New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-09-04

| Yet hsrk my fond heart, harki there ia a sfnre
" better promise and know at last
When the long Sabbath of the tomb il past.
| we two shall meet in Christie part NO more 5l
| lsF=f3. ----
| BALLoU's HISTORY OF CUBA
| The interest taken in Cuba, in the United
States, brings out series Of works on the Island
of different degrees of merit-each author try
| ing to add to the general knowledge-ar,d, as
we are to annex the ever faithful Isle, it is as
| well that we learn all about it we can. The
| work before US contains a history of the Island
from its discovery, giving two chapters to the
| unfortunate Lopez Expedition 1t appears to
be written eandidly, and with accurate inform
| alton. The chapter on statistics is the only one
| deficient; for the number of births and deaths
for five years, from 1926 to 1929, and the ex-
ports and imports for sixteen years, from 1926
to 1912, are not of much use in 1854
The style of the author we are much pleased
with, and below we give the story of ssMarti,
the smuggler," for our readers TO judge. Mr..
Ballou, like all travellers, admires the ladies of
Cubs, and refers to them in nearly every second
chapter. We almost fancy the Hirt Of one of
those Spanish fans has taken his heart, his ad-
miration is SO heartfelt
For the benefit of all dabblers in lottery
tickets, we may inform them that our author
considers the lottery fairly drawn.
The book is to be had at B. NJ. Norman's.,
The story Of Marti, the Smuggier
One of the most successful villains, whose
story will be written in history, is a man named
Marti, as we'll known in Cuba as the Governor
General himself. Formerly he was notorious
as smuggler and half pirate on the coast of
the island, being daring and accomplished
leader of reckless men. At one time he bore
the title of s King of the Isle Of Pines. where
was his principal rendezvous, and from whence
he dispatched his vessels, small, feet crafts to
operate in the neighboring waters
His story, well known in Cuba and to the
Home Government, bears intimately upon our
subject
When Tacon landed on the island. and became
Governor General, he found the revenue laws in
sad condition, as well as the internal ragula-
tions OF the island; and, with spirit of mingled
justice and oppression, he determined to do some
thing in the way of reform. (Tacon governed
Cuba four years--from 1884 to 1885, The
Spanish marine sent out to regulate the mari
time 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
Taeon saw that one of the first moves for him to
| make was to suppress the smuggling upon the
coast at all hazards; and to this end he set him.
self directly to work The maritime force at his
| command was at once detailed upon this service,
| and they coasted night and day, but without
the least success against the smugglers. In
vain were all the vigilance and activity Of Tacon
and his agents; they accomplished nothing
/ 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 frequented, large and tempting
reward was offered to any one Of them who
| would desert from his comrades and act in this
/ capacity In behalf of the Government At the
same time double sum, most princely in
amount, was offered for the person Of one Marti,
dead or alive, who was known to be the leader
OF the lawless royers who thus defed the Gov
ernment. These rewards were freely promul-
gated, 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 Gov
ernment officers were at 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 reward as re-
1 ferred to, when two sentinels were pacing back
i ward and forward before the main entrance to
the Governors palace, just opposite the Grand
/ Plaza. A little before midnight aman, wrapped
i in O cloak, was watching them from behind the
3 =
i after observing that the two soldiers acting as
| sentinels paced their brief walk SO as to meet
each other, and then turned their backs as they
separated, leaving brief moment in the inter-
/ val when the eyes of both were turned away
from the entrance they were placed to guard,
1 seemed to calculate upon passing them unob-
| served. It was an exceedingly delicate maneu-
yer, and required great care and dexterity to
effect it; but at last, it was adroitly DONE and
| the stranger sprang lightly Though the en-
trance, secreting himself behind one of the pill
| lars in the inner court Of the palace The sem
tinels paced on undisturbed
| The figure which had thus stea1thilv effected
| an entrance now sought the broad stairs that
leds TO the Governors suit of apartments with a
1 confidence that eyinced perfect knowledge of
| the place. A second guard-po was to be passed
| at the head Of the stairs; but, assuming an air
of authority, the stranger offered cold military
salute and pressed forward, as though there
was not the most distant question of his right
so to do; and thus avoiding all suspicion in the
guards mind, he boldly entered the Governors
reception-ro room unohallenged, and closed the
door behind him. In large easy chair sat the
Commander-in- Chief, busily engaged in writing,
but alone. An expression of undiguised salts
faction passed across the weather. beaten coun-
tenance of the new conner at this state of affairs,
as be cooly cast off his cloak and tossed it over
his arm, and then proceeded to wipe the perspi-
ration from his face. The Governor, looking
up with surprise, fixed his keen eyes upon the
intruder:
.sWho enters here, unannouneed, at this
hour'" he asked, sternly, while he regarded
the stranger earnestly.
ss0ne who has information of value for the
Governor General. You are Tacon. I suppose =,
Sc am What would you with me, /, or, rather,
how did you pass my guard nnchanenged "
"of that anon. Exoellency, you hare offered
-a,,I e
the rovers of the Gulf"
ssHa yes. What of them'" said Tacon,
with undisguised interest
g Excellency, must speak with caution
continued the new conner; " "otherwise may
condemn and sacrifice myself AlaszllI
50 You have naught to fear on that head.
The offer of reward for evidence against the