Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-02-17
The Condemned Cuban.


1t was fearful night on the coast Of
Cuba, for tornado had swept along the
sea and shore with relentless fury, leav
ing death and destruction in its merci
less path.
And yet, though sheltered by the for
est-elad point of land jutting out 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 futtered in the
breeze and sentence most severe rested
upon all who served beneath its folds.
The little vessel, once New York
yacht, had run in to the Cuban coast af-
ter dark, bearing arms, ammunition,
stores, and few good men and true for
the patriot army of Cespedes in the
mountains.
Having safely delivered her cargo in
to the charge of the unfortunate 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 gar
rote or rifle.
''Stand ready all to make sail. The
storm will be more merciful than the
Spaniards," called out 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 gun.
All paused, for what could it mean?
Certainly it was not the roar of thun-
der, for its mutterings were heard far
away to landward.
Could another Cuban craft be running
in and the gun come from a Spaniard
in chase?
: No, it was the deep boom of heavy
gun, and those on the yacht looked at
each others in awe as it was repeated,
for they knew that the brazen throat
was pleading piteously for help, and
that one hundred lives-perhaps many
more-hung on the answer to that ap-
peal.
"They are minute guns, and they are
calling for a pilot" said Enrique Del
monte, a handsome young Cuban, who
was second in command of the yacht.
"Will any 90 to their aid?" asked the
American commander.
a"No, they are Cuban pilots, and it
must be q Spanish man-of-war that
needs them"
at seems pity to see them wrecked,
even if they are our enemies. Hark
How pleading are those guns!" answer
ed the American.
Enemies though they be, they shall
not die, for will save themP'
"You, Enrique Delmonts?"
"Yes, my. Captain; for as you know,
my boyhoOd's home is near by, and /
know these waters well. Will you put
me on board, for you are going to sea p
said the noble young Cuban.
ut is a fearful risk for you to run,
Delmonte; you are already under SEN
nee of death, and
Il will die in good cause. Come, let
use lose no time, from the sound of
those guns the vessel is drifting in rap
idly"
The American Captain offered no ar
gumeRt further, and the anchor was
raised, the sails reefed down, were set,
and the little yacht sped like huge,
white bird away from its safe nest to
battle with the wild waters and winds
beyond.
1t took the united strength of the
Captain and Enrique Delmonte, who
acted as pilot, to hold the yacht on her
course, for the seas washed over her
decks in torrents, and she staggered
fearfully beneath the rude shocks of the
waves.
At length the channel was safely
passed through, and the open waters
reached, when not half a mile away,
came the vivid red flash of gun, and
the deep boom rolled across the waters.
at is a large vessel, and evidently a
steamer, from the light rig the guns
flash showed" said the Captain.
II know that vessel well, Captain
for three years OF my service in the
Spanish navy was passed OH her deck,
and would rather lose my life than see
her go down"
Enrique Delmonte spoke with great
earnestness, AMI the American felt that
lie had some deep cause for wishing to
save the vessel He knew that his
father was Spaniard and his mother a
Cuban, and that he had been reared i'll
the navy of Spain, which he had left to
serve his native land.
Shaping their course so as to head the
drifting vessel off, a lantern was shown
to tell of coming succor, and the cheer
that broke from the crew at sight of it
was heard on board the yacht.
"Delmonte, again L must remind you
of the risk you rum" said the Captain.
II know all, and will take my chances !;
as soon as 1 board the Alamanda you
had better stand seaward, so as not to
be in this neighborhoOd at daylight"
And you, Delmonte?"
"0hl | will run the vessel into the
harbor we left, and then go ashore and
hasten on alter Ryan. for | can overtake
him, and when you again come to the
island / will join you unless | can do
more good ashore; but here we are, anu
] will hail."