, 1889-01-17
County Washington Territory, Thursday January H. 1899

Issuing from the underground labyrinth
OF corridors we emerged into a spacious
square, across which l was conducted and
placed with my back against the stone face
oi wall, while the soldiers were drawn up in
itnc few paccs in front of me
Several soldiers now appeared CARRYING q
table ana some light camp stools. which they
placed quite near me, but little to ore side,
i.Id then retired; two Of them almost imrne-
Glate!y returned bearing that grim symbol of
death, a coffin.
That my time had como / was certain, but
resolved to make Il very vigorous protest
against such summary measures, and called
loudly for hearing. But | might have saved
my strength, for my prottstations were not
taken the slightest notice Of
Presently a number of officers appeared
crossing the plaza, and to my unspeakablc
relief l recognized the American consul in
their midst
was then to be granted the semblance of
trial at least
The officials wasted no time in further Ger
emony, but seating themselves at the table
began at once by one of their number read
ing the Indictment, which was repeated in
hngIIsh by an interpreter, and which ac-
Cu5ed me Of adding and abetting the Cuban
insurgents, who were in arms against their
lawful sovereign, the king of Spain, bv de-
lIverinS into the hands of one of the chiefs of
the insurgents incendiary papers to incite tie
people of Cuba to further deeds of violence
against the government, and also money to
enable them TO carry on a desuItory war
fare"
To have attempted to disguise ANYTHING or
withhold any part of my share in the unfor-
tunate affair knew would be disastrous to
my cause; SO told my story straightforward
from beginning to end, and the consul, saw.
was faithfully translating it.
Several times, 1 afterward learned, the
party employed as interpreter construed nv
language so rs TO make ME appear much more
guilty than l really was
The fact that had concealed the presence
of the bag in my cabin from the officers. and
then stealthIly conveyed it ashore and deliv-
cred it to the address upon it, was strong,
very strong point against me, and it re.
quired all the eloquence of the consul to
prove that L was ignorant of the contents of
the bag
IF the prisoner had been aware what was
within the bag, would be have dared to have
taken 1t to Is Plaza di POGO in broad day-
light, when the plaza is full of soldiers and
members of the secret SerYicc:' asked my
cCuntryman and defender.
This argument bore weight. For some ten
minutes the officers conversed apart, while
the consul did his best to cheer me up
When everything had been fixed appar-
emily to their satisfaction an elderly soldier
one who seemed TO be chief among my judges
arose and in lengthy speech imposed my
sentence.
THE court had found that had been but
an unwilling agent, and therefore was not
wholly responsible, but inasmuch as 1 had
surreptitiously conveyed the bag ashore
had thereby violated the customs rule and
was consequently found guilty and ordered
20 pay n fine of 500 in gold, and to remain
Imprisoned within the fort at Matanzas until
the sum was paid"
Oh, what a relief. l almost tainted on
hearing the sentence, the reaction was SO
great
As may be imagined it required but q few
moments for the consul 10 give his bond for
the amount, and l was Il free man
l had no desire TO remain longer within
the walls OF the grim Old fortress, after my
release, and III company with my defender
hurried out through sally port which was
opened for our cgresS, and Us we were pass
ing through, much to orr surprise, the con
tents of my pockets (which had been taken
from mo the previous night, were returned
TO me.
Thus was ended my first and last tilt with
tie blh goddess, which far famed lady may
be said to be doubly blind in the distant
islands of the Antilles
afterward ascertained that the Spariarls
had failed to secure the person of Senor Con
zaleZ as he had left the city the same day of
my visit, but as l had Eeen seen to enter his
house with bag and leave it without one,
and as he was known to hold strong revoIu-
ho Otrtb .
their duty to arrest me, thinking that ! WIS
at least sympathizeT, and that through fear
of instant death would reveal soI.e secrets
~ 80 INSURGENTS