History of Negro Soldiers in the Spanish-American War, and Other Items of Interest

sed the Americans. The "ten years war" had terminated, leaving the island much embarrassed in its material interests, and woefully scandalized by the methods of procedure adopted by Spain

himself was not personally responsible. He boasted that he only had three individuals

in the wanton murder of fifty American sailors--officers and crew of the Virginius, which was captured by the Spani

she not been a republic at that time, and President Grant and others thought it unwis

as the Americans believed) fighting Spain for their liberty. Public opinion was on the Insurgents' side and against Spain from the beginning. This feeling of sympathy for the fighting Cubans knew no North nor South; and strange as it may seem the So

ich were favorable. General Lee was retained at his post by President McKinley until it became necessary to recall him, thus having the high honor paid him of not being changed by the new McKinley administration, which differed from him in politics; and as

per sympathy, and such aid for humanity's sake as could be given them, yet they had not established on any part of the island such a form of government as could be recognized at Washington, and accorded belligeren

n: GENERAL F

antly being fitted up in America with arms and ammunition for the Cuban patriots. As a neutral power it became the duty of the American gove

of defeating the Insurgents, because of reputed inaction. The flower of the Spanish army was poured into Cuba by the

and being without any visible means of subsistence were left to perish from hunger and disease. (The condition of these people greatly excited American sympathy with the Insurgents.) General Weyler hoped thus to we

his policy (especially in view of the fact that General Weyler had promised to end the "Insurrection" in three months after he took command) that in FEBRUARY, 1896, the United States Congress took up the discussion of the matter. Several Senators and Congressmen returned fr

e Senate and House of

erica, that in the

een the Government of

time maintained by for

United States of Ame

en the contending power

ents in the ports and

at

that the friendly o

ed by the President to

ion of the indep

so-called insurrection into an organized army, with a government at its back whi

n: GENERAL A

is picture was exhibited, the audience went wild with applause--the waving of handkerchiefs and the wild hurrahs were long and continued. The career of this hero was suddenly terminated by death, due to the treachery of his physician Zertucha, who, under the guise of a proposed treaty of peace, induced him to meet a company of Spanish officers, at which meeting, according to a pre-arranged plot, a mob of Spanish infantry rushed in on General Maceo and shot him down unarmed. It is said that his friends recovered his body and buried it in a secret place unknown to the Spaniards, who

The difficulty in employing them being that they are insanely brave. When they ride into battle they become exalted and are dangerous creatures. Those who first joined the forces on the field were the wives of men belonging in the army, and their purpose was rather to be protected than to become heroines and avengers. It shows the state of the island, that the women found the

oublesome character to the Spaniards, who wer

e Insurgent cause. The American people were indignant at Weyler and were inspired by the conduct of the Insurg

h officer had, on the occasion of a raid made on her home, in which her father was captured and imprisoned as a Cuban sympathizer, proposed her release

ISS EVANGELINA C

d to America that she had escaped. This proved to be true--her release being effected by Carl Decker, a reporter on the New York Journal--a most daring fete. Miss Cisneros was brought to America and became the g

America. The life of Consul General Lee was threatened. The Spanish Minister at Washington, Se?or de Lome, was exposed for having written to a friend a most

Havana by the usual salutes and courtesies of the navy, and was anchored at a point in the bay near a certain buoy designated by the Spanish Commander. This was on January 25, 1898, and on February 15th this noble vessel was blown to pieces, and 266 of its crew perished--two colored men being in the number. This event added fuel to the alrea

ere employed; many witnesses were examined, and the court, by a unanimous decision, rendered March 21, 1898, after a four weeks session, reported as follows: "That the loss of the Maine was not in any respect due to the fault or negligence on the part of any of the officers or membe

who has been lynched,--"he came to his death by the hands of parties unknown." This report on the Maine's destruction, unlike the usual coroner's jury verdict, however, in one respect

tion: U.S

in getting the American Consuls out of Cuba who were in danger from the Spaniards there. Consul Hyatt embarked from Santiago April 3, and Consul General Lee, who was delayed in getting off American refugees, left on April 10, and on that day the President sent his message to Congress. He picture

eign Affairs Committee of both houses, which was adopted, after a

conditions which have

land of Cuba, so near

of the people of the U

civilization, culminat

d States battle ship,

friendly visit in the

ed, as has been set fo

is message to Congress

of Congress was i

nate and House of R

America in Cong

of the island of Cuba

ee and in

e duty of the United

United States does h

once relinquish its aut

d withdraw its land an

uban

ent of the United Stat

d to use the entire l

to call into the actu

the several states t

ry these resolut

d States hereby discla

sovereignty, jurisdi

or the pacification t

at is completed to le

he island to

98. The Spanish Minister, Se?or Luis Polo y Bernarbe, was served with a cop

omatic triumphs in connection with recent relations with Spain. It was he who ou

ate for nearly thirty years. He was appointed by Hamilton

y tinged with gray and an air of alertness which makes him stand out in sharp con

tion: EDD

ly called, has served he has become most attached to J

to demand his passports before the ultimatum was served upon him. Then he could refuse to receive it, saying that he was no longer Minister. It will be

od him in good stead. He had learned the valu

r. It was natural that it should be given to 'Eddie' Savoy. He had gained the sobriquet of the nation's

electric button at the front door of the Spanish Legation, in Massachus

here for the Mini

is a passage that leads to the large central hall. The Minister stood in the hall. In one hand he held an envelope. It was addressed to the Secretary of

is quick, nervous way. He opened the envelope and realized instantly that he had been outwitted. A cynical smile pass

arted to read the ultimatum carefully. But he

Jeffersonian simp

the incident, because he had learn

n't, for that wouldn't have been diplomatic. When you have been in this department twenty-five or t

die' Savoy has mastered the first p

xing the 23d as the limit for its reply, but the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs had already learned of the action of Congress, and did not

tion: JOS

the nation had become restless, and to the fact also that America had some new boats, fine specimens of workmanship, which had been at target practice for a long time and now yearned for the reality, like the boy who has a gun and wants to try it on the real game. The proof of the superiority of American

let us remember that there is scarcely a boat in the navy flying the American flag but what has a n