing the Hkeness, We entered the Presidential hut. Cespedes satin his hammock while I was seated ona litule seat made of small sticks placed horizontally together overja frame formed by driving four forked stakes of the required length into the ground, lay- ing transversal pieces across these and hori- szontal ones over them, binding the whole with Majagua bark. A little table for all uses, 60 to say, at my elbow, was made in the same way and had a similar seat on the opposite side. The hammock is slung on the west side of the rancho; the table and seats are on the opposite side. At the foot and head of the hammock are severa! small valises, mostly containing papers and documents. A re- volver, in @ plain cover, attached to a gold-em- broidered belt, hung within reach over the ham- mock. THE INTERVIEW. CesrEprs—Mr. O’Kelly has been here and gone. The Spaniards have him a prisoner in Manzanillo We did not expect tosee another Hrratp Com- missioner so goon, COKRESPONDENT—I am very sorry for my friend O'Kelly, and hope he will soon be released, Should he not, it wili be my duty also to present myself. As to my presence here, I presume that the HERALD was determined to throw LIGHT AT ALL HAZARDS on the Cuban question, and thougnt tt would be more dificult for two correspondents to be silenced than one, and that if one failed reaching your camp the other would succeed, ‘The President here asked me some questions as to how 1 managed to escape the vigilance of the Spaniards, or if they knew of my coming to the Cuban camps. He then referred to the case of Mr. Henderson; said that gentieman had given a re- port flattering to the Cubans, but regreticd that he had injured its usefulness by stating WHA WAS NOT TRUE. Mr. Henderson undoubtedly saw Agramonte and some of the Camaguay cavalry, but he had not seen him (Cespedes), for at the time of the visit he was In the direction of Barajagua with Calixto Garcia, a distance of fifteen days’ march to that part of Camaguay where Agramonte then was, not including the time requisite ior a courier to advise the President of Henderson's presence. While on this subject I may ag well state that the Secretary of War, by order of Cespedes, allowed me to copy THE REPORT GIVEN BY GENERAL AGRAMONTE to the President of Mr. Henderson’s visit to Puerto Principe. Cespedes then said that he could not see what was to be gained by my putting my head in the trap as wellas Mr. O’Kelly; that it would be better forme to goto Jamaica, to which he thought I could be sent in a few days, as there was a boat already on the coast. Besides, Mr. O'Kelly would doubtless be released in a few days, as the Spaniards could do nothing to him. He had acted openly, and they knew what he was going todo, With me it was different, for, as I bad not revealed tothe Spaniards the nature of my mis- sion, if caught, they might construe with severity against me the rigorous spirit of military law. I said that there was another question at stake, to test which I would willingly risk a good deal; that ‘was, the amount of protection that THB UNITED STATES AND GREAT BRITAIN RESPEC- TIVELY accord to their citizens and subjects, It was there- fore agreed that in case of Mr. O’Kelly'’s speedy release I should go to Jamaica, but if he continued @ prisoner, witn the probability of being tried, then I should go and be PRESKNT MYSELF TO THE SPANIARDS in Manzanillo, CORRESPONDENT—Do you think, Mr. President, that it is possible that any pacific arrangements could be entered into between the Spaniards and the Cubans, so as to put an end to this war? CgESPEDES—No arrangements can be entered into with the Spaniards so long as they preteud to rule the island, INDEPENDENCE OR DEATH 18 THE ULTIMATUM of the Cubans, CORRESPONDENT—But at least some understand- ing might be arrived at for the purpose of softening the rigors of the war and conducting it on a footing more In conformity with the usages of modern warlare, CrsrepEs—I regret that the Spaniards, by com- mitting outrages on women and chiidren and non- combatants, have raised the black flag, and created the present atrocious condition of a WAR WITHOUT QUARTER. The Cubans have frequently made overtures for the purpose of conducting the war on a more humane footing, but the Spaniards, saying that we are only so many banditti, have refused to enter- tain any propositions from us, © CoRRESPONDENT—Have you any idea, Mr. Presi- dent, that the war will soon come toa close? Do you still believe that the Cubans will triumph ? Crsrepes—We are now going on to five years en- gaged in this struggle. and it can terminate only with Cuban independence or Cuban annihilation. When the end will be it is impossible to say. The Spaniards believe that IP I WERB DEAD THE WAR WOULD CEASE, and they have sent no less than six different par- ties from Havana to assassinate me, Some of these parties have never been heard of since sent out, others have diea and one was discovered by Quesada, in Camaguay, and put to death after con- fessing the whole plan. The Spaniards are mis- taken; the continuance of the war does not depend on my existence. Were I dead to-morrow the struggle would go on all the same. Some one would be elected to fill my place. The idea we con- tend for can pever die, One Cuban never asked another, “Shall we win? They never doubt tna! But the question was frequently asked by oMcer¢ and men, “How long will the war last—what timg must elapse before we triumph ?"* ra BUYING INDEPENDENCE, CORRESPONDENT—Could not some diplomatic are rangement be entered into by which the Cubang Would agree to pay an indemnity to the Spaniards provided the latter would evacuate the island? = CBSPEDES—Overtures of that nature were madé. General Sickles intimated in Madrid that $100,000,000, payable in twenty years, would probe ably be given by the Cubans if the Spaniards, withe out further blood, consented to recognize the inde- pendence of the island and leave the public build- ings, fortresses, arsenals, 4c., in the condition im which they might be found at the time of the treaty. It was also intimated that, if necessary, the United States would guarantee the payment of the INDEMNITY. But nothing had come of this proposition. Since then a good while has elapsed, the phase of the war has entirely changed, and while I have na doubt but the Cubans would still aliow A HANDSOME INDEMNITY TO SPAIN if she would consent to put an end toa war that in the end mast prove disastrous to her; yet not 8o large a sum could now be given as that formerly offered, ‘The island is now in a far worse condition than then; property continues to be destroyed and