The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-16

| that have
| SEEN AND SPOKEN WITH PREGDENT CEsPEDEs.
To the representative of the HERALD has
fallen the honor of being the first commits
sioner from the outside world that has pene-
trated to the seat Of government and held
communication With new Power, that amid
| all difficulties and dangers, has been able to
maintain itself for four years in despite of the
efforts made to crush it by the Spanish gov
ernmens Having claimed this honor
FOB THE nrERz1ann OF THE HERALD,
return to the natural couzga Of my history.
For reasons which shall afterwards explain,
must pass over in silence the events of the
18th, Goth and part of the 21st Of February
Three days were occupied in my passage from
Santiago de Cuba through the Spanish lines
to the outlying Cuban encampment where
entered for the first time that Cube Libre which
had hitherto sought unsuccessfully. The
feeling of pleasure and satisfaction expert
enced amid
THE FEW HUTs OF STRAW AND PALM LEAVES
at the successful termination of the fatigues
and dangers Of the preceding days cannot be
conveyed to the general reader, but such as
have passed through similar experiences will
understand them.
MY FIRST CARE WAS TO WRITE
q few lines to the HERALD, in the hope that,
by means Of the slow and difficult communi-
cation of the Cubans with the outer world, the
news Of my safe passage through the Spanish
lines should be communicated to the HERALD.
was the more anxious to do this Immediate
ly, as feared that, owing to the escape Of my
horse in the mountains and his probable re-
turn to Santiago de Cuba,
A REPORT WOULD GET ABROAD THAT WAS DEAD.
This was rendered the more probable by the
constantly repeated warnings given by the
Spanish officers and others that my solitary
expeditions to the country would in oil proba-
bility terminate fatally. Now that the danger
is passed, am free to confess that had fully
recognized the risk incurred in the constant
excursions I made to the country I would
probably
NOT HAVE vENTURED 80 OFTEN
into lonely and uninhabited districts The
Cubans whom first met told me frankly that
had appeared on horseback alone in the
neighborhood of the encampment, in all
probability would have been
SHOT ON SIGHT,
under the impression that I was Spaniard.
The man who told me so, with the approba-
ton of his auditors, had been himself the VIC
tim of an occurrence of this nature, and was
slowly recovering from the effects of q shot
which had passed through both his legs. He
had suddenly found himself in presence Of
TWO AMBUsHED spANIARDs,
who had fired Immediately on recognizing
him as an, insurgent Neither this man nor
his companions would have waited to scru-
tinize too closely well-dressed and we'll
mounted stranger. The garb would have been
sufficient, and
THE MACHETE WOULD HAVE FINISHED
speedily and without question the work Of
the bullet. My character, however, once
recognized, I felt as safe among these people
as ever did in the most polished centre of
civilization. 1t would be impossible to show
more consideration and respect to a sovereign
than has been shown to me during my resi-
dence among the Cuban insurgents 1t is
true that they have no delicacies to offer, and
their hospitality to one accustomed to what we
call comfort cannot fai, 70 appear somewhat
rude but what they have is
GIVEN FREELY AND GRACEFULLY,
SO that if they were not constantly reminding
me of the good things they cannot give me,
/ would forget them in the enjoyment Of the
little they possess. From the moment of my
arrival in the Cuban lines on the 21st of Feb
ruary until reached the headquarters of
GENERAL CALIxTo GARCIA YNIoUEz,
on the Goth, little of importance transpired.
General Garcia was not in camp when ar
rived, as he did not expect me for some days,
having despatched
AN ESCORT OF TWENTY RIFLERos
to Cambute to convey me to headquarters In
the meantime, however, I had left the en-
campment of Tampee, accompanied by Com
mandante Vegas and some thirty of his bat
talon, and, having taken different route
missed the rferos. General Maxine Gomez
however, and General Calvar were at the
headquarters, and received me in the absence
of the General commanding the troops, who
soon after appeared and
EXPRESSED SATISFACTION AT MY ARRIVAL
in the Cuban lines, where had been for some
time expected. General Calixto Garcia
Yniquez is young man, rather tall and very
slightly built. He is thirty-three years of
age, and, though his hair is prematurey
tinged with gray, scarcely appears so
old In his manner he is affable
and not wanting in grace aud certain dis
tinguished air. He speaks rapidly and at
times imperatively. In character he is ner-
vous, energetic and astute, and evidently pos
sesses the properties of mind necessary for q
leader in the peculiar class of wars waged by
the Cubans. Like the majority of the Cuban