The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-09-15
From Bsiios's History Of csbs.
The Story of MART, the Smuggler.


named MART, as well known in Cuba as the
person Of the Governor-Gsneralh himself
Formerly he was notorious as smuggler
and half pirate on the coast Of the island,
being daring aud accomplished leader oil
reckless men. A, one time he bore The
title Of King Of the Isle Of Pines, where was
his principal rendezvous, and from whence
he dispatched his vessels, small iieet Gratis,
10 operate in the neighboring wates.
When Tacon landed on the Island anu
became Governor General, he iound ihe
revenue laws i'm sad condition, as well rs
,bs internal regulations OF the island, aud
with a spiri, of mingled justice and oppres'
aion. he determined TO do something IN the
way of reforms The Spanish marine, sent
oui 10 regulate the maritime matters OF The
island, lay idly IN port, the officers passing
their time on shore, or III giving balls ard
dances on the decks Of their vessels. Ia
con saw that one OF the first moves Tor him
TO make was TO suppress The smuggling up
on the coast mt all hazards, aud TO This end
he SO, himself directly a, work. The mar
i,ime force at his command were a, once
detailed upon this service, and they cOasted
nigh, and day, but without the leas, success
against the smugglers. In vain were all
the vigilance aud activity OF TacOn and his
agents they accomplished nothing.
At last, finding ,ha, all his expeditions
agains, them failed, partly from the adroii-
ness and bravery of the smusglers, AMI
patty iom The wan, Of pilots among the
shoals AMI rocks that they hequeu,ed, a
large aud tempting reward was offered TO
any one who would desert his comrades,
and act in this capacity in behalf o! the
government. Al the same time, double
sum, most princely in amount, was offered
for the person OF one Narli, dead or alive,
who was known to be The leS6er OF the
lawless royers who thus deiied the govern
ment. These rewards were freely pronul-
gated, and posted so as 10 reach the ears
and eyes OF those whom they concerned !;
bot even this seemed 10 produce no effect,
and the government officers were at loss
how 10 proceed in the matter.
Ii was da!k, cloudy night in Havana,
some three or four months subsequent, 10 the
issuing Of these placaTds, announcing the
rewards ~ referred TO, when two sen,inels
were pacing backwards and forwards before
The main entrance TO the Governors palace,
midnigh, a man wrapped in cloak was
watching them from behind the statue Of
Ferdinand, near The fountain, and after OBJ
serving that the two soldiers, acting rs sen.
iinels, paced their brief walk so rs TO meet
each other, and then turn their backs as
they separated, leaving brief interval when
the eyes Of both were turned away from the
entrance ,hoy were placed TO guard, seemed
10 calculate TO pass them unobserved. |
was an exceedingly delicate manGvre, and
required great care and deX,erity 10 effect
il but a, last il was adroilly done. and the
stranger sprang lighily through the entrance,
secreiing himself behind one Of the pillars
IN the inner cour; OF the palace. The sen.
,inels paced on undisiurbed.
The figure which had thus sieallhily eff.
fected an entrance, now sought the broad
stairs which led to the Governors suiie of
apartments, wi h confidence that eyinced
a periec, knowledge Of the place. A sec
ond guard post was to be passed AT The head
oil tbs stairs; bet, assuming an air OF au.
hori,y, the stranger offered a cold military
salute and passed forward, as though there
was not the most distan, question OF his
RICH, TO 10 so; and thus avoiding all sus-
picion in tho guards mind, he boldly Oh.
tered the Governors reception room unchal-
lenged, and closed the door behind him.
In a large easy chair sat the commander
in-chief busiy engaged in writing, but
alone. An expression or undiSgUised sat-
isiac,ion passed across the weather beaten
coun,enauce Of the new conner at this state
Of affairs, as he coolly cast off his cloak and
tossed il over his arm, and then proceeded
10 wipe the perspiraiiOn from his face. The
Governor, looking up with surprise, fixed
his keen eyes upon the intruder -
"Who enters here, unannounced, at this
hour :" he asked siernly, while he regarded
the stranger earnestly.
"0ne who has information Of value for
the nor.Geheral. You are Tacon, Il
supposed"
al am. What would you with me! or
rather, how did you pass my guard unchal-
lengedl"
"Of tina, anon. Excellency, You have
offered reward for information concerning
the rovers OF the gulf!"
ala yes what of them ~ asked Tacon
with undisguised interest.
Excellency, | mus, speak with eau
iion," continued the new conner; "other-
wise | may condemn and sacrifice my
selEn
"You have nought to fear on that head
The offer Of reward for evidence agalus, the
scape graces, also vouchsaies pardon TO
the informant. You may speak on without
fear for yourself even though you may be
one OF the very confederation"
You offer reward, in addition, for the
discovery Of Mari - Captain Marli, Of the
smug.lers - do you noltn
awe do, and will gladly make good our
promise OF reward for any AID all infOrma-
lion upon the subject" replied Tacon.
First, Eycellency, do you give me your
knichtly word that you will grant free
pardon 10 me, II reveal all that you require
10 know, even embracing the most secret
hiding places Of the roversr'
81 pledge you my word Of honor" said
the commander.
"No matte, how heinous in the sight of
the law my offences may have been, still
you will pardon me under the kings seall"
Il will IL you reveal truly, and 10 any
good purpose" answered Tacon, weighing
in his mind the purpose Of all this precau-
ton.
"Even il I were a leader among the
roven myself"
The Governor hesi,aied for moment. can
wasting a, single glance the subject before
him, and then said:
"Eveu then, be- you whom you may IL
you are able, and will honestly plot our
ships, and reveal the secrets Of Marii aud
his followers, you shall be rewarded as our
protfer sets forth, and yourself receive n
free pardon"
''Excellency, think I know your char.
ac,er well enough TO trust you, or else
should mol have veniured here"