The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-12-24
SAVED BY GENERAL LEE.
A RICHMOND MdN UHO JOINED THE
ARMY OF CUBA LfBRL.
story of Several Narrow Escapes From
Death Told by Marion L. fes""e'
In Route to this CITY.

Marion r. Perdue. twenty-five years
old. WAS sent to his home, in klchIhOiu'
to-day by SANITARY cIhceF fi"i'", -
Yesterdays Washington star ne so'" -
long story OF having been IN The cu ,ci
army and saws he owes his life 10 zen
cral rItzhugh Lee, Consul IchcIdl' Mno
represents this country III tupd. inp
Consul, he said. interested hlmseh III MS
behalf. and managed 10 get MN ie'e -'.''
from the tabannas prison. in Havana.
After his liberation from prison ne joined
"a niibustering party, ana having becH
wounded ia the stomach with a machele'
ana having endured 50 rany hardships,
he concluded to return, and reached mere
about the ist Of September.
Two years ago, he said. he shipped from
Philadelphia Oh the English ship Ernwell.
laden with iron ore FOR Havana. soon
after reaching the island he became in
tcrcstcd in the cause of the bclligerents
and Joined the Cuban army at Santiago
dc Cuba. While in the army. he says,
he served under Captain Lorenzo PalO-
memo. That was early last year. and he
went TO the province Of Pinar del Rio.
During the time of his active service he
saw some hard fighting, and had to en-
dure the hardships OF war although the
1000 was good, and he was not badly
treated.
MACHETE WOUND.
lie was forced into battle and was
wounded by "a machete. There is an ugly
scar across his stomach. which has heal
eu; BESIDES this wound ne received two
bullets In his leg and his leg WAS brokon
"hen he was beaten with q musket.
Instead OF being taken prisoner and
shot ne was rescued by the belMgereut3
ana returned 10 the hills Of Pinar del Rio
ana when he was improved he was trans
itrreu 10 Jamaica, where he was given
hospital treatment Being a good sailor
ne was engaged TO do some nlibustering
Ior me cuban cause. and he went as
captain OF the boat known as the Am
munltion King This little flibustor
made two successful trips. but ON its
thirc trip Spanish guIi-hoat captufed
IL ana took all on board To the Cabquuas
prison. Life in the prison during his
iour months Of Incarceration was not
hard except when he became unrulv and
mcrited punishment. Then he was put
IN a dungeon and fed on bread and wafer
bufing ordinary times the eating ne
sald, was fair. Knowing what the Span
larus had been in the habit Of doing with
'uban prisoners, he expected ne would
p' Shol lWlce ne was among those
selected 10 die, and each time General
Lee saved him. because he is an Ameri-
can citizen. The second time he was
selected 10 bo shot General Leo succeeded
IN getting him released During the
time DO was on the Ammunition King
ne saw the Laurada being pursued by
Spanish gunbOat.
WHAT HE THINKS OF CUBA.
Discussing the situation in Cuba. Pcrdue
SAYS ne Is certain that tho Cubans will
eventually win. for every man in the
army is sworn not 10 surrender. and they
are much more enthusiastic and much
harder lighters than the Spanlards When
me Cubans capture Spanish soldiers. he
SAID, they take their ammunition from
them and let them go. but this Is not
true when Spaniards capture Cubans.
Ihey almost invariably kin the Cubans
by shooting them. either on the field or
on the morning after their capture and
transportation TO prison. The Cubaus
put TO death native Cubans who are
captured IN tine Spanish ranks
General Lee saved him during the lat
ter part Of August and sent him 10 Phil
adelphia. where he arrived about the LIST
OF September. lie remained about Phil
adelphia until a short time ago. when
ne came over as far as Baltimore Yes
terday he walked here from the Monu-
mental city. and last night he slept at
a house on Eleventh street southwest.
This morning ne called on Mr. McAlichael
at the Central Union Mission and was
referred 10 Sanitary OFFICER Frank He
says he has never had TO ask for assis-
lance until now for he got money from
the Cuban army officers for his work ON
the Cuban hlibustering boat. lie left
here on am afternoon train for his home.