Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1854-09-28
The Story Of Marti, the SmuggIer,l

II One of the most successful villain
! whose story will be written In histe
Try, is man named Marti, as we
known in Cuba as the person of tn
Governor General himself. e Former
lily he was notorious as a smuggler
and half pirate on the coast of tn
island, being a daring and accom-
Iplished leader of reckless men. A
one time he bore the title of King
of the Isle of the Pines, where was
his principal rendezvous, and from
whence he despatched his vessels
small fleet crafts, to operate in the
neighbOring waters.
! When Tacon landed OF the island
and became Governor-General, he
found the revenue laws in a sad con-
| idition, as we'll as the internal regula-
tions of the island; and, With a spir-
lit Of mingled justice and oppression,
he determined to do something in
the way of reform The Spanish
marine, sent out to regulate the
maratime matters Of the island lay
in port, the officers passing their
time on shore, or giving balls and
dances on the decks of their vessels.
Tacon saw that one of the first moves
for him to make was to suppress the
smuggling upon the coast at all haz-
ards; and to this end he set hi mself
directly to work. The maratlme
force ut his command was at once
detailed upon this service, and they
coasted night and day, but without
the least success against the snug
glers. In vain were all the vigilance
and activity of Tacon and his agents
! they accomplished nothing.
At last, finding that all his expedi-
tions against them failed partly
from the adroitness and bravery of
the smugglers, and partly from the
want of pilots among the shoals and
rocks that they frequented, a large
and tempting reward was offered to
any one of them who would desert
from his comrades and act in this Ca
pacity in behalf Of the government.
At the same time, double sum, most
in amount, was offered for
the person Of Marti, dead or alive,
Who was known TO be the leader of
-he lawless royers who thus defed
he government. These rewards " ERE
reeIy promulgated and posted, so as
o reach the ears of those whom they
concerned; but even these seemed to
produce no effect, and the govern
nent officers were at a loss how to
proceed in the matter.
Itwas dark, cloudy night in Ha-
lana, some three or four months sub
to the issuing of the pla-
ards, announcing the rewards re-
erred to, when two sentinels were
pacing backwards and forwards be-
ore the main entrance to the Cover
lor's palace, just opposite the grand
,laza. A little before midnight, a
nan wrapped in cloak was watch-
ng them from behiGd the statue of
ferdinand, near the fountain, and af-
er observing that the two soldiers
citing as sentiuels, paced their brief
Walk, so as to meet each other, and
hen turn their backs as they sepa-35
ated, leaving a brief moment in the
when the eyes of both were
urned away from the entrance they
we're placed to guard, seemed to cal
ulate upon passing ihem unObserved.
t was an exceedingly delicate ma
leuvre, and required great dexterl-
y to effect it; but at last it was
droitly ne,and the stranger sprang
ightly through the entrance, secret
ng himself behind one of the pillars
n the inner court of the palace. =
he sentinels paeed on undisturbed.
The figure which had thus steal
hily effected an entrance now sought
he broad stairs that led to the Gov
rnor's suite of apartments, with a ,
onlidence that evin ced a perfect
nowledge of the place. a second :
uard post was to be passed at the ,
cad of the stairs; but, Ass umlng an air $
authority, the strangerpifereda a coiu !
Military salute, and passed forward as
nough there was not the slightest
istant question of its right to do so;
I'D thus avoiding all suspicion in the !;
uard 5 mind, he boldly entered the
overnOr's reception room unehal-
ngcd, and closed the door behind
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