Connecticut western news., 1891-08-27
SAVED BY A CIGAR.
The Timely Lighting of . Weed Prevents
 the Death of American Sailors.


 the Death of American Sailors.
 A party of gentlemen sat on the for ward deck of Nantasket boat one evening listening to story told by one of their number.
 It happened in the summer of '68 that the bark Ida lay anchored one day at the mouth of the Matanzas river, in the Island of Cuba, and, taking advan- tage of the calm which existed at the time, the captain ordered a boat man. ned for the purpose of filling the water casks from the falls of the river, which were four or five miles further inland.
 Those who are acquainted with the geography of the island know that along the banks of this river for several miles immense growths of canebrake extend in convex form out into the stream, affording safe hiding place for alligators and other reptiles which abound in the vicinity, as well as a re- treat for hunters and natives who seek protection from the fierce rays of the sun by rowing along under this natural ly constructed canopy. The banks on both sides are also lined with stately cocoanut trees, some of them as high as 8 hundred feet and bearing aloft the precious kernels which in this instance were almost fatal temptation to the boat hands
 After filling the casks the crew pro- oeeded leisurely to return to the ship, it being well toward evening by that time, when the gentleman who told the story, being an excellent climber, pro- posed that they should procure a few cocoanuts as evidence of his prowess in this respect.
 The boatswain, like Barkis, was will ing, and soon the jolly tar was ascend ing the tall trunk of neighboring tree, encouraged by the plaudits of his com rades in the boat, who were already enjoying the refreshing luxury of an hcdpation
 Their feelings, however, were soon changed to dismay on seeing coming out of clump of bushes the form of a swarthy and vicious looking Spaniard, who brandished formidable horse pistol and muttered dire threats in his native tongue to the unsuspecting sailor. The latter, however, needed not his imprecations, being determined to secure at least one cocoanut for his pains, and continued to mount aloft, while the Spaniard grew still more wrathy in his unintelible jargon, and the boats crew, seeing that there was likely to be trouble, pulled closely to the shore and the boatman jumping out knocked the Spaniard to the ground just in time to change the course of shot which had been in- tended for his comrade The situation now grew interesting, for the native, having regained his feet, was struggling fiercely with the boat swain, and the noise of the pistol shot had alarmed squad of carbinaros o1 Spanish soldiers who were camped near by and were now hurriedly mounting and hastening to the spot to the num- Der of dozen or whereabouts.
 The two remaining sailors in the boat eomprehending the situation quickly gave the alarm, and Jack having by this time secured his cocoanut hastily descended, and picking up the boat. hook went to the rescue of his comrade by prostrating the Spaniard to the ground, while the carbinaros drew rap idly nearer shouting like band o1 Apaches.
 Fly was the word, and rushing into the boat all hands pulled for dear life and succeeded in gaining the opposite bank in time to escape the bullets from the carbinaros.
 It was now rapidly growing dark, and 8 brief council of war was held by the boatmen, who were fully alive to theh perilous situation, and had yet three o1 four miles to row in order to reach thei1 vessel. Accordingly it was determined to muffie the oars and pull vigorously for the ship, trusting to the darkness te escape the observation of their pur suers. They strained every sinew anc were nearing a bend in the river, con fident that they had outwitted the en emy, when the boatswain called atten tion to very dim light in the middl, l of the stream, not more than twenty | 61up lcuSU1lS ducdO.
 It was impossible to define it in tht darkness, and they had just concluded 1 it must have been a bonfire when {
 second and brighter light appeared ani
 disappeared almost as quickly, reveal
 ing the fact that somebody was lighting
 cigar, and as no strange boats would
 navigate the river after dark it flashed on them that the soldiers had gained , point by riding to the bend beyond ant
 were now rapidly approaching from thu
 opposite direction.
 1 To decide was but the work of ,
 minute, and, with hearts palpitating
 they paddled silently to the bank
 gained passage through the canebrake
 and there lay, scarcely daring to breath
 while the furious soldiers pulled up tn
 stream, their oars also mufaed ant
 swearing dire threats of vengeance o1
 the Americans who had so cleverl,
 evaded them.-Boston Globe.
 ss Slipped Up on . Peel.
 ''How did that case against you b, the man who broke his leg on you