St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-08
DEEDS Of ANAZOpS.
s
NOTABLE INSTANCES OF COURAGE
AMONG WOMEN IN THE INSUR- =
GENT ARMY. Z
THEY FIGHT LIKE TIGERS,
ENDURE THE HARDEST FATIGUE
AND SUBSIST PRACTICALLY ON
NOTHING.
HER LAST WORDS FOR FREE CUBA.
How One Noble Heroine Held the
Spanish at Bay Until Pierced
by Four Bullets.

HAVANA, Cuba, March Z. - The
Cuban AmaZons recently have
been playing quite an important part
in the fights between the insurgents
and the Spanish troops. These women,
many of whom have their husbands
in the ranks of the Cuban army, have
exhibited, upon frequent occasions,
courage, endurance and fighting skill to
a greater extent than very many of the
men. The AmaZons Of Cuba are not.
as a rule, remarkable for personal
beauty or cleanliness. Anything in the
nature Of a dress contents them, and
they can dispense with shoes, much
less hosiery. AS a rule, they are COL
ored, and not young, strong Of limb and
thick Of tongue, sharp at repartee and
able to use machete, rifle, revolver
or knife with the best of the men, They
are to be found in nearly all of the in
surgent camps, and are increasing in
numbers. When not otherwise engaged,
they attend the sick and wounded
mend and wash clothes, or cook meals,
when fires are permitted and food is
procurable. When regular supplies are
inadequate to the demand, which is not
cane, and are thankful for that, and
ride or tramp along with the regular
Cuban troops. If there is fighting to do
they go into the thick of it with en-
ergy and dash. There is, or was, at
least one woman among them who may
deserve more than passing notice.
She came to the front in a recent en-
gagement between the Spanish troops
q mr. a hn1 of i1CI &c OF 10
ita.
The fighting began with the usual
wild firing at long range, but gradually
the cOmbatants, few in number on Ell
ther side, by force of circumstances,
got nearer to each other, and then, as
usual, when they began to see the
whites of each others eyes, the insur-
gents went to cover, and the triumph
ant soldiers pushed onward in pursuit.
But all the insurgents did not melt
away. One of them, tall, fine look
ing woman, bright of eye, we'll built
AND LOOKING A HEROINE
from the top of her head to the soles
of her naked feet, stood her ground
bravely, calling, first tauntingly and
then in grand despair upon her fee
ing companions to fight like men. They
paid no heed to her, and the Spaniards
crept closer and closer, from bush to
bush they pushed forward. Then this
woman determined to show men how
Cuban amazons can die. With her
back against tree, she steadily load
ed and fired her carbine taking the
cartridges from the bosom of her cot
ton dress. almost the only garment
she wore. So long as that gun worked
she pumped lead at the Spaniards,
keeping them well at bay. But the old
carbine finally got out of order, and
she threw it away with angry con-
tempt, drew a revolver and shouted,
Long live free Cuba"
The Spaniards, seeing the carbine
thrown to the ground, made a simulta-
neous dash forward, firing repeatedly
as they did so. The Cuban woman
calmly awaited the approach of the
enemies of her country, and when they
were well within range of her pistol
the amazon gave another cheer fol
Cuba and again opened fire until she
fell pierced by four bullets.
Then there was another rush for