The sun., 1885-06-07
CUBA'S MYSTERIOUS THUGS.
an ORGANIZED socfErr OF AssAss1ss

Tho Colonel opened his large dark eyes to
their fullest and shook his hend ominously.
"Ah! muD mala oentel" "a very bad crsw)
| Twas interested. and went into the subject a.
for as could. ono OF my principal iniormants
being the Chief OF Police. who placed at my
disposal certain facts and documents.
| Tho Eaiiieos are assassins banded together
| In secret societies for mutual aid and protec-
tton and they exercise an enormous influence
on the black population. They are also Q terror
to whites. for. the necessary means being
| taken. they can be hired to do any doed OF
| deviltry. and they obey tho word Of command
| to the death. The assassination Of q gentle-
man In Havana the other day BY negro and
the easy escape OF the assassin was In all proba-
bility the work Of one OF these gangs. Last year
| similar murder took place at Guanabacoa. q
| town across the bay from Havana. A wcll- to- do
citizen OF the place was taking an evening
stroll along tho public street with his wife.
CitizOns were at their doors or pnror windows.
or abroad. Suddenly negro. with head bent.
darted from doorway and plunged knife
into the mans body. One stroke was enough
to do the work OF death. As the wounded man lay
| expiring the assassin made his way to tho
Regla ferry. close by. and In view OF many
sG 10 e. Sht
DO marked !, 70. vengeance by the NaIigos, Tho
over 80 tedious and exactine is the process OF
@ Law that = persons era do not care to subject them
nfSi.S c4oWs .Se British Mt
Wounds that he had Ire recSised % ia Broad az dayiiaSt
on II tS crowded s aHsy at the hands Of couple
betoro the courts and the Consul's assailants
esSapeMd T,p vnpnnisheda
Havana Ths ioanGer oi s' the society 5 as was G an
lana had BEEN head oi the tribe s Apnps M M EXT EXT
Many q, his tribe. taken in battle doubtless.
rank was made Known. 'n and il consideration @ no Of
5ssa 5psoDae yssea .Ss h% Hna Shs5 ssyfs VIZ
n into @ native
vi oi tho neEroes in Cuba It was the privilege
OF this society. or tribe as 1t originally was. to
their order and indulge In ali their native
dances. chants. and games. They led the pro:
reeom Ther distncton @ ns wa. one 81 ess CASTE
Cuban born ,hn,n , for boro nkns
proper wore them on their ankles.
~, The original Nang9s I @ were very exclusive.
order This gave them great prestige among
their follows. Later on. however, tho creole
each society for the privilege Of baptism in
RAPIDLY Increased. So ,intonse was their hatred
| OF tho whites that mulattoes were refused ad-
mission to membership because Of tho damn
| ing white strain In their blood
| Tho ceremonies OF initiation wero originally
purely pagan. but the slaves in course Of time
OF tho old African forms OF initiation were dis
carded. and tho, Cruelty. and other sacred en-
at bottom dovil worship. They worshipped the
spirit which they recognized us that Of evil.
Esh odss eons OF
bers In forming. the twenty-five meet and
S ose %e s o edyss sRr nts 81
among tho various wards Of the city. Tho in
itiasion fec OF the soeietyis 5000 In paper. A
| This second fee takes the shape OF black cock
70 the chiefs of the soclstos who attend tho in;
itiatlonS r. ceremonies. The black cock Is sacred
to Tss ss sanFG for initiation meot in room
With with lighted taper m on eithsr side On the the
isthe .falo iioco4So. On he other side Of .he
p,Hs iss sta trimmed With yeyss called hs
adorned with four ilne black cock. feathers is
set before the eruciilx. The chalice is called
whom i is kissed, rs is attorSara The craeiiix;
Ssse :Y In 1nfD tho Ia ss ~ alps
his fingers h In tho water and makes The Sign Of
| Iu0 cross. lD0Te Is II SO u small cup Ull9u Wltl
character to tho scene There is drum called
drum OF and this the
being meted out to them. While the oath is be-
Ing taken horn is soundsh. the sound rssem-
to soc II tho neophyto starts or trembles and to
provo his yaor: I he shows fear. ho is not all
Before entering the chambcr Of sacrifice the
ehief makes S the & sign Of the , cross with ye3w
hraaat ho m RIA aunthar thua. =
! This serves as a token to those within Off
tho bearer has conseHod to BECOME
Thiss II sjsnjilss % that the bearer has al oio
Two by two they enter to ,take tho oath.
Thoy kpeG before The table and EiSs the GhH
aaa his hasd Tie rues sna makes ha Se
""RRo YOU ou1 believe In God ?" asks tho chief
form DG s sd.s,% sTssr @ be brother to those who
Arc you willing to assist your companions
accident whatever?"
" Yes. senior.
The sssS t,G h 9oT so SrSso1sa 9nSs more
ber. The same ceremony Is repeated with =
branch 2f sweet Ssot nd GPp9d IN blessed
with tho teeth. and the blood caught In u bowl
and mixed G With aguardisnte from m III the sugar
cane, n lew urupS OF wax are Iet IAl on TING
shoulder. and q lighted candle Is placed against
the breast In the region OF tho, heart. Some
smart strokes on the back arc admin
i,stsrsd stored, to- prove the men ,msmbHr's stead.
vested IN his robe Of office. enters and
holding his hands on the drum OF sacrifice
Throughout: the entire cercmonial He has
shiei nt also par.aking; procession follows,
the benting Of drums. Supper il then set the
supper consisting solely OF the black cock.
further oath Is tnken to tho effect that the
new brother promises to ayenge death or in
jury inflicted on any OF tho brethren. the obli;
tho special ward OF the brotherhood
They decide that such n person is to be Killed.
and IN sxecutloner Is appointed. He falls At his
peril, and sooner or atcr the sentence Ia
carried out More mon have met their death
| at the hands of these assassins than at the
hands Of civil process In Havana and tho other
chief cLtios OF Cuba In Havana alone thoro Is
the DEGREES OF one or other band Of NafiiGos.
AS an Indian counts his prowsss by the scalps
| he has taken. SO Mango Is distinguished BY
| the deaths or wounds he has dealt and it is
!,