the matertal weaith of the country is passing away. This lessens the resources of the Cubans, makes it more diMecult to pay a large sum and les- sens the value of the consideration for which they would pay it. I think sixty-five or seventy mil- lions of dollars would be the probable sum wé could now offer as indemnity for the close of the war, DESERTIONS TO-CUBA LIBRE. a While at this part cf the interview the P resident Teceived news that several families and sever armed volunteers had presented themselves in the camp of Generat Diaz. CORRESPONDENT—A good deal has been said om the subject of annexation. I would like, Mr. Presi- derit, to report your views on this important mat- ter to the HeRaLD for the information of the American people. CrsPEDES—At the outbreak of the war there wag undoubtedly a grand majority of the people im ? favor of the aunexation of the island to the United States, I was never a great supporter of the measure and never opposed it; but Iam only one among so many hundreds of thousands. The pee- ple and the army at one time had a grand demons stration in Camaguay for the purpose of ventilate ing THE ANNEXATION DOCTRINE, Resolutions were passed endorsing it and sent ta the Chamber of Deputies, then and there in ses sion, The Chamber, unanimously adopted thé resolution in faver of annexation. The paper, which immeaiately recetved a thousand or more signatures of the people, was sent to New York ta be forwarded to Washington, but its receipt by the State Department there has never been acknowl- edged. ‘This slight, together with the fact of the American government, so far from granting belligerent rights to Cuba, had put themselves on the side of the Spaniards, had to a great extent COOLED THE ANNEXATION ARDOR : of the Cubans, who now entertain no thought but) that of beating the Spaniards. These once ex- pelled from the island, then, if the people choose tq become a part of the United States, their will ia supreme and 1 would not only not oppose it, but give the measure my support as one of conven- fence for the future of the island. The Cubang are of A-PACIFIC DISPOSITION AND EASILY GOVERNED. ‘Their past history and every day of the present struggle proves this. It is posstble, therefore, that we could be able to sustain a government of our own, which of course would be preferaple to an- nexation even with the United States. The Cubans justly feel aggneved at the policy which Mr. Fisn is observing towards us. At the commencement of the revolution the Spantards were allowed to build thirty gunboats in New York, and also to supply themselves with arms and ammunition, while the Cubans were excluded from either of these privileges. Even Remington was foreed to break his contract with the Cubans because it was an in- ferential infringement of neutrality. Also Presi- dent Grant, in one of his annual messages to Con- gress, animadverted rather bluntly on OUR INABILITY TO MEET -THE SPANIARDS IN THB FIELD, and chaarcterized us as a fugitive mob fying from place to place, or something of the kind. The policy adopted in Washington is not neutrality; it is absolutely taking part with the Spaniards, The case of the Pioneer was conspicuously one wherein the authorities of the United States did the greatest injustice to us, A STRONG STATEMENT. The officers and crew of that ship either served some power or they were pirates. If the former, and their national banner was not yet recognized by tue United States, all that that power could do would be to warn the ship off the coasts and com- pel her to keep clear of American waters, as the English in Nassau did with the Lillian; but if pirates, then all the hands found on board should have been executed as common criminals, im neither case were the United States entitled to libel the ship and sell her asa prize, It was clearly the reason of superior force that enabled them to do it, Still, notwithstanding these grave reasong for complaint, we LOOK WITH ANXIOUS EYES TO AMERICA, to the great representative nation of our Contl- nent, for recognition and support. We know that the warm sympathies of the American people are with us; but this strange policy of General Grant's government is inexcusable, inexplicable, unjusti- fiable and a wrong to the Cuban peopie, who en- tertain so much sympathy and good will toward the great country of Washington and of Lincoln, It would be extremely injudicious at this moment to revive the question of annexation ata time when nobody thought of aught else but conquer- ing the independence of the island, It would at this particular juncture PBOVE A FIREBRAND 4 to distract and weaken the Cuban efforts against the common enemy. BELLIGERENT RIGHSS. CoRRESPONDENT—The Cubans, I beiieve, exe pected a recognition of belligerency by the United States, CEsrepes—We fully expected to be recognized as belligerenta by the Americans. We are an American people, fighting for freedom and eman- cipation—those great principles for which the peo. ple of the United States have sacrificed so m' A number of lukewarm patriots joined us because they were sure the United States would promptly step in to our aid. Seeing their hopes not realized and NOT POSSESSING THE STAMINA to go through the hardships of a war of indepene dence, they either presented themselves to the Spaniards or fled to foreign parts, where they aro now living. But the c6operation of this class of people does not amount to anything; they can be readily whistied back on the first slight turn of for~ tune, A CONFEDERATION SCHEME. CORRESPONDENT—I heard something in GeneraY Garcia's camp in connection with a scheme for forming @ contederation of the Antilles. CESPEDES—Yes, such a scheme was at one time mooted, but the plan terminated in smoke. The idea was to form a Power under the style of the Confederation of the Antilles, composed of Cuba, St. Domingo and Hayti, Porto Rico and Jamaica. The English, who at first favored our cause, 16 seems, would have sacrificed Jamaica in order to COUNTERACT THE INFLUENCE OF AMBRICAN IDEAS in the West Indies by the formation of this new nation at the very door of the United States, THE ARMED SITUATION. CoRRESPONDENT—I would like, Mr. President, to be able to report something about the military situation of the Cubans, CesrepEs—The Spaniards say that we have no military organization. You, who have seen a por- tion of our army, are witness to the facts that ail the grades among the officers are well recognized and respected among themselves and by the mem throughout the forces; that there exists among ud both sobordination and order, and that each clasd CONTINUED ON TENTH PAGE.