The Great Round World And What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1. No. 21, April 1, 1897 | Page 5

listen to Don Carlos' agents, who promise them promotion and fortune if they will once more return his standard.
The rising is planned for an early date.
While this is enough to harass the government, it is not all. There is another party in Spain, which it is feared will rise up and fight both the Carlists and the government. This party is called the Republican party, and it is thought to be the strongest of the three.
Both Carlists and Republicans are using the mismanagement of the Cuban war as a means of turning the people against the government, and indeed the Spanish people are so disgusted with the waste of money and life, that they are ready to revolt against their rulers. A change in the government is almost sure to come, and the Carlists and Republicans are both trying to become the new power that is to get in when the old is overthrown.
For these very good reasons the government has told General Weyler that neither men nor money can be sent to him.
It seems that what money he has in hand will be used up by May 1st, and then no one knows what will be done.
There is a general idea that while Spain will never withdraw her troops from Cuba, and allow that she is beaten, she will quietly drop the war, sending no more men or money to help carry it on, and leaving the Spaniards who are in Cuba to shift for themselves.
The poverty of the Spanish soldiers is something pitiable. They are sick, hungry, and only half clothed. The medicines have given out and there is no money to buy any more, and so the poor fellows have to suffer without proper medical care.
Then, too, the smallpox has broken out, the government has no means of checking it, and it is steadily gaining ground, until the people are dying like sheep.
What pay is left for the poor soldier lads, after the officers have got through stealing it, is paid to them in the paper money Weyler tried to force on Cuba. (You can read about it in No. 2 of THE GREAT ROUND WORLD.) This money is utterly worthless; none of the Cuban merchants will take it, and yet it is given to the poor soldiers, and they are told to go and buy what they want, Weyler well knowing that they cannot purchase even postage-stamps with it.
The disheartened, starving soldiers are falling back before the Cubans, and victory after victory is reported for the insurgent side.
Havana has been attacked! The insurgents actually passed through the suburbs, and reached Havana itself. They ransacked stores, put the whole population in a panic, but after a fierce fight of two hours were at last obliged to retire.
Weyler did his best to keep this news from the people, but, before his plans were fully made, the Cubans made a fresh attack on another suburb of the city, endeavoring to seize a large quantity of provisions and arms that were stored there.
This time they again loaded themselves with plunder, but failed to get the rich prize they had gone for.
A part of the same force which attacked Havana descended on the town of Guines, also in Havana Province, and about thirty-five miles from the capital. After a few hours' struggle they succeeded in forcing the Spanish soldiers to take shelter in a church, and then they ransacked the town, and took $10,000 in gold from the government safe.
Bejugad, another important town in the same province, was also attacked by the Cubans, and with equal success.
It looks as if one great effort would win for Cuba the freedom for which she has worked so faithfully.
* * * * *
The widow of the Dr. Ruiz who was reported to have been murdered in the Cuban prison has arrived in this country.
She has gone to Washington, and has laid her sad story before the government, and asked for help.
It seems that Mrs. Ruiz has some evidence which proves that the Spaniards were ill-using Dr. Ruiz. The evidence came to her in a most curious way.
As we have mentioned before, the Spaniards do not put either beds or benches in their prisons. Their captives must either stand, or lie down on the filthy floors, among dirt and vermin.
Mrs. Ruiz went to the authorities when her husband was arrested, and asked permission to send him a bed and some chairs.
She was refused. But she still persisted. After many prayers and entreaties, she was finally allowed to send him a chair.
When it was returned to her after his death, she found scratched in the varnish under the seat a message from her lost husband.
In this message were the words, "They are killing me!"
The poor unhappy woman and her five helpless children have brought this message