Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-18
JOHN HAS COME BACK
HOW A RICHMOND BOY DIDNI
FREE CUBA.
HE WAS ARRESTED IN TAMPA.
After He Saw the spaniards lie
Didn't Feel So Much Like Kill
ing Them, and Was Wiiiing
TO Come Home.

John W. starke has come back. lie
went South to free Cuba from the do
minion OF Weyler and the rest Of Spain
but somehow or other he didn't make
connection with the island leastwise he
didn't get his foot on IT. and as a result
the insurgent army is minus a second
lieutenant, and Cuba IS stiil struggling
in the dark for her independence.
John W. starke is a member Of the
First Virginia Regiment, and Is ASSOC
ciate editor Of the Virginia volunteer
lie has for some years been inocuiated
with martial ideas, and ever since the
Cubans took arms against Spain ne mas
felt a strong desire to Journey TO the
scene OF the trouble and lay down MS
life OH the battlefield. He was Dorm
too late to die for his country, but ne
was willing to do the next best thihg-
die for somebody else's country.
John w. Starke had nursed his martial
splrit for some time. and his patriotism
was stirred up to a wonderful pitch when
according TO his story told Dispatch man
Yesterday he heard that Cuban re-
cruiting officer was I'm Richmond. he
lost no time in seeing this agent, ana IL
was agreed that the name Of John W.
Starks should appear on the insurBeht
payroll for 100 sound-money dollars per
month. and that opposite mat name
should appear the title Of second heute-
nant. In consideration Of these honors
John w. was 10 repair at once TO the
I,tte island on which Maceo and his
hand OF patriots are playing hide and
seek with Weyler and the rest o. the
spaniards. and get into the game OF
lodging bullets.
STARTED on HIS JOURNEY.
Accordingly. the would-be hero went
10 New York. where he was furnished
with transportation 10 Port Tampa, tIa'
whence he was to move secretly 10 CUBA
with z party Of hlibusterers, who were
rendezvousng there.
IL cot 10 Tampa all right" said John
W as he was enthusiastically relating
his experiences TO the reporter, "and !
would have been on the battle-helds OK
Cuba now II 1 had kept my mouth smut.
I didn't think there was any danger OF
being stopped on my way TO Cuba,
though [ saw lot of Spaniards walking
about the pier. One OF them. sociaoie
sort Of chap. walked up beside me. ana
In commonplace sort of fashion asked
me what | was doing IN Tampa. Like
an innocent abroad, I told him I was
going over to Cuba 10 join Maceo. lie
said nothing more, but In short time
after he left me an officer Of Uncle
SANS army who ls stationed at Tampa
tapped me on the shoulder. and calling
two privates placed me under arrest. lie
ordered me 10 the guard -house. where
was detained for two days. and at my
request transportation was furnished me
back 10 Richmond. and / was escorted
TO the train and with another fihbus-
terer. who stopped Off In Petersburg.
shipped back home.
II wasn't at all sorry 10 come home, as
I was fiat broke. and after seeing the
Greasers hanging around Tampa ] didn't
feel so much like killing them anyhow
as had before / left here. kinder felt
sorry for them. You know how that is
don't you?'
Mr.. starke got here Sunday night, and
was kent busy yesterday telling his
friends Of his experiences. He had To
/ take an cath In Tampa not 20 30 on an
other flibusterng expedition.