Evening star., 1896-12-23
A G u BAN VETERAN N
An American Here Bearing Many Ugly
Wounds.
The Numerous Adventures and Hair.
breath Escapes of Marion
Perdue Of Richmond.

Marion I. Perdue, twenty-five years old
was sent to his home in Richmond today
by Sanitary Officer Frank. He told a long
story OF having been in the Cuban army
ard says he owes his life to Sen. Fitzhugh
Lee, consul general who represents this
country in Cuba. The consul he said in
terested himself in his behalf and managed
TO get him released from the Cabannas
prison in Havana. After his liberation
from prison he joined fiibustering party.
and having been wounded in the stomach
with machete, and having endured so
many hardships. he concluded to return
and reached here about the lst of Sep
tember.
Two years ago, he said, he shipped from
Philadelphia on the English ship Ernwell
laden with iron ore for Havana. Soon after
reaching the island he became interested in
the cause of the bellgerents and Joined the
Cuban army at Santiago de Cuba. While
III the army, he says, he served under Capt.
Lorenzo Palomeno. That early last
year, and he went to the province of Pinar
del Rio. During the time of his active
vice he saw some hard fighting, and had to
endure the hardships of war. although the
fcod was good and he was not badly
treated
He was forced into battle and was wound
ed by machete. There is an ugly scar
across his stomach, which has healed. Be
sides this wound he received two bullets in
his leg, and his leg was broken when hs
was beaten with a musket
Instead of being taken prisoner and snot
ne was rescued by the bellieerents ard re-
turned to the hills of Pinar del Rio and
! when he was improved he was transferred
10 jamaica. where he was given hospit al
treatment. Being a good sailor ne was en-
gagged 10 do some filibustering for the
Cuban cause and he went as captain Of the
@ @goat known as the Ammunition King"
This little flibuster made two successful
trips, but on its third trip a Spanish gum
boat captured ii and took all on board to
the Cabannas prison. Life in the prison
during his four months of incarcera ton
was not hard except when he became un-
ruly and merited punishment. Then ne
was put III dungeon and fed on bread and
water
During ordinary times the eating. he
sald, was fair. knowing what the
Spanlards had been i'm the habit of doing
with Cuban prisoners. he expected he would
pe shot. twice he was among those Sc
iected 10 die, and each time Gen. Lee saved
nm, because he is an American citizen
The second time he was selected to he shot
Gen Lee succeeded i'm getting him released
During the time he was on the '.Ammuni-
tion King he saw the Laurada being pur-
sued by Spanish gunboat
Discussing the situation in Cuba, Perdue
says he Is certain that the Cubans will
eventually win. for every man in the army
Is sworn not to surrender. and they are
much more enthusia site and much harder
hgntefs than the Spaniards. When the
Suoafs capture spanish soldiers. he sad
they take their ammunition from them and
let them go, but this is not true when
Spanlards capture Cubans. They almost in
variably kill the Cubans by shooting them
either on the field or on the morning after
tneir capture and transportation to prison
The Cubans put to death native Cubans
who are captured in the Spanish ranks
General Lee saved him during the latter
part of August and sent him to Philadel-
phia, where he arrived about the lst of
September. He remained about Philadal-
phia until short time ago, when he came
over as far Baltimore. YESTERDAY he
walked here from the monumental city
and last night he slept at house on 11th
street southwest. This morning he called
on Mr.. McMichael at the Central Union
Mission and was referred to Sanitary Of
ncer Frank. He says he has never had to
| ask for assistance until now, for he got
money from the Cuban army officers for
| his work on the Cuban filibustering boat
| He left here on an afternoon train for his
home.