The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1896-05-11

| afloat. but each boat has yankee captain.
| That with the determination of the Cuban
| fibuster means success. Then there is the
| justice of the cause. The lord of battle
| is prone to favor the fearless and give
| victory to the venturesome.
| am a Cuban fighter for freedom. In
| New York | joined an expedition that took
arms and men to Cuba. How we did 1t l
| tell, as IL may give courage to others. DO
not betray my countrymen in talking, Tor
though the plans of the various eXpedi-
! tions are the same yet the success of fu-
ure hibustering parties will be in changing
tactics
1t is apparent that absolute secrecy is
necessary to success and that the spy IS
more to be dreaded than the Spanish
cruisers that. shark like. circle about the
Isle of Cuba to keep off from the patriot
army tho practical sympathy of America.
1t was therefore not singular that when
] applied for a chance to fight for Cuba
at the junta, No G6 Broadway. l was
received with marked GOODNESS. The gen
tlemen there did not gush over me. They
told me they wanted arms and money
not men, and then they dismissed me.
Patriotic Pluck.
Now, real spies are persistent. So are
patriots Arlor is badge of honesty.
Absolute certainty Of identification is nee
essary | received a letter of Introduction
from n prominent American to Cuban
physician He told me to call in two days.
These were of course. occupied in verify
ing my claims TO the right to join the in
sutgents.
There could be no doubt about my hon
esty and | was told that I could join in
the next expedition. My instructions were
TO take up my residence in the neighbor-
hood of Madison square and report my
address at once. his gave the Cubans
further OF rortunity to watch me.
~ Io.-c la.t.e oil called
told me my chance had come. TO leave all
my belongings behind, that | would be
given everything necessary to soldier
at the proper time. My instructions were TO
walk to the corner. where two men were
standing with their handkerchief peep
ing from their pockets. We three would
soon see a third man. having in his hand
a red book.
Everything happened as foretold. We
walked down Twenty-third street TO Third
avenue. boarded an elevated train and
transferred to the Grand Central station.
We were soon rushing through the tunnel
and away for Cuba, four men absolutely
unknown to one another but bound to-
gether by the sympathy of soldiers in a
common cause.
our destination proved to be Bridgeport,
Conn. There could have been no city more
appropriate. for it is there that the ma
chete is made that marvelously simple
the cane knife that is carried through the
hail of modern quick firing guns to close
quarters, where Spaniards are slaughtered
until, sick with fear. they seek safety in
flight.
Off for Cuba.
A short walk brought us to a tug. We
boarded her and were Immediately slowed
below For some time others came, until
we were huddled together, about sixty
men Soon the vibrations of the machin-
cry were felt and know that the jour
ney had begun. Some one whispered 'Nive
Cuba libre." and all answered as the re-
Spouse TO a prayer
We had not gone far when the engine
stoned Those below heard hurried FOOT
steps above and wondered whether th'y
had been boarded by the revenue people
They learned afterwards that the tug had
run alongside the steamer Estelle, bearing
a precious burden Of arms and munitions
-Four chests of medicine We're trans
ferred ia he tug SEQ Remington rifles
500 maonctes. 100000 cartridges, two Cat
ling guns and 1000 pounds OF dynamite.
we were now on deck, for it was night,
and we were fairly at sea. The tug carried
two green lights ut her bow. There was no
other light
In the dark, Just before dawn. we saw
two green lights shining across the waters
and turned toward them. We came along
side the black hull of an ocean steamer.
In perfect order the arms were transfer
red to her.
The break of day found us on a good
boaf of about 500 tons burden, with a speed
or perhaps fifteen knots. She steamed
along the coast southwark in leisurely
way. irritating to patriots afraid only OF
pursuing government patrols. Ihat even
in,. we met the W ard line steamer NiSl-
lancia. bound from Havana to New York.
Doubling Cape Sable speed was slack
,,,.1 and a boat approached from the
Florida coast. II brought us twenty more
comrades
our commander. l shall not give his
name. called the company forward ana
addressed us brio fly He told ms that !,
vas better 10 die lighting than to be shot
ike sries. and said that if We should
m, of with a Spauiard which our boat could
pof outfoot we must board her. Several
hox.s were brought on deck. broken open,
and machetes. rifles and cartridges dis
trihuted Now that We were armed ana
racing for cuba. we no longer felt iii.e
stovavays, but bore ourselves proudly as
soldiers.
The ntrht passed without adventure, but
the next morning We had our FIRST look
Al the faces of our enemies We came
close to them, too near Tor our comfort.
Meeting the Enemy.
Along the southern horizon there was a
wreath Of smoke. TO change our course
woilld be suicidal We plunged along head
cd directly to what was soon seen TO be "A
SDaniSh vessel. our captain took look
al her through his glass and announced
without excitement: "Irfanta Ma Teresa"
We an knew that she was one Of the most
speedy and efficient of Spanish memo
war.
ordered below with baited breath We
waited our hands uncertain in their seek
ing first the handle of the machete and
then the lock Of the rifle If the worst
came TO the worst we could at least die
i'm an attempt TO board the Spaniard. The
British flag was hoisted, FOR John Bun is
respected.
"Ah. del barcoi que barco IS ese?' came
tin. challenge across the waters.
British steamer Yorktown. Captain
Burke" '"De donde vieney. a donde ya?''
Bound for Belize British Honduras, in
ballast" Largo" These were the cues
lions and replies.
We were safe. The bluff of the alleged
Englishmen satisfied the Spaniard. With
her long necked cannon bristling from her
sides and machine guns in the masts ready
to wipe away boarders, she let as so on
our Journey to Cuba with the dynamite
machetes rifles and cartridges, while we
hrLycly told one another in the reEretful |
voice of the volunteer how sorry we were !