Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-06-16
A ROMANCE IN u
How n Sweetheart of tho Fortress Com
niandcr Relieves n F6ver-Stricksn
Garrison.

Senior Ramcriz relates the following
incident to 4 Nashville american re-
porter:
II am a Cuban and 7 love Cuba, yet
the extreme hcat Of some months each
year is unbearablc. You remember
the entrance To Havana harbor is
guarded by MORO castle. The garrison
numbers about two hundred men. Three
years ago last June the temperature
rose beyond all previous records. and
the suffering was intense. The authori-
ties were dreadingthe possible invasion
of Cuba's dcadliest scourge- yellow
fever. News came to the city of the
breaking out Of the fever at the castle.
Immediately steps were taken for the
complete isolation of the fort. No
boats were allowed to land from the
infected locality. and none were brave
enough IT, venture the casting Of their
lot with the garrison.
''Thc heat waxed in intensity rs the
DAYS went by. Long had the distress
signal waved from the fort flagstaff.
The inmates were knownt to be dying by
the score, and in need of medicine and
supplies Of all kinds, yet in all Havana
not one heart seemed brave enough to
make the venture Of relief. which so
surely seemed certain death. Each
morning crowds gathered on the piers
and gazed sorrowful!y across the wa
ters To the fatcd island. At sunset
each day we watched tho gates open
and funeral cortegcs wind their way
down the hill to the little garrison
cemetery; we listened for the vollcys
of salute, their number dcnoting how
many brave fellows had succumbed
that day.
'One morning the climax appeared
to be reached. The suns RAYS fairly
penetrated ones clothing and scorched
the skin beneath. No air was stirring,
and the water looked like hot and
FURNISHED steel. All Havana was
gathered near the shore watching anew
the fatal spot where fellow-human be-
ings were bravely dying yet gave no
sign. As wcapathetically gazod across
the water, for the first time in three
long weeks IA boat shot forth from the
pier of Havana. 1t was loaded to the
gunwales with provisions and mcdi-
cine. and nouein that crowd needed TO
be told its destination. Our yves
iftH tEhttH SiIVtl VI tlt llttitt VI tlA,
and to our horror, saw the sole occu-
pant vas n
MANY II blush burned red on heated
! checks that moment. Then a IN.
ycrsal shout OF protest came-toO ,ltc.
Our coward hearts, shamcd by that
brave woman's fearless act, awakened
Us to volunteers. She nausrd an in
slant from borrowing and silenccd our
murmurings with Il wave of her small
hand. Il am alone sho said; from all
Havana not one regret will follow me.
IT'S better that | should &C than n life
upon whose tenure hangs the fate of
others. Good-by.'
I'VE stood silent a moment after the
clear voice ceased, and then a mighty
roar of admiration and adieu went
forth. She bowed her head-we no.
noticed now how young and beautiful
she was-thcn silently bent tothc oars,
and under that blazing sun rowed
straight into the jaws Of death. We
strained our eyes across the water;
watched her strokes grow slower and
slower as the awful heat Slapped hcl
very life, and finally pause exhausted
beneath Castle Morro's walls. Those
faithful souls, brave, and constant to
the last, refused admission, though We
could feel the hunger and longing ex-
pressed in their long-suffering eyes.
AT length faint resistance ceased they
eagerly came down to the welcome
boat-fairly lifted their angel of mercy
on waiting shoulders, and, followed
by others bearing the medicine 10
which many poor fellows will owe
their live, are lost to our view within
the castle walls"
The Cuban paused. The airin the lit
tic room seemed heavy and hot, SO
thoroughly had we entered into the
spirit Of the story. The scnor's two
auditors felt the awful suifocation hi,
Draw, senorita Suffered. We asked il
that peerless sacrifice really eliminated
J in her death. well. there's not much
more to tell. The first effect we no
ticed was the reduction in the number
Of salutes over the soldiers graves;
then one blessed morning when a
breeze. all but cool, came straight from
your northland, the distress signal was
hauled down, and again the royal flag
of Spain tloatcd proudly from the bat
Elements, dcnoting that all was well
within.
"lnstantly the bay was dotted with
boats. We fiocked to the castle and
exchanged congratulations with the
governor and his sadly dccimated gar
rison. We learned that undoubtedly
not a life would have been preserved
had it not been for the brave maidcn's
timely succOr. Now, there, gentlemen,
l., N a, ,,,;i,nt "a N l,,l &c l,,ng -
Yes, what became of the grip"
anxiously inquired the Long Islander.
''She IS the happy wife of the gov
ernor of the castle. and is the idol of
all Havana"