The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-08
HOW The CUBAN AHAZoHS FIGHT
Brave Women Amid the Hard
ships Of War.
They Have Exhibited Courage and Fight
Ing Qualities In q Higher Degree Than
many Men-They Follow the Insur-
gents Camps and Render Valuable
Assistanoe-ablo to Use the Gun, Re-
3 kvoiver and: Knife with the Greatest
Precision.

HAVANA, Marcn THE Cuban ANA.
IONS recently, have been playing quite
q prominent part in the fights between
the insurgents and the Spanish troops.
1nese women, many of whom have their
husbands in the ranks Of the srmy of
ouos' have exhibited, upon frequent oc.
casions' courage, endurance and fighting
skill to greater extent than very many
OF the men. As rule they are colored,
and not young, strong Of limb and able
to use machete, revolver or knife with
the best OF men.
They are to be found in nearly Gil
the inaurgent camps and are more asing
In numbers. When not otherwise en-
gagged send to the sick and wounded,
mend and wash clothes or cook the
meals, when fires are permitted and
food is procurable. When there is fighting
TO do they go into the thick Of 1t with
energy and dash.
There Is, or was, one woman at least
among them who may deserve more
than pasaing notice. She came to the
front In recent engagement between
the Spanish troops and a number of
insurgents at Olaylsa. 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 the insurgents
went to cover and the triumphant SOL
diers pushed onward in pursuit.. But,
oil the insurgents did not melt away.
One Of them, q tall. fine looking
woman, stood her ground bravely, call.
ing first tauntingly and then in grand
despair upon her fleeing companions to
tight like men. They paid no heed to
her and the Spaniards orept closer.
tree, steadily loaded and fred her carr
bine, taking the cartridges from the
bosom of her cotton dress, almost the
only garment she wore. So long as
the gun worked she kept the SpRniarda
we'll at bay. Rut the carbine finally
gos out of order, and she threw 1t
away with angry contemps, drew @ re.
volver and shouted: "Long live free
Cuba"
The Spaniards seeing the carbine
thrown to the ground made q stimuli
taneous dash forwards, firing repeat.
eddy as they did 80. 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 forward
of the Spanisrds, and the dying wo.
man, half rising with difficulty on her
elbow, fred her last shot at the nearest
soldier of Spain, killed him instantly
and sank to rise no more.
This Is only one OF number of in
stances OF how the Cuban amazons can
fight. Another amazon, who recently
kept at bay the Spanish troops, was the
daughter OF the insurRent leader,
SociorraH. She fought to the last as
gallsntly as any Of the men. and when
her last cartridge WAS fred gave up her
revolver to the Spauiards who had sur
| rounded her, remarking, as she pointed
| TO three soldiers she had killed: ~
| hope you will make as good use Of It aa
| have"