Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-08-19
EVENING STAR.
THE STORY OF xARr1, rHE sMueGLrR

EVENING, STAR.
THE STORY OF xART1, THE sMueGLrs
One Of the most successful villains
whose story will be written in history is
q man named Marti, as well known in
Cuba as the person of the Governor-Gen-
eral himself. Formerly he was notorious
as smuggler and half-pirate on the coast
Of the island, being daring and accom-
plished leaderofreck.ess men. At one time
he bore the title of King of the Isle Of the
Pines, whore was his principal rendez.
vous, and from whence he despatched has
vessels, small feet crafts, to operate in
in the neighboring waters. 7say;.s
When Tacon landed on the island and
became Governor General, he found the
revenue laws in sad condition, as well
as the internal regulations of the island
aud, with spirit Of mingled Justice and
oppression, he determined to do some.
thing in the way of REFORM The Span.
ish marine, sent out to regulate the mar.
itime. matters of the island. lay idly in
port, the officers passing their time on
shore, or in giving balls and dances on
the decks Of their vessels. Tacon saw
that one of the first moves for him TO
make was tosuppress the smuggling upon
the coast at all hazards: and to this end
he set himself directly to work. The
maritime force at his command was At
once detailed upon this service, and thew
coasted night and day, but without the
least success against the smugglers. In
vain We're all the vigilance and activity
of Tacon and his sseuss-they accom-
plished nothing. j.. ...-.--
At last, finding that all his expeditions
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 FREQUENT.
ed, a large and tempting reward was of.
fered to any one of them who would de-
sert from his comrades and act in this
capacity in behalf Of the government. At
the same time, double sum, most prince..
ly in amount, was offered for the person
of one Marti, dead or alive, who WAS
known to be the leader of the lawIess
revers who thus defed the government.
These rewards We're freely promulgated,
and posted so as to reach the ears and
eyes of those whom they concerned: but
even these seemed to produce no effect,
and the government officers were at a
loss how to proceed in the matter.
1t was dark, cloudy night in Havana,
some three or four months subsequent to
the issuing of these placards announcing
the rewards as referred to. when two
sentinels were pacing backwards and for.
wards before the main entrance to the
Governor palace, just opposite the grand
plaza. A little before midnight, a man
wrapped in a cloak was watching them
from behind the statue of Ferdina;,6
near the fountain, and, after obsery;ne
that the two soldiers acting as sentinelS
paced their brief walk so as to meet each
other, and then turn their backs as thev
separated, leaving brief moment in the
interval when the eyes of both were turn.
ed away from the entrance they were
placed to guard, seemed to calculate
upon passing them unobserved. It WAS
IN exceedingly delicate maneuyre. and
required great care and dexterity to effect
t; but at last it was adroitly done, and
'he stranger sprang lightly through the
secreting himself behind one of
The pillars in the inner court Of the nal
ace. The Sentinels paced ON uBdisturbed.
The figure which had thus stealthily
eHeeted an entrance, now. sought the
broad stairs that led to the Governors.
suite OF apartments, with a confidence
that evinced perfect knowledge of the
place. A second guard-post was to be
passed at the head of the stairs: hut
an air of authority, the stran-
ger offered cold military salute and
passed forward, as though there was not
Lhe most distant question of his right SO
10 do; and thus avoiding suspicion in
the guards mind, he boldly entered the
Governors reception room unchallenged.
md closed the door behind him. In a
arge easy chair sat the commander.in-
chief, busily engaged in writing, but
alone. An expression of undisguised
satisfaction passed across the weather.
beaten countenance of the new conner at
-he state of affairs, as he coolly cast off
MS cloak and tossed it over his arm, and
.hen proceeded to wipe the prespiration
rom his face. The Governor, looking
up with surprise, fixed his keen ewes
upon the intruder -
"Who enters here, unannounced. at
his hour 2" he asked sternly, while he
regarded the stranger earnestly.
Zone who has information of value
Gor the Governor General. You are Ia
con, l suppose 2"
"I am: What would you with me :
4, rather, how did you pass my guard
lnchallenged 2"
"Of that anon. Excellency, YOU have
offered handsome reward for informa-
ion concerning the rovers of the gulf a.
&c Ha yes. What Of them 2" said Ia
;on, with undisguised interest.
"Excellency, must speak with eau
.ion," continued the new conner; other
wise 1 may condemn and sacrifice nv
self"
"You have naught to fear on that head.
The offer of reward for evidence against
The scapegraces also vouchsafes a pardon
70 the informant. You may speak Oh,
without fear to yourself, even though
you may be one Of the very confedera-
ion itself"
"You offer reward, also, in addition,
or the discovery of Martl-Captain Mar