The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1888-08-25
CUBAN BANDITS
The SufIerings OF a Wealthy Cuban
Who Was Held For Ransom.
Every American Should Rejoice That
Cuba Does Not Belong to the
United States.

Senior Lauzan is u living proof tina,
desp Marin's martial law and Capde
pon's new bombastioaily worded measures,
brgandage still thrives in Cuba. His
cousin having paid the ransom demanded
| Lauzan returned on Thursday to his fam
lily, sick, bleeding and half famished
The news OF Senor Lauzan's capture by
the bandits ten days a. o greatly surprised
the town, for il was known that for a long
time past Lauzan had never ven:ured out
of his house, as the sad experience of his
| townsmen, Senors Nicolas Rodriguez
Pena, Gonzalez Aguiar and ID. Valentine
Cruz, while in the power OF the bandits,
had determined him not to expose him
self to their clutches. To his family and
to the friends who gathered to greet him
on his return, he recounted the details of
his kidnapping and captivity.
While seated one evening ut the win
dow that opens out upon the piazza of
his house at San Antonio dc los Banos,
TWO neighbors called to purchase from
him tobacco plantation situated short
distance away. An engagement was made
for the following day at the estate in
question, and at early dawn Senior Lauzan
started from his home TO meet the in
He was travelling at II brisk rate along the
highway, when two men approached him
and asked him IL his name was Lauzan.
Yes" said he. "What is it you wish?"
Follow u.s." they said.
"Gentlemen," said Lauzen, divining
their purpose, sis il money you want? /
have plenty about me. | will give it to
you, and more too; but let me pass.
"Enltn,r ma ,,In 4
of the strangers. ave overheard your
conversation Gt the window last night.
You arc afraid of Us, are you? What have
We done to you that you should so vio.
ieLtly uPbraid us, you sneaking coward?
why have you refused To contribute TO
our support, you sordid old rascal? Do
you think 1t is everTbody's fortune to
have a rich father and inherit plantations,
like you! If you have no feeling for
your poorer fellow creatures, we'll teach
you to be more humane. Now, follow us;
open your umbrella and hold il so close
to your head that your eyes can see moth
ing bnt the ground; look neither to the
righ' or LETT, and not sound or you will
pay dearly for it. Nov forwardr
They kept up their mar sh till evening,
boldly crossing through plantations, and,
IN many Instances following the high
roads To save time. When night came
the bandits put up hammocks for them
seives, and left Senior Lausen, feeble
man, ~ years of age, 10 sleep on the
ground. By the tiickering glare OF the
campfire Senior Lauzan wrote Il few lines
to his family explaining his situation and
@sking for $1,000 with which to buy his
freedom. IL is believed that the sum
paid was III renlity much larger, but on
this point Senior Lauzea is somewhat
During his captivity, Lauzan was obi
ged 10 do do ali sorts OF menial offices
for she bandits. He was deprived of food
II he so much as raised his eyes from the
ground, and for hours At time, with eyes
oiindt"!ded, he had 10 keep up with the
bandits, rapid pace. In these tram ps he
frequektly fell and cut his face. hands
and knees against the sharp rocks. His
pain and bruises excited only their aup h
ter, and IT he Jagged behind a cuff aud
threats OF terrible punishment IL case OF
disobedienue ID orders ins pired him TO
superhuman efforts.
When his release was announced TO
him, Senor Lauzan Gays his brain was so
weak from exhaustion and hunger that
ho SoaIceiy com prenenCed the meaning
OF that long expected phrase. The ban
ditts placed him on horse and again |
him. Then with a man on |
either side to keep him in position, the |
gronp kept up pretty lively pace for
the greatest part of the day. At abou. |
o'clock that evening they halted. The |
bandits took Lauzsn from the horse and |
warned him not to take the bandage from
his eyes or take step ill ho heard the |
order. The signal having been given, he |
was to go forward in a straight line with |
out looking back on pain of being shot.
That night Senior Lauzan walked un- |
ceasingly, in the hope of getting to his
home as soon as possible. Some time
after midnight hs reached the well -kno wn |
road house, Saportas, where he intended |
to pass the night; but too weak to even
rap at the door, Lauzan sank exhausted |
On the door step, where he was found in |
The early hoars of the morning by this |
inn keeper. The latter after serving
him with something to eat and dressing |
his bruises conducted Lauzan to his |
home.