Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-11

witnessing the stronghold that God himself
had made for the protection of gallant
band OF men engaged in the holy battle Of
freedom!
The Cuban President.
Il did not meet bandit when met the
president of Cuba. Rather, indeed, did
meet a man who would be ar ornament to
any home, any profession or any land. A
man of education, and of great natural
ability, a mac of experience. patriot, an
American citizen, Christian.
THE headquarters buildings at Cubitas are
plain and substantial, at least far from i'm
posing. They will not be repaired Or re-
placed, for, as you know, there are several
very excellent edifices in Havana that will
public.
Now let us take little trip into the prov
| ince Of Matanzas, bordering on that of
Havana to the eastward. Matanzas is the
great sugar-produc.ng section Of the island.
1t has rich soil and in places the scenery
Is very beautiful, especially in the famous
valley of the Yumuri. This river, having its
rise In the center Of the province. runs
northward, between high bluffs, to the
ocean. forming enchanting landscape. Tour
lists visiting the great caves of Bellmar
drive for miles along the banks of this
beautiful river. The volante, the typical
Cuban vehicle, is in Use for passengers from
Matanzas and Limonar to the caves.
Il was not in quest of scenery when 1
Colon with a big army, and the rebels under
Gomez and Maceo were crossing the border
into the province coming from Santa Clara.
The Battle of Colon.
Eat Colon a glorious Cuban victory was
achieved, and the Spanish army was hurled
back upon the city of Matarzas. Campos
mad determined to stop the advancing reb-
els at this point and he hoped for decisive
battle. AS 1t appeared later the rebel lead
ers had the same desire in mind, for they
threw their several divisions upon Colon
Campos fell back with his army, making
stands at Jovellanos, Rogue Perico and
Limonar. But they were all futile, and the
victorious rebels swept the country before
them. In every direction the country was
on fire. and it is estimate that during that
week o,OOOOOO tons of cane went up in
smoke.
THE story of Colon has not been written,
but it is worthy of a place among the heroic
battles of history. l can still see before me
the Spanish lines of infantry, covered by a
half dozen batteries of light artillery wait
ing for the assault of the foe. 1 can see the
CubanS coming over the country in we'll
ordered lines. slowly at first, then faster as
they nearer came, and finally breaking into
wild charge, machetes shining in the SUM-
light, hats thrown to the ground and fierce
cheers as they threw themselves against
the Spanish bayonets. Nor can 1 forget
how sullenly brave that charge was met
The boys from the vineyards of Spain did
Tot falter at the first onslaught but they
had not the thoughts of right nor the hopes
OF liberty to give them strength against the
madly patriotic enemy. Physically weaker,
mentally discouraged, their hearts valor
gave way, and tie rout of the best force
Spain has been able to concentrate outside
OF Havana began. I was among the routed.
l think reached Matanzas as soon as any
body.
"Campos hurriedly fortified the city of
Matanzas, while the rebels marched on
ward through the great canefields of the
province and into Havana province, where
for two weeks small engagements were of
almost daily occurrence.
Some of the fights occurred in the cane
fields and others about the residences or
buildings of plantation owners In some
cases the rebels made breastworks of sugar
or molaSSeS barrels, and wrought havoc with
the troops of the enemy. -
ne Spaniards appeared powerless at this
1uncture, and Gen. Antonio Maceo broke
through their several strategic military
lines. or trochas, ard entered the province
of Pinar del Rio, the western province of
the island.
Fighting In Mntnn.as.
For several weeks the fighting between
the FORCES In the province was exceedingly
fierce Engagements were numerous. and
in the thicket of the hilly region forces of
government and Cuban troops often meet
by surprise. Sometimes 1t would be firing
between the rif1emen on either side, but
more often a hand-to-hand encounter,
where the saber and machete were welded
with deadly effect. In the eastern part of
the province, where palms were especially
numerous and soldiers scarce, the fighting
would be. perhaps. from the tree-tops
AT Las Taironas Gen. Maceo won a splen-
d1c victory over the government forces. A
Spanish transport train of about one hun
dred and fifty mules, laden with arms
ammunition and provisions, had just
crossed the Las TaironaS bridge when
Maceo's force appeared before them Ma
Geo at once ordered a machete charge and
1,2O horsemen slashed into the transport
train and the Spanish infantry that had
hastily been brought with double lines at
either flank 1t was brilliant dash, and
the prize captured proved to be a very val
liable one for the Cuban forces.
Our last trip in Cuba, which we will de-
scribe very briefly, is to the great swamps,
called the Cienaga de Tapata, or swamp of
the shoe, to translate the name.
Il made the start from little village
called Ell Caimito. A party of Cubans,
called Commission" arrived from the
swamp hospitals early in the day. They
were to take many wounded back with
them, for yoI know that in the Cienaga
are the great hospitals Of the revolutionary
army.
The road was very much in the nature of
narrow canal. On either side the banks
rose from one to three feet above the
level of the mud. Thick bushes grew lux
uriantly, and long tropical grasses matted
the shady regions in all directions.
ION went the little train. Some were far
ahead and others far behind, and most of
them hidden by the shrubs and grasses
that followed the winding way. Thank
goodness, there were no snakes. 1t was
such a relief to be told that such reptiles
We're few and far between in the Cienaga,
and that none of them were poisonous.
The wounded were patient lot of fell
lows. To be sure, they swore occasionally
at the men carrying but that was only by
way of making them do their duty, so that
the unfortunate fellow who had been Sc
verely mangled in the field might not be
allowed to go, hammock, pole and all, into
the mire below.
The Swamp of Cienaga.
"a distance of about ten miles had been
Travelled hefore the alligator section of
the Cienaga was reached. All the party
were now up to their waists in the mire
and the prospect ahead was far from being
exhilarating to novice. The sun shone
brightly and the immense swamp was like
unto steaming cauldron under it's rays
Everywhere the watery vegetation was
luxuriant SO much so that in almost any
direction the underbrush was clouded in