Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-12-25
THE CONDEMNED CUBAN.
BY COL. pRESrlss INGRAHAx.

Cuba, for tornado had swept along the
sea and shore with relentless fury, leav-
ing death and destructionin it's merclless
path.
And yet, though sheltered by the for
est-olad point of land Uniting ont from
the main, small vessel was getting
ready to leave the quiet inland waters
and put to sea.
The cause of thus daring death by the
commander of this little vessel was be-
cause at the peak the lone star flag OF
the struggling Cubans tuttered in the
breeze and sentence most severe rested
mon all who's erved beneath its folds.
The little vessel, once Il New York
yacht, had run in to the Cuban coast
after dark, bearing arms, ammunition,
stores and q few good men and true for
the patriot army Of Cespeds in the
mountains. ..r.s.t
Having safely delivered her cargo into
the charge of the unfortunatee Gen.
RYAN her American commander deter
mined to put to sea in the face OF the
storm. for he knew that Spanish gun
boats were watching for him, and that
CAPTURE meant certain death by the
garrotc or rifle.
"stand ready all TO make sail The
storm will be- more mercifnl than the
Spaniards," called ont the yachts cap
tain: and the crew of half . dozen men,
and two junior officers sprang to obey,
when to their ears came the deep boom
of q gun.
All paused, for what could IL mean
Certainly it was not the roar OF thun-
der, forits mItterings were heard far
away to landward. aaag
Could another Cuban craft be running
in and the gun come from q spaniard in
chase
No, it was the deep boomof heavy
run. and those on the yacht looked at
each other in awe rs it was repeated, for
they knew that the brazen throat was
pleading piteously for help, and that a
hondred lives-perhaps many more
hung on the answer to that appeal.
"Thcy are minute guns, and they are
calling for pilot" said Enrique Del
monte. a handsome young Cuban, who
was second in command Of the yacht.
"Will any go to their add" asked the
Am 4rican commander.
"No they are Cuban pilots, and Ii
must Re = Spanish man of-war that needs
Them
at seems % pity to see them wrecked,
even if they are orr enemies. hark
How pleading are those guns" answer,
ed the American. ....
enemies though they be, they shall
not die, for will save them"
''You, Enrique Dclmonte" =
dyes, my Captain; for, as You know,
nv boyhood's home is near by, aud
know these waters well, Will yon pu
me on board, for you are going to sea
said the noble young Cuban.
1T is a fearful risk for you to run
Demonte; you are already under sen
teuce of death, and I'd. 10
i will die in good cause. Come, lie
us lose no time, for, from the sound o
those guns the vessel is drifting in rap
idly ~. $3.50
The American captain offered no argl1
ment further, and the anchor was raised
the sails, reefcd down, were set, and tn
little Yacht sped like huge, white Dir
away from its safe nest to battle wit
wild water, and winds beyond.
1t took the united strength Of the cal
tain and Enrique Dclmontc, who acte
as pilot, to hold the yacht on her course
fer The seas washed over her decks !
torrents, and she staggered teartully i
meath the rude shocks of the waves
At the length the channel was satel
passed through, and the open wate1
reached when. not half u mile ava,
came the vivid red fash of II gun, an
the deep boom rolled across the water
1T is a vessel, and evidently steam
or, from the light rig the guns tias
showed" said the captain.
4 know that vessel well, captain; fl
three years of my service in the SPANS
navy, was passed on her deck, and
would rather lose my life than see h
go down.
Enrique Delmonte spoke with gre
earnestness, and the American felt TIL
he had some deep cause for wishing
save the vessel. He knew that his fat
CT was Spaniard and mother a Cuba
and that he had been reared in the na'
of Spain, which he had left to serve i
native land