Evening star., 1896-04-08

majority of instances. withheld by them.
On numerous occasions 1 was informed
that my letters had gone with the official
mail. but such have failed to find a trace
of since.
While in Havana l became acquainted
with several persons connected with the
revolutionary movement. They were en-
gagged in mercantile pursuits in the city,
and were regarded by the government
as firm supporters of the crown.
One of them, a little man, with fierce
mustache and goatee, said to me one day:
Il know you are an American, and being
such you are in sympathy with the rebels,
for you Americans always have kindly feel
ings for those who are struggling for Hber-
ty. Therefore 1 will put you in the way of
obtaining Cuban passports that you may
visit Gen. Gomez and write the true condi-
ton of affairs to the American people,"
And SO, after a few days, another man
came to my hotel. He, tco had mustache
and goatee, and even more fierce than the
other mentioned. He explained how he had
been sent to see me and how he could be
relied upon thoroughly. Then he went on
to tell also that he was plantation own
er. and the government had ordered him to
proceed with the grinding of cane. Gen.
Gomez, he said, had forbidden him to grind.
and he would not make an attempt, even
though the Spanish authorities might send
Rim to Africa, or the Isle of Pines.
Ihen In tragic manner he told of the
years he had spent in the former place.
How he was taken one night from his Ha-
vana home, taken aboard a ship In the har-
Dor, chained in some dark apartment of the
vessel with large number of other pris-
onels, and carried over the sea he knew
not whittier.
L was not rebel then,'' said the little
man, but when I saw the full iniquity of
SPANS rule in Cuba; when I saw that she
would deliberately send into exile innocent
men, without even the semblance of trial, I
swere to heaven should I ever return to
my home and family I should join the rev.
olutionary party, ard remain with it until
Cuba was free or myself dead"
Then the little man gave several Quick
glances toward the door of my room,
walked to the entrance and looked out up-
on the bay, and, returning to my side, said,
in a whisper:
Here are the passports from Gen. Gomez.
Keep them well hidden, for the Spanish
government Will not spare you should these
papers be found upon your person. If YOU
eo oiioii' Sou VIII ilHQ GOmeZ near Ca
imito, at the edge of the Cienaga."
Being in possession Of the passports. and
learning almost the exact whereabouts of
Gomez, I determined to ride through the
lines, If possible, on the following day and
interview the Cuban commander. It was
on this trip that first had opportunity of
seeing large force of the rebels in the
field, and I returned to Havana several
days after with far different impression
of them.
found them a comparatively well-organ-
lied and disciplined force. Physically, they
averaged Eiuch better than the soldiers of
Spain. Mentally, there could be no COM
parlson in justice to the Cubans.
The first division I encountered about
twenty miles from the city. 1t numbered
somewhere in the vicinity of 5000, and was
under command of Gen. Quintin Banderas.
The latter Is man of splendid physical
build, rather gruf in his manner at first
sight, and as black as the ace Of spades.
He was marching his men in detachments.
he said, just to keep half dozen large
Spanish columns worrying. Banderas is
one of the truest patriots and best fighters
of Cuba. He is sixty-five years of age but
Is almost as active as when, nearly a de-
cade ago, he was sent to the Spanish prison
at Ceuta. Africa, to serve out life SEN
tence for being a rebel.
Talked With Gen. Gomez.
Later that same day I first saw and
talked with Gen. Gomez. He was then in
personal command of about 1900 cavalry.
His entire command was white. The men
were fairly well armed with carbines and