The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-05
HE WAS A PIRATE BOLD.
How SsDcho Mertt Got Control OF n
Fish Business of Havana.
From the Buffalo Erpress

There Is nothing that is particularly ro-
mantle about fish market, and y,t tbar.
ID one fish market in the world that can h
said to have a romance connected with il
and a very interesting one ct that.
those BuHalonians who have visited Cuba
and seen the fish market at Havana will re-
member that IL is q palatial building. bniI,
OF pure white marble, and in all probabiiitv
the hnest OF It's kind in the world. This !,
not 70 De wondered at when it is remeu-
oered that Cuba is populated wholly nv ID
| yout Catholics, and that there are manv
days besides the F.ideys that nothing hn,
| fish is eaten. How It came tbas there -
such market there, however is a very in
teresting story, and it was told the other
day TO an Express representative by Mr.. I,
| 4. Woolcott, manager Of the Court Straat
theater, who has often visited Havana ana
who is familiar with the history and tradi.
! tlons of the city.
In the early days, said Mr.. Woolcott
every pirate who was anything of a plrats
at all made Havana his Headquarters and
sailed from that port TO do his deeds OF
violence on the Spanish main. There ara
scores of these gentry who have become as
soclated with the history of this little
| country, and one of the most famous was
Sancho Msrti, who faurished early In the
nineteenth century, and who was one of tina
most blood-thirsty gentlemen who ever
! a o.
for 4 long time the terror of Cuba, and there
were few ships that sailed from that MORT
| upon which he did not levy tribute He
was black Eearded and swarthy rascal.
and had long, low ship, with a crew of lO9
men, who were just Gs desperate as he was
| For years he piled his nefarious calling In
the waters Whereabouts, aud he finally grew
to be such terror that reward of 800 600
was offered for bis arrest and khat of his
crew. This great reward had no charms for
| the Cubans, for such was the name and
fame of the desperate that there was no.
| body who was willing to take the risk Of
trying to capture him.
He was no respecter of persons. and pill
| LACED just as many government vessels as
he did trading ships. His crew was bold
aud every man a fighter, and his rule on
| the high seas was undisputed and powerful
| The captaiugeneral, or the officer who ruled
over Cuba under the direction of Spain.
tried in every way to capture him and his
crew, but without avail. He was not to be
captured, and year after year he spread des-
olation on the high seas, and his name be-
came q synonym of terror and pillage He
went on in his career and added 20 his
wealth when the pirate business was dull by
entering the slave trade. He was young
man when he began the business, and he
stayed in 1t until he became old and i'm.
mensely wealthy.
One day the old reprobete sat in his cabin
and began thinking his past life over
be was the possessor of millions and he
suddenly made up his mind that he bad
enough upon which to retire. He was wills
ing to repent and become good citizen.
He knew of the reward that was offered for
him and bis crew, and one day he sailed
into the hArbor OF Havana and went ashore
all alone. He walked up TO the castle of the
captain general and found that il was
guarded day and night. Two sentinels
were always pacing up and down before the
entrance OF the castle, and be discovered
that 1t was impossible for him TO get in TO
see the captain general unless be stated his
business and was allowed an audience. The
two sentineis that guarded the gate had
certain rounds to make.
They marched up aud down in front Of
the wall, and when they were OF the ends
of their beats one day he slipped through
the gates and hid behind a statue, The
sentinels came back and started Off again.
The willy old pirate waited until they were
at the end of their beats again and moved
still farther toward the castle. After a
time be reached the door without the guards
seeing him, brushed past the lackeys in the
halls and gained the private Office Of the all
powerful captain general.
There were a number of other persons IN
the room when Sancho Marti entered and
the captain general asked him grufIly what
his business was. 81 want to see you pri-
vately," was the answer.
"If you have anything to soy, say it be-
fore these people," said the captain
general.
" must see you privately or not at ALL"
What is your businessw
at is in relation 30 Sancho Marti, the
famous pirate"
This was indeed important business, and
the captain general ordered the room
cleared. The old pirate asked him il the
nr4 fNE Co. -. 80 10
pirate and his crew, dead or alive, still
prevailed.
ut does" said the captain general.
And, OF course, any sins that i may
have committed will be overlooked"
The captain general assured him that
they would.
"And if tell you how to capture that
crew and pirate l will be entitled to the
reward Of 100000"
This question was also answered in the
affirmative, and then the old pirate said:
well, l am Sancho Marti." The captain
general was very much surprised and made
move as to call his attendants. The pirate
whipped out his cutlass and cooly Inc
formed him that If he called any of his at
PENDANTS he would immediately cut off bis
head, and the captain general subsidized.
What do you wantP' asked he of the pi-
rate.
II don't want your money" said the pi-
rate, DuG Will deliver over my crew
of 100 blood-thirsSy pirates on two condi-
tions."
Name them" said the captain general
"In the first place, l don't want your
money. All that ask is that you give me
the control Of the fish business in Havana
and also allow me to build theater"
The captain readily agreed ia this propo"
sition, ana before night papers we're drawn
up. signed aud sealed, setting forth thattor
all time Sanoho Marti was to have the con"
troll of the fish business in the city of Hs-
vana, and that he was to be allowed to
build theaver.
The old pirate then went off to his ship
and allowed it to be surrounded. Those OF
his 100 men who were not killed when sns
government ships took his craft were killed
atterward. He came to this city to llveand
built the magnificent fish market that now
stands in Havana. He also built the Tacon
thsater and lived in Havana for years. The
revenue from the fish market was enormous
and his wealth increased rapidly.
Shortly afterward he became respectable
he married negro woman with three
daughters. These young women grew up
to womanhood and the old pirate was very
anxious TO have them married of. SO DC
quietly circulated the story that they were
each TO have a million as soon as they we're
married, and in q very short time he hau
husbands for all Of them.
Then instead of giving them the million
aRt han Ha fO ag