The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-12-04
A Strange Story.

A Strange Story.
A strange story is told by John w.
Young, a young man of about thirty
five years of age, of rare experience
with the world which few of his years
have ever attained. Young was former
ly O Cuban insurgent, but left that
business, and was on his way to New
Orleans, when he received note from
the Captain General of Havana, assur-
ing him of protection and inviting q
visit. Young was taken from the vessel
and disguised and privately conveyed
to the Captain-General's palace in Ha-
vana. Here he was kept in seclusion
for three days, during which time he
heard. nothing from his wife, and only
came in contact with those who were
guarding him. Mrs. Young during this
time was being Hospitality entertained
at the Captain Generals country resi-
dence. AT the end of the third day Mr..
Young was brought before the General,
and, after preliminary conversation.
the real business was entered upon.
After some preliminary conversation
the Captain General said: You know
L have been in command here q long
time, and we have had comparatively
no success and no victories. The moth
er government is becoming dissatisfied
with my administration of affairs on the
island, and is firing of it. If we don't
have any victories soon 1 shall lose my
position, and the insurgents will soon
get the mastery of us. Understanding
that you are a great organizer and
man that can be trusted, now confde
tN ala ~f r
to return to the United States imme-
diately and set about organizing an ex-
pedition for the relief and assistance of
the insurgents. You must raise money,
enlist good men to assist in organizing,
get arms, ammunition, and all sorts of
supplies in as large quantities as you
can raise, and enlist all the Cubans and
Cuban sympathizers possible also OBJ
tain slow sailing steamer for trans
porting your men and supplies, and see
to it that she is well equipped and man
ned by an experienced and loyal crew.
You can organize at any American port
you think proper, but it appears to me
that New Orleans is best adapted for
the purpose. Keep me informed from
day to kay by cypher kilograms of your
progress. Let me know the fastest
speed the steamer can make, also the
day on which you will sail from the
port you select and the course you will
take and the point where you will prob.
ably land, also give me such other in
formation as will enable me to select
faster sailing steamer and have her
cruising on the course which you select,
so that we can overhaul you after q
spirited chase, you having done appa-
rently all in your power to escape.
When taken, make every appearance of
resistance you can, and talk loudly
about the cause which you are seeming
me TO capture tine steu1lier wnIcn you
command, and L will give you twenty
thousand dollars in gold and half of
the proceeds from the sale of the steam
er, arms, ammunition and supplies.
Young asked if the men captured
would be shot, and was told they would
be. Young said it would be necessary
to enlist and engage some thirty Amer
lean men who have seen service in the
rebellion to work with him. That will
give character to the expedition and
inspire confidence and enthusiasm
among the men. I cannot consent, he
added, to any arrangement whereby
one of my own countrymen would lose
his life.
What will you do with them, and
how can I prevent their being shot as
we'll as myself
The Captain General answered-Be-
fore you sail, manage to send me list
OF the names of those whom you desire
to save, and will manage to have you
and them apparently escape, in a man
ner which will blind the others, and
when executed they will not know but
but you are to share the same fate.
Refusing to engage in the work, the
Captain General said You know you
are in my power, and your life is uoth-
ing here. Were it known that you are
now in the castle, 1 could not protect
you from violence, or scarcely protect
myself. Enter into this agreement and
sign this paper, and you can leave the
island safely with your wife. If you
refuse, the very worst consequences
will follow.
Young, as he says, to escape, accept
ed the terms offered. The details were
arranged in very few days, and, with
a bountiful supply of funds, Young left
| Havana with his wife for New Orleans.
His departure was as secret as his ar,
rival Once in the United States, he
abandoned the expedition which he had
so faithfully promised to command, bu
not until he had made one or two drafts
on the Captain General. The latter
however, through his agents in thi
country, soon learned that he had beer
duped, and funds were, of course, n,
longer Forthcoming. Now the nautra
conclusion or the natural question vii
arise, Was the Virginius fitted out il
this way, and We're the 100 or NOR
men murdered the innocent victims O
the conspiracy of one who, in order t
save his own reputation and prolong
weak and dying cause, did not hesitat
t oconceive and execute one of the mos
diabolical and inhuman outrages know
to civilization
A French Story.