Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-10-21
Late and Interesting from Cuba.


days experience, and case of most extraordinary
character, of the many that undoubtedly exists is
now being exposed TO the light, after a conceal
ment OF forty years. A few days since a negro
| man found his way TO the Office Of the American
| consulate, aud there claimed protection as a free
| born citizen ofthe United States. His department
and the singularity of his story, which surpassed
the power ofinvention attracted the most respect
| ful attention, and his tongue was evidently
touched with the fire of truth, for all that heard
believed. He solicited, in terms that could not be
resisted, that his case might be investigated, and
that he might be restored TO the freedom for which
| he had been waiting in chains for forty years
lie represents that he born in Charleston
/ South Carolina gives the names of father, mother
one brother, and two uncles, and states that they
were all free, that they emigrated from Charleston
| IN lSOS, or near that time, went TO Florida, and
| subsequently went TO Nassau, New Providence;
| that he was quite small, but that he remembers
every occurrence with the greater distnctness iur
having had nothing else TO reflect upon from his
| youth 10 old age; and that he had early made up
his mind TO struggle for the freedom of which he
had been deprived by robbers
lie remembers and thinks he was about twelve
years OF age, when his mother, seeking something
for him TO do, hired him to the captain OF a small
trading sloop, as cabin boy, by whom he was
carefully treated, and he thinks he uhe captan)
was in no way accessory 10 his being kidnapped
That in the course of his voyages among the is
lands, the business of Captain Jim" took him To
Havana with small cargo of shells and goods
bought at Nassau. That being ashore at the vii
lage of Regla, at the head of the bay and waiting
by the boat for the return of the captain, some
of the men, 10 go on board the sloop, he was sud
denly seized by white man, of the class of boat
men of the harbor, and carried of with violence.
That when he endeavored to make an outcry, he
found such violent pressure that it seemed like
death, and he was afraid TO attempt it more, under
the impression that if he persisted in il, he would
certainly be killed as he had heard many stories
OF the pirates of Havana and of their crnolties.
That he was carried apparently 10 the back part of
the town, into a;house Of low and disagreeable APP
pearance where he was placed in the stocks for
safe keeping, in the back part of the premises. In
this position he remained some hours. when he
was taken out, he thinks midnight following
his capture, and placed upon horse, with another
man, which was put to his speed for the country;
that in this way, at slow space when the roads
We're bad, and fast when good, they travelled until
the dawn of day, when they reached some farm
houses, where he taken of the horse and
placed in cabin, chained; that he was put at
work the following day, under the immediate eye
Of his MASTER and that when there moi white
armed force over him sufficient to keep him from
getting away, he has always worn chains-and
they were scarcely an Inconvenience TO him, so
accustomed had he become TO them; that
as he had acquired language, he explained 10 his
pretended master how he had been taken, that he
was free and demanded that he might go to Ha
vana to make application for his release Finding
more efforts, but determined to wait quietly until
an opportunity should occur which he believed
would come sooner or later, and that he would
have justice. . >... .a
He says he has kept himself from losing the
knowledge of the English language he had at
twelve years, by constantly repeating the story of
his life to himself, in English, enumerating every
incident and all the names of his family and friends
That his master, residing near Canasi, about Is or
90 miles from Havana, died in 1916 and that his
estate was only distributed among the heirs some
few weeks since when he was brought To lla
vana by parties having no knowledge of his for
mer history, having been purchased or apportioned
to them, he knows not which. Being here, the
past seems 10 have aroused the sleeping energy of
the man, and his first business was to find out 'the
America which being finally understood and ex-
planned meant the American consulate. His re-
markable case will be brought 10 the immediate
attention Of General Canedo, and under the aus
pieces of the acting commercial agent will uns
doubtedy have favorable issue for the poor negro
The small planter who bought !. Ben,' was known
as Don Antonio Caffeine, and the person who car
red him from Rega to Canas his nephew
who is now living in this vicinity and has been re-
cognzed by Ben" who took him to the Office OF
the American consul, where his admissions
quite sufficient to establish the truth of Ben's"
story, without duplicating himself in the crime Of
kidnapping. aA...a (. .".
A review of the troops took place the other day
in honor of the husband of the Queen II was
u
carly account of empty ranks in quantity. Some
eighteen or nineteen hundred men dragged
upon parade, many of them looking us if they had
escaped from the grave yard The Captain Cen
eral and his suit never appeared TO more advan-
tage but although the PaSeo was the parade
ground, close 10 the city walls, the crowd OF Gu
rious spectators was unusually small-and very
few people from The city took the trouble 10 go out
and witness it. The troops are always well dress
ed. We are preparing 10 have good times about
IL ,nSfr fip1ns IN h1a cd
bull-fghts and chicken-fiXens theatres and dane
ing, fireworks and professions. Our justice is
still the hand maiden Of the three Yankee sailors
aE ... ~ \. Herald
The Shooting of Major Arnold.--The an
nouncement of the acqutta of DIR. Steiner. by the.
courtmartal, removes, IN measure, the odum
which the first report of this melancholy affair at
tached 10 him; but the following letter from Ste
ner himself sets the matter in, light so different
from the first statements, that justice 10 him re-
auires its publication. II is addressed to his bro
Their, AT Augusta, Ga.
s'FoRT GRAHAM, Texas, Sept. T. 1852.
"DEAR BROTHER have but time TO impart TO
you piece Of news which will cause you much
grief Yesterday morning was placed in arrest
by order of Maj. r A. Arnold, for no other reason
than having slapped Lieut.. Binghams face, for
using language towards me which no gentleman
could tolerate. Arnold knew that would demand
10 know why ] was arrested, and having armed
himself with two of Colts revolvcrs, determined
to reply to my queries in such manner as to force
me 10 strike him, when lie would be held cxcusa-
BILE for taking my life ! did not strike him, how
ever, but informed him that he knew very well
that the reason he gave me was not in accordance
with the facts. Whereupon he drew one Of his
pistols and shot at me- was standing about five
feet from him at the time, but the ball missed me-
With my small revolver returned the fire, break
ing his left arm above the elbow. He shot al
the second time but again without success, when
shot him through the body. He fell and snapped
at ME in sitting posture, when | shot him again.
He died within twenty minutes God only knows
how far have laid myselfable an officer; but
in other respects, have nothing to fear. He had
his plan matured TO kill me, but lacked the nerve
to shoot straight An express has been sent at
once to Gen. Smith, and presume will be tried
by general courtmartal | can write no more
at present God bless YOU"
The Cincinnati Eaqmi,er says: DIR. Steiner is
well known in Ohio, and all who know him will
believe what he writes. He is a man OF strict in
tegrity and good moral habits. DR.. $. was born in
Frederick, Md, and raised at Tdin, Ohio where
he has large circle of friends He is now thirty
wears of was with our army in all the battles