Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-08-02
IMPRISONED IN CUBA.
PART II.
THE ARREST.

e~A@etAA W SELL lHe more 1 was puzzled.
Tho day wore slowly away; at shutdown
the boat returned bringing word that the
other captains were disappointed at my not
being with them.
At an early hour sought my bed in any
thing but tranquil frame of mind, for |
knew that should the authorities discover
that l had carried tho bag ashore and left it.
no matter what the contents might be. it
would go hard with me, for the Spaniard Of
the West Indies has little love for the Ameri.
can, and is only too well pleased to catch one
tripping
1t might have been midnight when was
awakened from troubled sleep by the sound
Of boat humping alongside and the voices
of strangers on deck. At length several men
came down the forward companion way, but
they were met by the mate, who refused them
admission to the cabin. They then began
loudly calling for the captain
trombled, I'll admit It; but there was no
alternative, must face them So hurrying
on my clothing came out into the cabin and
met The officers
1--WE must take you ashore, captain re
marked one of the soldiers in English.
''For whati" demanded
THAT the captain will learn when we reach
there"-was the only satisfaction that got,
and uncerenoniously they hustled me out of
the vessel and away--but not before had
chance TO tell my mate to inform the Amer
lean consul early in the morning of what had
taken place.
On leaving the bark l was surprised to see
that they did not take the course for the city,
but kept away to the westward.
'Where are you taking mef inquired, in
dismay.
''See, bimeby,n was tho only answer, and l
held my peace.
Soon the dark outlines of the shore arose
before me, but the formation of the outline
/ as it broke upon my view caused a shudder
TO creep over me anil almost froao the blood
in my veins.
1t was the fort that we were approaching,
and the sharp angles and lofty turrets stood
out grim and threatening against the star lit
sky in the west.
All the tales that / had ever read Of the
Spanish inquisition and the manner in which
they administer justice q in Cuba rushed to
nay mind, and again the fate of poor Capt
Frye was still fresh in my memory.
Still was sure that they could only pun
ish me with a fine for smuggling the bag
ashore; yet, suppose that the bag contained
something Of Importance to the Cuban
patriotsl What if l had unwittingly been
the bearer Of valuable messages TO the in
surgents!
The thought almost unnerved me.
If it was so, and the government had found
the packet ] could expect no better fate than
fell to the lot Of so many of the crew Of the
Virginius.
When the keel of the boat grated upon the
coral rocks at the foot of flight Of stone
I
tween two soldiers with muskets, and pre-.
coded by an officer, the ascent was began up
the damp, Shiny stairs.
/ We had not taken many steps when we
were hailed by sentry who was answered
by the officer in whose charge was-we then
resumed our way; soon bright light shone
in our faces, and we could see an open door a
little above US.
Through this door we passed and as il
! swung to again upon its massive hinges we
4 found ourselves between two rows of soldiers
\ with drawn swords; the apartment seemed to
be a sort of guard room or keep
/ A few moments after our entrance during
which time we had remained standing with.
out a word being spoken, a door in the fur
! Their end Of the room opened and an officer.
/ gayly bedecked with gold lace, entered and
4 approaching our party took some papers
\ from the soldier in charge and began to read
them very carefully.
When he had finished he waved an adieu
to those who had arrested me, and they at
! once turned and left the apartment by the
| same door through which we had entered.
Then, at the word of command, two sol
| diers stepped from the ranks and began to
/ search my pockets and clothing, taking every
thing that they could find, even to my hand
4 kerchief
1 / was next ordered to fall into line with
I the guard and was marched Off through long,
| gloomy passageways, down flight after fight
\ Of damp, moldy steps; past strong iron doori
which was easy enough for me to imagine
| We're closed upon some poor mortals who
were destined never again to breathe the
! pure dir of heaven, but to lie entombed
within this dismal pile of masonry until well
! come death should release them from their
| suffering, perhaps years after their very
names had been forgotten in their own
/ homes
! Once heard-or thought heard--a low,
! distinct moan that seemed to rise from the
stone tagging beneath our feet.
| Narrower grew the passage as we adj
| vanced, and by tho feeble rays of the single
| torch carried by one of the guard could
! see numberless lizards, scorpions and other
| creeping reptiles scamper away at our ap-
proach.
At length, after a journey which seemed
/ to have led me into the very bowels Of the
| earth, we were halted before one Of the nu-
merous iron doors, which the officer unlocked
! and opened, and without further ceremony
was thrust into small, damp, fetid cell,
with bare stone walls, floor and roof
! By the light Of the torch, which strcamed
| into the apartment before the heavy door
was swung to, l could see that it was entirely
empty, save countless number Of those
loathsome creatures which had darted across
/ our pathway as we came down the corridor.
| Oh, what feeling of despair came over
me when found myself alone in total dark
ness, entombed in this loathsome, subterra-
| mean dungeon.
Slowly the remaining hours of the night
wore away, giving me plenty Of time 20 think
over the incidents Of the past few weeks and
see if / had done anything to deserve such
/ treatment.
Easy it was to trace my trouble to The
! strange youth who had formed my acquaint-
ance in Boston, but / had committed no
crime in delivering his effects to his family,
save in the act of smuggling them ashore,
|
| The more my mind dwelt upon the matter,
I the more was convinced that had allowed
myself to become a medium between the
| Cuban patriots and their sympathizers in the
| United States, and the information or what
4 ever it was that had delivered must have
been Of great Importance TO call forth such q
reward from Gonzalez Yes, there was no
| doubt but what l waS in for it, and knowing
| the irascible temper of the Spaniards / felt
! that my death was well nigh certain.
| After what seemed an age from the time OF
my commitment to the prison, faint streak
| made its appearance upon one Of the walls Of
| my cell; it was the first break Of day.
The small aperture through which the light
struggled was only about five feet from the
floor, and could easily look out.
! The slit was too narrow TO allow a very OK
tended range to my vision, but l could see
| that was confined on the water side Of tho
! fort, and directly fronting the shipping. But
this fact afforded me little consolation, for
| felt sure that should only leave this dreary
| dungeon TO march to my death
was gazing wistfully out through thetiny
| aperture, when heard the heavy bolt thrown
back and the ponderous door swung open ON
4 its rusty hinges; and turning was confront
| ed by an officer and file of soldiers armed
with muskets. The officer, with drawn
sword, stepped into the cell, and in pom
| pous manner ordered me to ''fall in, and we
l took up our march through the tortuous
| passageway to the light Of day above
! Issuing from the underground labyrinth
Of corridors we emerged into a spacious