Show I I GREAT IS GROVER STORIES OF OUTRAGES ON AMERICANS SMILED AT Planter of Alabama Tells How He Was RjDbbed and H Passport I Containing the American Seal Was Ground Under Weylers Heel Scenes of Destitution Every where in Cuba Washington Feb 2iThe Post says that Mr Henry W McDonnell a planter of Point Clear Alabama who owns a large plantation In Cuba 15 miles from Havana has arrived in Washington direct from Cuba where he says he was subjected to a series of degradations so insulting to his republican re-publican manhood and American citizenship citi-zenship that he has came post haste to lay his case before the authorities of the state department and demand immediate im-mediate justice Mr McDonnell several sev-eral months ago received information at his home at Point Clear that his plantation in Cuba was being ravaged rav-aged by the Spanish soldiers and that unless It was cultivated by spring i would be confiscated by the crown He had left the management of his plantation l J plan-tation entirely to his agents in Cuba who since the revolution have been unable un-able to cultivate it He accordingly sailed for Cuba on Feb 2 and arrived at Havana Feb 4 On the steamer he made the acquaintance of a newspaper I news-paper man named Hopkins who was representing the New Orleans Times Democrat He did not know at the time i that Hopkins was a newspaper man or i gt J da f I the stories he had heard of the treatment treat-ment accorded reporters In Cuba would I have served as a barrier to further in i tercourse However he became very intimate with Hopkins and upon landing land-ing the two spent the first day together to-gether in Havana Mr McDonnell has his passport from the state department so that he deemed himself perfectly safe On the first day of his arrival accompanied by Hopkins I Hop-kins he rode J5 miles into the country to his plantation Everything was in ruins Not a building remained standing I stand-ing all of the expensive machinery had been mutilated or carted away and not a soul was to be seen anywhere Four years ago Mr McDonnell says he refused re-fused 30000 for the plantation Now he says he could not get 500 for the property and he does not expect to get a cent out of i for the next ten years On his return to Havana after witnessing the destruction caused by Spanish soldiers he indulged in some uncomplimentary remarks about the Spanish government These remarks were uttered publialy with characteristic characteris-tic American frankness and came to the ears of General Weyler Within three hours McDonnell says he was arrested and brought before the general gen-eral charged with nothing In particular Hopkins was arrested at the same 0 = time but was not brought before Wey ler until later when he was released on promising to leave the Island McDonnell Mc-Donnell demanded at once that Consul General Lee be sent for and Wefcr finally consented General Lee appeared ap-peared after McDonnell had been heW a prisoner several hours and demanded I McDonnells release In reply to Mc Donnells claim that he was an American can citizen in Cuba to look after his property Weyler retorted that it would be to his Interest to attend strictly to his private affairs without regard to Spain and that he had better be careful care-ful what sentiment he uttered McDonnell says he then exhibited his passport and demanded instant release As he describes i Weyler took the paper gingerly looked it over an instant In-stant and In the presence of Consul General Lee flung It under foot with contempt and exclaimed that it was of no importance and had no bearing in the case General Lee protested and demanded an apology which Weyler refused Mr McDonnell recovered his passport pass-port and again demanded his release saying that it was an insult to the United States to have her seal flung under foot in that manner Weyler made several I insulting remarks to the effect that all Americans had better remain re-main at home and finally consented to set Mr McDonnell at liberty but I added that he would be constantly watched while in Havana and that he had better leave soon On Feb 16 Mr McDonnell left Cuba During the few days he remained there I he was constantly under guard of a Spanish soldier who followed him everywhere In every way he was made to understand that he had better return home On the streets he was insulted openly by the Spanish and he was unable to transact any business whatever relative to his plantation which is now unprotected and liable to confiscation at any time Mr McDonnell described the condition I condi-tion of affairs in Havana and surrounding I ton rounding country as appalling Destitution Des-titution was everywhere With Havana Ha-vana under martial law the Spanish soldiers were plundering and ravaging as they pleased No ones life or property l prop-erty was safe Weyler was looked upon by every one as a tyrant |