The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1896-04-08
DIED FOR CUBA LIBRE.
HOW MATILDE AGRAMONTE GAVE
HER LIFE FOR HER COUNTRY.

Foe and Expired Shouting Her Coun-
try's Famous Slogan.
This has been an exciting week in the
leld. The rebols have gained victories
against great odds, splendid expeditions
have landed, and a 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 Havag-who, after marching
and fighting with Maceo's soldiers, fell
dead at last, riddled with Spanish bull
let's.
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 insurrectiou
that has occurred on the island men of
the Agramonte and Variona families
have been found in the field fighting to
make Cuba free. 1t was so in the ten
years war; when Matilde's father and
eldest brother gave their lives to the
cause of liberty.
Their home 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
uncles and brothers Of Senorita Matilde
followed General Maceo into battle they
left Matilde on the ranch in charge Of
stock, property, and also servants to the
number of about 100 1t was Lonesome
there, and the girl set ont on a visit
a neighboring family living in Sc
called Ciego de Avila. She re-
away two weeks. Upon her
found nothing left Of the old
bare land, few heaps of ashe-
houses had stood, and the dead bodle.
the servants she had left in charge
One of the Spanish columns that ar
continuously fitting about that neigh
borhood had paid a visit to the ranch,
leaving ruin and death behind. Then the
gigl determined upon pursuing practical
y $he only course that was open to her.
Maceo. 1t 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 uncIes and her brothers
: had interceded in her behalf They point
J ed out to Maceo that if he refused to al
: low her to join the army she would GER
tainly starve, so at last the general re-
!, Tented, and the first female older to
bear arms against Spain was enlisted in
the cause of Cuban liberty.
The poor girl never saw but one bat
tie. That was at the plantation Of
Olayita, in 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 humiliation General Maceo
was compelled to order 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 uncles, broth
ers and number of other patriot volun-
teers. They carried out General Maceo's
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 rife with the
regularity of clockwork, never fiinching
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 muerol Viva Cuba librel'
Before Matilde was killed woman
watching the fight from a arby plan
tation rushed in to rescue the soldier
in petticoats The result was disastrous
to herself. She received a bullet wound
in her right arm and was taken prisoner.
Now she is confined in the female prison
at Havana, and no living man except
those in 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 Of death on battle
fields of their husbands, fathers, sons
sweethearts and brothers.
"What difference does it maker" they
have said "It is all for Cuba libre -
Fl. w. Lawrence in New York Jour
nal,
Mrs. Emily Thorne, who resides at T
ledo, Washington, says she has never beer
able to procure any medicine for lheuma
tism that relieves pain so quickly ant
effectnallY as Chamherlalnis Pain Balm