Pawtucket Gazette And Chronicle

Cuban News.—We hardly know where to begin or end an article on this subject. Every mail for a week past has brought us contradictory accounts about the Lopez expedition, and about movements in this country to reinforce it. We know not what to believe or disbelieve on the subject. The telegraph has been made use of by the friends or opponents of Cuban independence to transmit the most outrageous falsehoods, and we infer that both have been guilty of this disreputable business. It is reported—we wish not to be considered as making any positive statements—that the U. S. mail schooner Merchant arrived at Savannah on the 12th inst., bringing news from Havana to the 23d ult., and that the steamer Cincinnati, (the vessel sent by the Spanish Consul at New Orleans to inform the authorities at Cuba that Lopez was coming) arrived at New Orleans on the same day, bringing two days' later news from Havana, that is, to the 25th ult. If all the news said to have been brought by these vessels is true, Lopez and the men under his command had been defeated, dispersed and completely destroyed, and not a Cuban had joined his standard; and at the same time he had been victorious in every engagement, the Cubans were joining him by hundreds, and he was marching upon Havana at the head of 1500 or 2000 men. Now we do not know but this much in relation to the matter ought to be just as satisfactory to the reader as columns of contradictions which amount to nothing more. It is said that in an engagement on the 17th ult., Gen. Enna, the commander of the Spanish troops, was killed, and also five other officers, and that the General was buried at Havana on the 20th inst., with great pomp. We hear, on the other hand, particulars of the destruction, before that time, of nearly every man of Lopez's command. When we shall get news respecting the state of affairs in Cuba that can be relied upon, we do not know. The mail steamer Empire City probably left Havana on Monday last for New York: if so, we shall have the news soon. The intelligence by her ought to clear up some of the uncertainty in which matters in Cuba are involved, and we think it will. The New Orleans papers publish several letters written by some of the Americans slaughtered in Havana. Two of the writers complain that they had been deceived, they do not state distinctly about what, but we presume the Cubans did not come to their assistance as they were told they would. It appears by these letters that the fifty men who were shot were left, with sixty-four others, under command of Col. Crittenden, at or near the place of landing, in charge of the baggage; that two or three days afterwards they attempted to join Lopez, who, with the rest of his force, had moved into the interior: that while on their way they were attacked by from 500 to 700 government troops, who were at first repulsed, but in the second charge Crittenden's party were completely routed. After spending two days in the chapparal, and suffering greatly, about fifty of them made their way to the coast, and put to sea in boats, with the hope of escaping. Their fate is known. We have Spanish accounts that of the sixty-four others, forty were shot in a farm house, and that the other twenty-four were put to death in some way. Accounts as to the treatment of those who were taken to Havana and shot are still conflicting. We are inclined to credit the statements of those who say that they were mutilated and stamped upon, because such conduct would be more characteristic of the Spanish savages than decent treatment of the corpses. There are reports without number in regard to men, arms and ammunition that have gone, or are going to Cuba from different places in this country, but we do not know as there is any truth in them. It is said that very stringent orders have been given to government officers at the different ports to prevent the departure of any more men and arms. There appears to have been no truth in the statement that the steamers Fanny and Alabama had left New Orleans for Cuba. The latter vessel is reported to have been seized on suspicion that she was to be used to transport men to Cuba. Of the Pampero we have heard nothing for some time. The treatment which the Spanish consul at New Orleans received, caused him to resign his office. But few Spaniards are seen in the city. No violence was offered to the person of the consul, but his office was broken open by a rowdy mob.—The New Orleans papers state that the riotous proceedings in that city were not the work of those who had assembled there to go to Lopez's assistance—that they, on the contrary, offered their services to the mayor to quell the riot.