The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-04-02
Remarkable Escape Of Twelve Cuban
Refugees from Havana.

A CUBAN gentleman who recently ar.
rived in New York gives the following
account Of his escape from the hands Of
the Spaniards in the city of Havana:
Last month he was drafted into the
army under the new CONSUMPTION law,
and, together with some 800 others, ali
Cubans, was confined in the barracks
known a. the Quartet de la Fuerza, in the
Plaza de Armas, in the city of Havana.
Within few days they were to be sent to
the front to fight against their fellow
countrymen, and, although the chances
were desperate, some of them determined
to effect their escape. ...
In order to gain communication with
their friends outside they began to study
the dispositions of the sentinels who were
put over them. Among these was one
who was fond of his Gguadiente, and the
conspirators gave him many little presents
to buy liquor to secure his favor. They
began by asking him to let two or three
60 out at q time for walk, and were
always prompt in their return at the hour
agreed upon. They spoke to Catalan
about getting away from the island. At
last they learned that on certain day q
steamer would sail for port in the United
States, and the Catalan agreed to put
them on board: At eight o'clock that
night the favorite sentinel was on post,
and they asked permission to take an
airing. 1t was granted, and thirteen of
them were allowed to pass out, under q
promise to return at ten O'Clock, in time
for roll.call
As soon as they found themselves in the
street each went to his home. Then, &C.
cOrding to appointment, they met the Cat
alan in 0nffoo hnroo H.
them in parties Of three and four at time
to the steamer. When they were all on
board they paid him what they had agreed
upon, $125 in currency each. The cap
ftain OF the, steamer then informed them
that as he was exposed to fine of $500
for every passenger found on board with
out passport, he would have to charge
them sixty-eight dollars in gold apiece,
and that they would have to promise to
submit to any precautionary measures he
should sec fit to adopt. This they agreed
to, and the captain then said: "Now,
gentlemen, you will have to get into bar
rels, and be headed up and put with the
rest of the cargo"
Thirteen flour barrels filed with or.
anges were then empt:ed, and the Cubans
got into them. The heads of the barrels
were then placed and secured, and they
were then put in tiers with many other
barrels of oranges on top Of them. One
poor refugee was too fat, and could not
manage to squeeze himself into the bar
rel. This unfortunate had to 60 ashore,
~ the captain was afraid to carry him in
any other way. The hold of the vessel
was suifocatingly hot, and the wretched
passengers suffered untold tortures in the
barrels. They were slowed away at
twelve o'clock, and the steamer did not
leave until four. Every little while the
captain would 70 into the hold and say
"We'll start in few minutes now" but
for four hours did the torture last.
One Of them called out from his barrel
that he could not bear 1t and that he must
be let out. The others adjured him to
hold his peace, as their safety depended
ON his fcrtitude. He consented to make
. new effort and 10 try to stand II . little
longer. While they were anxiously await
ing the sailing of the vessel they heard
the police officers come on board. They
went down into the hold Of the vessel and
carefully searched every nook and corner
for stow-aways. They opened several bar
rolls, but fading nothing but oranges, ct
last came to the conclusion that I'll was
right and went ashore. When the vessel
rot outside OF the :" MORO" the refugees
ware released, moro dead than alive.
Some of them were % badly cramped that
they could not assume an erect position
for many days afterward. For obvious
reasons the names Of the refugees and the
name and date Of the sailing Of the steam.
or aro not given.