The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1896-04-25
HEROIC AMAZONS.
Cuban Women Who Wight dor
Their Country.
The Splendid Courage Of Ons Woman
Who Faced m Army - Hef Dy-
Ing Act Was the Klling Of
4 Soldier.


The Cuban amaxons recently have
been playing prominent part in the
fights between the insurgents and the
Spanish. These women, many of whom
have husbands in the ranks Of the army
of Cuba, have exhibited upon frequent
occasions courage, endurance, and
fighting skill to a greater extent than
very many Of the men.
The amazons of Cuba are not, as q
rule, remarkable for personal beauty
or cleanliness. Anything in the nature
OF dress does not prevent them from
fighting. AS rule, they are negresses,
strong OF limb and quick of action, and
able to use a machete, rifle, revolver,
or knife with the best of the men. They
are to be found in nearly all the In
surgent camps and are increasing in
numbers. When not otherwise en-
gagged, they tend the sick and wounded.
mend and wash clothes, or cook the
meat. when fires are permitted and
fod is procurable. When regular sup
plies are inadequate to the demand,
which is not infrequent, the amazons
chew sugar cane, and are thankful to
get it, and ride or tramp pluckily along
with the regular Cuban troops. If
there is fighting. to do, they go into the
thick of it with energy and dash.
There is, or was, one woman, at least,
among them who may deserve more
than passing notice. She came to the
front in recent engagement between
the Spanish troops and q number of
insurgents at Olayita. The fighting
began with the usual wild firing at
long range, but gradually the combat
ants, few in number on either side, by
force of circumstances got nearer to
each other, and then, as usual when
they began to see the whites of each
Others eyes, the insurgents went to
cover and the triumphant soldiers
dashed onward in pursuit. But all the
insurgents did not melt away. One OF
them tall, tine-looking woman, bright
of eye, well-built and looking like a
heroine from the top of her head to
the soles of her naked feet, stood her
ground bravely, calling first taunting-
ly and then in grand despair upon her
fleeing companions to fight like men.
They paid no heed to her, and the Span
iards crept closer and closer from bush
to bush.
Then this woman determined tn
show men how Cuban amazons can die.
With her back against tree she stead
/ lily loaded and fired her carbine, TAX
ing the cartridges from the bosom OF
her cotton gown, almost the only gar
ment she wore. So long as the gun
worked she pumped lead at the Span
iards, keeping them well at bay. But
the old carbine finally got out of order.
and she threw it away with angry con-
tempt, drew a revolver, and shouted:
Long live free Cuba!"
The Spaniards, seeing the carbine
| thrown to the ground, made stimuli
taneous dash forward, firing repeated
| " as they did so. The Cuban woman
calmly awaited their approach. and
/ when they were within range OF her
| pistol the amazon gave another cheer
for Cuba and again opened fire until she
fell pierced by four Mauser bullets.
| Then there was another rush for
ward of the Spaniards, and the dying
woman, half rising with difficulty or
| her elbow, fired her last shot at the
nearest soldier of Spain. killed him in
| stantly, and sank to rise no more, with
| a faint cheer for free Cuba on her lips
This is only one of a number of in.
stances of how the Cuban anazons can
fight and die. Another amazon who re.
Gently kept at bay the Spanish troops
| was the daughter of the insurgent lead
er Soccorras. She fought to the last
as gallantly as any of the men, ard
when her last cartridge was fired she
gracefully gave up her revolver to tbs
| Spaniards who had surrounded her. re
marking, as she pointed to the soldiers
she had killed: II hope you will make
as good use of it as have. st. Louis
Post~Dispatch.