Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-06-18
CUBAN THUGS.

CUBAN THUS.
A correspondent of the New York Sun
writing from Havana gives history of the
Nanigos, murderous secret society which
infest the island of Cuba. The following is
a synopsis of the correspondents recital:
"These assassins are banded together in
secret societies for mutual aid and protec-
ton, and they exercise an enormous In
fluence on the black population. They are
also o terror to whites for, the necessary
means being taken, they can be hired to do
any deed of deviltry, and they obey the
word of command 10 the death. The assas.
sination of gentleman in Havana the other
day by negro and the easy escape OF the
assassin was in all probability the work OF
one of these gangs. Last year similar
murder took place at Gunabacoa, a town
across the bay from Havana. A well-to-do
citizen of the place was taking an evening
stroll along the public street with his vile.
Citizens were at their doors or parlor win
dows, or abroad. Suddenly negro, with
head bent, darted from doorway and
plunged q knife into the mans body. One
stroke was enough to do the work of death.
AS the wounded man lay expiring the as
sassin made his way TO the Regla ferry,
close by, and in view of many crossed over
to Havana, as one might cross from Brook
lyn to New York. No one dared intercept
or follow him, for such person would be
marked for vengeance by the Nanigos. The
assassin is doubtless free to this day. More
over, so tedious and exacting is the process
of law that persons do not care to subject
themselves to the discomfort of appearing
as witnesses against criminals.
"Mr. Grove, the British nsulGeneral
at Havana, showed me the marks of dread
full wounds that he had received in broad
daylight on the crowded quay at the hands
of q couple of ruffians, who slashed at him
with razors Not man of all the crowd
interfered or appeared before the courts,
and the Consul's assalants escaped pun
ishment.
"The Nanigos were first formed into
society in 1886 at Regla, just across the bay
from Havana The founder of the society
was an imported slave, an African, who in
his own land had been head of the tribe
Apapa Epi. Many of his tribe, taken in
battle, doubtless, and sold to traders, ac-
companied him. His rank was made known,
and in consideration of his influence he OBJ
tanned q certain freedom. His people Wis
tied him as did other slaves who had heard of
the great chief There, with due ceremo-
MES. thew were initiated into the native
society of Nanigos.
"The ceremonies of initiation were origi-
nally purely pagan, but the slaves in course
of time received a sort Of Christianity, and
some of the old African forms OF initiation
were discarded, and the crucilix and other
sacred emblems were made use OF. The
initiation fee of the society is 5000 in paper.
A fee is also paid to each of the existing
societies. This second fee takes the shape
of black cock to the chiefs of the societies
who attend the initiation ceremonies. The
black cock is sacred to the Mango.
The initiatory ceremonies are long, unln-
teresting and senseless, the candidate being
made to drink blood, cross himself with
holy water, kiss crucifxes, etc., and at the
conclusion Of the mummery supper is set,
which consists solely of the black cock. An
oath is taken to the effect that the new
brother promises to avenge death or injury
inflicted on any of the brethren, the obliga.
ton of mutual defense not passing beyond
the special ward of the brotherhood.
1.-THE society takes counsel on life or death.
They decide that such a person is to be kill
ed, and an executioner is appointed. he
fails at his peril, aad sooner or later the SEN
tence is carried out. More men have met
their death at the hands of these assassins
than at the hands of civil process in Hava-
M and the other chief cities of Cuba. In
Havana alone there is death or wound
more or less day from the'decrees of one
or other band of Nanigos. AS an Indian
counts his prowess by the scalps he has TAX
en-. so Mango is distinguished by the
deaths or wounds he has dealt: and it is me-
cessary for him to prove his valorand worth
to the society by the commission of some
bloody deed When he dies, the brethren
attend the funeral in body, and, If neces-
sary, pay the expenses and assist the family.
The corpse is laid out in the robes OF the
order, and the funeral ceremonies resemble
in character those attending the initiation.
A cock is again killed, but by strangulatlon
this time, the blood not being permitted to
flow, as it is reserved for the dead. The
CORPSE is rubbed with it, and it is then
placed under the pillow in the coffin and
buried with the dead, 80 that he may take
off no brother Mango.
Tn 1863 successful attempt was made by
whites for the first time to enter the Mango
fraternity. There was the most strenuous
opposition, but whether by purchase or
favor, or by both, the secrets were dlvulged,
and white lodge was formed in Havana.
| In fact thirty ounces in gold was paid the
Bacoco brotherhood as initiation tee, and
the money was expended in liberating sew
eral slaves belonging to the lodge. But tne
lodge itself was suspended and otherwise
punished for having admitted whites. Final
| ", the blacks met in session at Marianao,
where the Havana race course is kept, and
it was there decreed that no white Mango
should be admitted to q negro session, and
no negro should attend white session.
This rule is, I believe, observed, though
whites and blacks give each other the signs
of harmony and fraternity in the streets ana
wherever they may meet"