The Democratic advocate., 1881-05-14
Select STORY.
THE CONDEMNED CUBAN.

I'LL LII OUDhNI
1t was fearful night on the coast Of
Cuba, for a tornado had swept along the
sea and shore with relentless fury, leaving
death aud destruction in its merciless
path.
And yet though sheltered by the forest
clad point of land jutting out from the
mainland, 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 the vessel was because at
the peak the lone star flag of the strug
Cling Cubans futtered in the breeze, and
sentence most severe beneath its folds
The little vessel, once New York
yacht, had run into the Cuban coast, after
dark, bearing arms, ammunition, stores
and few good men and true for the pa.
triot army of Cespides in the mountains.
Having safely delivered her cargo into
the charge of the unfortunate General
Ryan, her American commander deter,
mined to put to sea 10 the face Of the
storm, for he knew that Spanish gunboat'
we're watching for him, and that capture
meant certain death by the garote oil
rife.
''Stand ready all to make sail The
storm will be more mereiful than the
Spaniards;n called out the yachts captain
and the crew ef half dozen men and two
junior officers sprang to obey, when ,C
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 mutterinrs we're heard fal
away to landward.
Could another Cuban craft be running
in and the gun come from Spaniard il
chase?
No, it was the deep boom Of heayy
gun, and those on the yacht looked at eael
other in awe as it was repeated, for the!
knew that the braEen throat was pleading
pileously for help, and that hundred live
perhaps many more hung on the ans
wer to that appeal
"They are minute guns, and they arl
calling for pilot, says Enrique Del
monte, a handsome Cuban, who was see
ond in command Of the yacht.
"Wil any go to their aid ?" asked tn,
American commander.
"NO, there are Cuban pilots, and it mus
be a Spanish man-ofwar that need.
them.
at seems a pity to see them wrecked
even if they ar, our enemies. Hark
How pleading are those guns r answered
the American.
Enemies though they be, they shal
not die, for ! will save them
''You, Enrique DelmOnte p
ayes, my Captain for, as you know
my bOyhood's home is near by, and l knov
these waters well. win you put me OF
board, for you are going to sea p said th'
noble young Cuban.
at is a fearful risk for you to run, Del
monte you are already under sentence o
death, and"
II win die 10 a good cause. Come, le
us lose no time, for from the sound 0
those guns, the vessel is drifting in rap
idly"
The American captain offered no fur
ther argument, and the anchor was raised
the sails, reefed down, were set, and tn
little yacht sped ike huge, white bir,
away from its safe nest to battle with tn
wild waters and winds beyond.
1t took the united strength of the eaI
tain and Enrique Delmonte, who acted a
a pilot, to hold the yacht on her course
for the seas washed over her decks in tor
rents and she staggered fearfully beneatl
the rude shocks of the waves.
At length the channel was safely passe
through and the open waters reached
when, not one-half mile away, came tn
vivid red fash of gun and the deep booI
rolled over the waters.
at is large vessel, and evidently
steamer from the light rig the guns fos
showed, said the captain.
81 know that vessel well, Captain fo
three years of my service in the SPANS
Navy was passed on her decks, and | woul
rather lose my life than see her go down.
Enrique Delmoute spoke with grea
earnestness, and the American felt tha
he had some deep cause for wishing
save the vessel. He knew that his fathe
was Spaniard and his mother a Cubar
and that he had been reared in the Nav
of Spain, which he had left to serve hi
native land
Shaping their course SO as to head tn
drifting vessel off, lantern was shown
tell of coming suecour, and the cheer thu
broke from the crew at sight of it, wa
heard on board of the yacht.
aDelmonte, again must remind you
the risk you run, said the captain.