Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1895-11-21

/ fred point blank.
ers came with the soldiers. My wife,
too, white faced, 1u.hed in from the
dining room. A lively struggle follow
ed, in which Curtin, having risen from
the floor, joined. The struggle was soon
over, leaving me q prisoner under close
guard.
My bullet had struck the captain,
break ,ng a rib and glancing off, but he
was game, and when we shortly after
departed for the city he rode with me
In the same carriage. l tried to soothe
my wife's fears, but it was attempting
the impossible, so we drove away for
the city in three carriages, Pinkerton
assuring my wife that / should sleep at
the hotel.
By the time we arrived the news had
spread among the American colony, and
as the hotel was sort of American
club delegations of my acquaintance
speedily arrived. All were loud i'll de
nunciation of the outrage. OF course
they saw things ON the surface only.
Soon our Consul General Torbert arrived
and assured me he would see that
should be treated with every considera-
tion until such time as the unfortunate
mistake was corrected.
That night I slept at the hotel with
Curtin, who took his wound and close
call very good naturedly and said he did
not blame me at all, but felt taken
down to think l had got the drop on
him. Early the next morning my friend,
the chief of police, Colonel Moreno de
Vascos, called ON me, indignant and
angry that l should suffer such discour-
tesy. He was particularly indignant
over the insult to himself in not being
consulted, so that he could have sent
me note to call ON him and explain.
Then he turned to Captain Curtin and
told him to liberate me, as he would be
responsible for me whenever wanted.
But the captain knew what he was
about and knew his business too well
and the backing he had to pay any at
tention to Colonel Vascos. l claimed
the protection of our consul, but Torbert
regretfully told me that on account Of
orders from the state department at
Washington he was forced to consent to
my detention, but he would not permit
me to be kept in the ordinary prison.
So about IL O'Clock next day / was
transferred to the police barracks and
put into the lieutenant of police room
and guard of soldiers placed over me.
So at last justice had laid hold of me,
but thought it very shaky hold, so
much so that was confident l could
kaf cl,a ael,I
never weigh me in her balance.
Ny wife spent many hours with me
daily All my meals were brought from
the hotel. Num- was kept prisoner for
two days, then liberated. l took him
into my confidence, telling him / was
going to escape and directing him to
make all outside arrangements for that
event, and he was greatly rejoiced when
I told him he should accompany me III
my flight.
Pinkerton was awake to the danger
of losing his man and had lodged a
written protest with the English and
American consuls against my being con-
fined in the police barracks
The only result was that Colonel Vas
cos issued an order to keep him and his
men out of the barracks.
Men like William A. Pinkerton, who
had now arrived, and his lieutenant
were not going to make fools of them
selves by arresting a man they could
not hold. was confident that my sur
render was only question Of time, and
I resolved not to wait for it, but to be
off.
At my request Colonel Vascos had
sent guard of soldiers to my house and
brought to the barracks two of my
trunks. l had $50, 900 i'll cash and bonds,
besides many valuables rs well, in
them. gave my wife $50, 600 and my
servant 81 900 i'll gold and $4,000 III
Spanish bank notes. Pinkerton had in
vain tried to seize my luggage, but the
Spanish law stood in his way.
Once among the rebels all pursuit Of
me was at an end, as army after army
had been sent from Spain to crush the
rebellion, and each had in turn melted
away before the valor of the rebels or
the deadly climate.
Num- volunteered to accompany me
and l gave him 81, 900 to send his wife
in Paris that his mind might be easy on
that score. No one knew my real destl-
nation save Num- and my wife. 1t was
hard to obtain her consent, but at last 1t
was given. / arranged with her that she
was to leave Havana as soon as she
knew | was off, cross to Key West, wait
one month there, and if she then heard
nothing Of me she was to telegraph my
sister to meet her in New York, take the
steamer to that city and live with her
until l rejoined her.
Among other things Num-, by my or
ders, procured good maps of the country.
A Spanish gentleman, a warm friend,
but whose name will not mention, was
nv counselor in the plot. He advised
me to go to the isle Of Pines, as Senior
Andrea had promised to keep me safely
from all pursuit let my friends think
that was my destination. l purposed, as
when ON my visit, to embark from CaJlo,
but to take a westward course along the
coast, and when well off Pinar del Rio
and night fell to put about and steer to
shore under cover Of the darkness, once
ashore TO get as far inland rs possible
before dawn, then to keep n lookout for
any body Of rebels and join them as n
volunteer in the cause Of free Cuba "
We were sure Of a welcome, particularly
as we would come we'll armed.
had given the sentinels i'll the police
barracks bottle Of brandy every day
and box Of cigars every second day
during my stay besides what We're TO
| themMalQable presents, so was highly