Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1896-04-09

Foe and Expired Shouting Her coun-
 try's Famous Slogan.
 This has been an exciting week in the | field. The rebels have gained victories against great odds. splendid expeditions have landed, and quarter of million men are contending for Cuba, but the marvel of the time is not the battles, but woman-Senorita Matilde Agra monte of Hayana-who, after marching and fighting with Maoeo's soldiers, fell dead at last, riddled with Spanish bull let's. fH
 Matilde was the last representative of one of the most widely known of old stock Cuban families. Her ancestors were among the first of Spanish settlers of the island of Cuba, and have been honored and respected from that time until this day In every insurrection that has occurred on the island men of the Agramonte and Variona families have been found in the field fighting to make Cuba free It was so ill the ten years war, when Matilde's father and eldest brother gave their lives to the cause of liberty. t
 Their holAe was in the province of Puerto Principe, where for many years they have owned hundreds of acres of land and thousands of head of cattle The wealth of the family has been counted by millions of dollars. When unoles and brothers of Senorita Matilde followed General Maceo into battle they left Matilde on the ranch ill charge of stock, property, and also servants to the number of about 100. It was lonesome there, and the girl set out on visit to a neighboring family living in town called Giego de Avila. She remained away two weeks. Upon her return she found nothing left of the old estate but bare land, few heaps of ashes where houses had stood, and the dead bodies of the servants she had left in charge
 One of the Spanish columns that are continuously fitting about that neigh borhood had paid a visit to the ranch, leaving ruin and death behind. Then the girl determined upon pursuing practical ly the only course that was open to her. She decided to join the army of General Maceo. It was not long before she arriv- ed at the generals camp, and, according to reports brought to Havana by Cuban refugees, the liberator declined her serv- ices until her uncles and her brothers had interceded in her behalf. They point ed out to Maceo that if he refused to aI- low her to join the army she would cer- tainly starve, so at last the general re- +Ho Ta A., bear arms against Spain was enlisted i'll the cause of Cuban liberty.
 The poor girl never saw but one bat tie That was at the plantation of Olayita, ill Quemado de Guines, prov ince of Santa Clara. There General Ma ceo's soldiers lined up against Spanish battalion, and fierce engagement en- sued. The patriots were overwhelmingly outnumbered and to save his force from complete annihilation General Maceo was compelled to order a retreat To protect the main body he called for vol unteers, who should remain behind and draw the fire of the Spaniards and cover the retreat. Among those who stepped forward were Matilde, her uneles, broth CTS and number of other patriot volun- teers They carried out General Maceos plan to the letter and saved the main body of troops, but they forfeited their own lives, Matilde dying with the others.
 Those who saw the fight say the Gu ban lady stood shoulder to shoulder with the soldiers and fired her rifle with the regularity of clockwork, never t1inching from the hail of lead. She was one of the last to fall, and while she stood her ground her sex was recognized by the commanding Spanish officer, who called upon her to surrender. Her reply was ''Primero mueroI Viva Cuba hbreP'
 Before Matilde was killed a woman watching the fight from nearby plan tation rushed i'll to rescue the soldier in petticoats The result was disastrous to herself. She received bullet wound in her right arm and was taken prisoner Now she is confined i'll the female prison at Havana, and no living man except those i'll authority can tell what her fate will be.
 They tell stories in Havana of women who have thanked God when the news was brought to them ofsdeathon battle fields of their husbands. fathers, sons, sweethearts and brothers. @ "Whatdifference does it maker" theyI have said. It is all for Cuba fibre. J s--F. W. Lawrence in New York Jour nal.