Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-04-07
Escape of Twelve Gu
ban Refugees from Havana.


A Cubuan gentleman who recently ar
rived in New York, gives the following
account OF his escape from the hands OF the
Spanards in the city of Havana:
Last month he was drafted into the army
under the new conscription law, and to-
gether with some 300 athers, all Cubans,
was confined in the barracks known as the
Quartet dc la Puer2a, in the Piazza de
Arma7, in the city OF Havana. Within
few days they were to be sent to the front
10 tight against their fellow countrymen,
and although the chances were desperate
some of them determined to effect their
escape.
In order 10 gam communication with
their friends outside they began TO study
the dispnsitions of the sentinels who were
put over them. Among these was one who
was iond OF his dgHddienfe, and The con
splrators gave him many little presents to
buv liquor To secnre hIs favor. They be-
gan 10y asking him to lettwo or three GO
out at tune Tor walk and were always
prompt IN their return al the hour agreed
upon, They spoke 20 a Catalan about get
ting away from tho island. At last they
learned that on certain day steamer
would sail Tor port in tho United STATES
and the Catalan agreed to put them on
l board. AT eight o'clock, that night the ia.
L vorite sentinel was on post, and they asked
l permission to take an airing 1t was grant
| cd, aud thirteen of them were allowed to
pass out, under promise to return at ten
O'Clock, in timepor roll-call.
I As soon as they found themselves IN the
| street each went To his home. Then accord
ing 10 appointment they met the Catalan
in coffee house. He conveyed them in
/ parties OF three and four at a time To tho
steamer. When thuy wero all on board
] they paid HIM what they had agreed upon,
| Sl25 In currency each. The captain OF the
l steamer then informed them that as he was
texposed to fine of $500 Tor every passen-
ger found on hoard without passport, he
/ would have to charge them sixty.eight
/ dollars IN gold apiece, and that they would
l have to submit To any precautionary meas
ures he should see TIT 20 adopt. This thew
agreed TO, and the captain then said: Now
i gentlemen, you Will have to get into bar.
l rels and be headed up aud put with the
/ rest OF the cargo"
/ Thirteen flour barrels filled with oranges
were then emptled, and tho Cubans got
into them. The heads OF tho barrels were
then placed and secured, and they were put
in tiers with many other barrels of oranges
lon top OF them. One poor refuge was too
/ tat, and could not manage to squeeze him
sell into the barrel THIS unfortunate lad
to 20 ashore, as tho captain was afraid 10
carry HIM in any other way. The hold OF
l tho vessel wGs suifocAtlnglv hot, and tn
Swretched passengers suffered untold ter
lures in the barrels. They were slowed
| away at twelN o clock and the steamer did
, not leave until four. Every little while tho
:
/ l"W6ll start in Il few minutes now," but
2 for four hours did the torture last.
i one Of them called out from his barrel
that he could not bear It and that he must
be let out. The others abb urod him TO hold
his peace, rs their safety depenaed unou
i his ior,itude. lie consented to make a new
> effort and to try 10 stand It little longer
Il While they were anXiously awaiting the
o sailing OF tho vessel they heard Tho police
: officers come on board. They went down
i into the hold OF the vessel and carefully
c searched every nook and corner for stow.
II laways They opened several barrels, but
/ found nothing but oranges, at last came 10
: the conclusion that all was right and went
y ashore. When the vessel got outside OF th,
l"Morro' The refugees were released, more
dead than alive. Some of them were SC
badly cramped that they coald not assume
Ii an erect position for many days afterward
For obvious reasons the names of the relu
L. gees and the name and date of the sailing o
s the steamer are not gwen.