“He is a little man.  An apparition of blacks—­black eyes, black hair, black beard, dark, exceedingly dark, complexion, a plain black attire, black shoes, black tie, a very dirty shirt and soiled standing collar, with no jewelry and not a relief from the aspect of darkness anywhere on his person.

“It is not remarkable that I momentarily hesitated to make certain that this was actually Weyler.  Doubt was dispelled with a look at his face.  His eyes, far apart, bright, alert and striking, took me in at a glance.  His face seemed to run to his chin, his lower jaw protruding far beyond any ordinary sign of firmness, persistence or willpower.  His forehead is neither high nor receding, neither is it that of a thoughtful or philosophic man.  His ears are set far back, and what is called the region of intellect, in which are those mental attributes that might be defined as powers of observation, calculation, judgment, and execution, is strongly developed.  The conformation of his head, however, is not one that is generally accepted as an indication of any marked possession of philoprogenitiveness or its kindred emotions and inclinations.  His nose is aquiline, bloodless and obtrusive; When he speaks it is with a high nasal enunciation that is not disagreeable, because it is not prolonged, and his sentences justify every impression that has already been formed of the man.  They are short, crisp, emphatic and expressive.

“‘I have an aversion to speech,’ he said.  ’I am an enemy of publications.  I prefer to act, not to talk.  I am here to restore peace.  When peace is in the land I am going away.  I am a soldier.  When I am gone, politicians will reconstruct Cuba, and probably they will upset things again until they are as bad as they are now.  I care not for America, England, anyone, but only for the treaties we have with them.  They are the law.  I observe the law, and every letter of the law.  I have my ideas of Cuba’s relation to Spain.  I have never expressed them.  Some politicians would agree with them, others would not.  No one would agree with all of them.  I know I am merciless, but mercy has no place in war.  I know the reputation which has been built up for me.  Things that are charged to me were done by officers under me, and I was held responsible for all things in the Ten-Years’ war, including its victorious end.  I do not conceal the fact that I am here solely because it is believed I can crush this insurrection.  I care not what is said about me, unless it is a lie so great as to occasion alarm.  I am not a politician.  I am Weyler.’”

A woman’s interview with Weyler.

The following interview with the “Butcher” is by Mrs. Kate Masterson, who bearded the lion in his den for an American newspaper: 

“His Excellency, Captain-General Weyler, graciously gave me an audience to-day.  He received me with most charming courtesy, escorted me through his apartments and presented me with a bunch of roses from his own table.  Before I left he had honored me with an invitation to dine with him at the Palace.