The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-08-23

A Virginia COlored Girls Renaar-
kable Story OF Her Escape from
Cuba.
Richmond tva) Dispatch.
Some time since mention was made in
this paper Of colored female who. .pur4
porting to have just escaped from Caba,
was advertising to find her mother. She
represents that her name is Rosa Brooks,
alias Grandson, the last name being
given her from the family name of her
former owners. Sixteen years ago, she
says-just before the close of the late
war-her young mistress, then living in
this city, married Mr.. Grandson, OF
Havana, Cuba They moved to his
home, and she (Rosa), being only one
year Of age, was taken with them, and
thus snatched fromthe very threshold
of emancipation, that soon followed. -
She grew up in. the service or her new
master and his family, and some time in
June last became involved In difficulty
with one Of the children that came nigh
losing her life.
1t seems that in the alteration with
the child she lost her temper, and In an
unlucky moment slapped Its jaws. She
says her act was considered such high
crime that 'the Queen" was informed Of
it, and Her Royal Majesty decreed that
she should die. She was seated in the
kitchen the next day, when the Queen,
in all her pomp and pride, entered, and,
seizing q large carvlng-knife, began
sharpening it for the dread execution
Making one desperate effort for her life.
she sprang through the door, scaled the
walls Of the city and plunged into the
ocean. Her struggle with the waves
had scarcely well begun when the Royal
troops fred upon her, and she was
wounded in seven places. Worn out
with her fatiguing run, and exhausted
with her loss of blood; she continued to
battle for life, when, having swan some
nine miles being seven hours in the
water), and on the point OF giving up.
the ghost, she was rescued by band Of
mermaids. a.. ,.s.s ~.
These fairy creatures, she represents
bore her to their homes in the rocky,
caverns along the sea-shore. and showed
her every attention, nursing her until
she had entirely recovered that they
live like ordinary human beings, and are
as gentle and kind as possible. When
she was well, they took her out into the
ocean, and placed her on vessel bound
to Galveston, at which. port she arrived
safely, and thence made her way to
Richmond, in search of her mother, Sa-
rah Brooks. She is good talker, and
has an air Of earnestness about her, and
dresses very neatly. She proposes Civ
ling an exhibition OF her swimming abIl-.
tiles, and says that she will swim in the
river for six or seven consecutive hours.
Boss OF tile Breakers.
Ban Jose Herald.
While at Santa Cruz last week we had
the pleasure Of seeing Miss Alice Bos-,
ton, the champion swimmer, in some of
her exploits DER the waves. Last We'd.
pesday was her eighteenth birthday
She was raised in Santa Cruz; goes into,
the surf summer and winter. She is
small in height and weight; being light,
built, and has every appearance Of
young school girl, not representing that
masculine strength Of some girls She
wears bathing suit of light material,
worn loosely around her body. She
plays with breakers like a seq gull. On
her eighteenth birthday she swan q mile
into the bay with Mr.. Joe Enrigh. and,
returned not fatigued in the least, while
her, partner became much wearied and
caused her great alarm. This was quite
feat for so young girl. Yesterday
| it was announced that she was to take Z
much longer swim and to go alone. Il
drew many anxious eyes to the beach,
who had heard, but not seen. She was,
late entering the. water and the visitors
became anxious. At little past IL,
o'clock she came outand darted through
the breakers like fish. After playing
for few moments near the shore she.
was seen to dart into the sea. Many
are the glasses that went to anxious eyes.
10 watch her movements. Soon moth,
ing but black speck could be seen. A.
vessel lay upon the water mile and q
half from the shore, and she seemed
heading in that direction. Women be-,
came nervous for fear she might ctdnip
and GO down. No one expected her TO.
go out as far as the vessel and return -
But ere long the little black speck came
up alongside that vessel. She swan
Eout around it and then started for shore.
When she came about one-third in seal
was seen immediately In her path. The
watchers became anxious lest it should
frighten her TO drown. But no; che
moved on near it and she never seemed,
to care. II was getting late, but no one
would leave the beach until they saw her
safely landed. She finished the three
miles, darted time or two through the
breakers, aad trotted off to the dressi' 6
room as though she had been out but q
few moments. ..s,,-,.
swThe Philadelphia Record cautions
the makers Of Internal machines that
"to compass the destruction of vessels
upon the high seas without lawful an
thority is piracy by the law of nations,
and is made punishable with death by
the laws of the United States. Section
s, 1923 provides that "every person who
knowingly aids, a5ets, causes, procures,
commands or counsels another to COM
NIT any murder, robbery or other piracy
upon the seas is an accessory before the