The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-07-09
THE CUBAN MACHETE.
Manner IN which This Formidable
Weapon II iced In War.


New Orleans Times Democrat.
One OF the horrible features OF q neid
OF battle where machctes are used IL the
number OF partly beheaded and fearfuily
musisated bodies thai are found lying
around. which present CHASTITY sight even
TO the sturdy soldiers who have survived
the conflict.
The machese has played no small part
in the history OF all uprissngs In the Span
iss-speaking provinces. hut In Cuba II has
done such execution that IL the island
should win her freedom the macAete ought
TO be included tn the coat-of-srms az Cuba
iihre. It is the tool Of the Cuban working
man. With IL he earns his living cutting
the sugar cane. With 1t he cuts the fire-
wood for his own use. Indeed. IL is Ratchet
and knife combined for him. Every man
in Cuba possesses machets. no matter
what else he does not own
It Ii not generally known that most OF
these deadly weapons are manufactured
In the United States. New York city IL the
chief market for the machete, II Is not
however. used exclusively for purposes OF
war. II Is a useful instrument Of hus-
handry IN ell sugar-growing countries.
There are over 100 varieties OF machetes.
About 500 OF them are shipped from New
York city every week TO Central and
South American countries. Many OF them
are shipped 10 Cuba, though Spain has
declared them weapons or war and con-
traband goods. Since the insurrection IN
Cuba they are. OF course. not sent directly
10 that country by the manufacturers.
who would then be responsible to the
United States government for breach OF
tho neutrality laws. They nevertheless
find their way into the hands OF the In
surgents. They are also shipped 10 Hayti.
Brazil. Mexico. San Domingo and vene-
Euelz-
Most OF the American machetss are made
at Collinsville. Conn. They are made OF
the finest tempered steel and great skin
In workmanship II required In their manu-
facture. Each country uses different
form. bat the difference r. usually only
In the curve OF the blade. which II long.
and wfdens toward the polns. II Is ex-
ceedingIy sharp, and the hiatt Is very short.
Thus the maehete Is a murderous weapon,
despite the agricultural purposes to which
It Is applied. Every country has sword
OF its own. but Cuba Is perhaps the only
country whose sword Is at the same time
her reaping hook.
In the conflict In progress In Cuba the
insurgents have done such deadly execu-
slen with the rachete that the spanIards
have decided TO arm their own infantry
with II IN order 10 be able 10 meet the In
sursents on more nearly equal terms. The
rank and file OF the Cuban Insurgents. who
IN the use OF firearms; but they make up
for II by the ferocity with which they en-
gage IN close encounters with Spanish
scidiery with the deadly maehete. when
this happens the Spaniard Is likely 10 fare
badly.
THE mod. OF using the mechete r. en-
tsreiy different from that which r. usual
with the sword. The thrust is not EN-
p,cyei AZ al. The aim with the msehese
Is 20 cut and slash. The iasurrent erdi-
narfiy carries the weapon IN a scsbbsrd
at the left side OF the bsis or dangling from
chain attached 10 hts right wrist In
any case the weapon Is not held n position
FOR use until the lines are within few
yards % each other.
When the word Is passed the nrachet. n
pulled from the scahbarf with an upward
strok. diagonaiiy TO the right, with the
long sharp edge toward the enemy. The
stroke - aimed at the abdomen Of the per-
son attacked, with the in.S % wourdsng
IN. body below the waist. Then. with the
weapon raised 70 the fnii length Of the
right arm. the wrist Is simply turned over
ara the raachete makes a stroke back
20 the left 50 as 70 slash the victims neck
ard. II possible. partially hehest him. With
orc more turn or the wrist the edge OF the
nlachete strikes downward. cieaving the
hcfy sgaIn.
This Is done with wonierfui textersty.
and these strokes ars the easiest 10 fea-a
OF all mate with edged weapons In the
hands % the insurgents. habstuats6 20 the
use CT the uachete and who are very
strong. these blows are frsghtfuiiy eject
I've. and q raache'e wound II usually fatal
The battle OF Raira. In which 80 mary
SpanIarss were decarlfatet ard which was
tho bioodlezf IN Cuban history, was woa
hv rnachefes against the best Americas
Springfield rifles IN the hands az the Span
ier1s- The Cubans. however. have rur-
chased number or Rernlr gtoa and Naus~-
rifles. ard are making every effort TO en-
courage their eountrymen in the use OF
guns
The rsaehete Used az present by IN. Gu
bars 10 very cheap. costing less than q
dollar. The favorise, and the one that has
done the most damage 20 the Spanish
forces. has thirty inch blade, about tfree
iTches wide. and nearly straight. with the
end cut of fsaxonaiiv 20 = point a. a MIL
iiney cuts the ends Of a ribbon. The handle
n OF rough hone. There II no guard a.
all sas the wieifsr Of the uaehese often
gets his fingers wounded The osfc.rss
wezpoa Is shorter ard made OF better ma
sersni than thar % the privates
When the Cuban huxoar6ran receives
his naef-te - s. NOT ss ali sharp. hus he
whets ard shsrpens e untgi II cuts TX. \
razor. The great execution OF The ma
ctets les In hts wonderful skin in hanf-
ting H. An army % the most ssiI3fuI f~nc-
Ing master. IN Arnersce could rns stan4
up before an equal sunbsr OF Cuban Gaze
cutters.