The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1896-06-06
A YOUNG PlLIBUSTER.

1t Is not surprising to hear of sue
cessful tilibustering expeditions to the
shores Of Cuba. The S%paniards are
savagely alert, prowling the seas in
search Of Cubans afoat, but each boat
has a Yankee captain. That, with the
determination of the Cuban ilibuster
means success. Then, there is the
justice of the cause. The Lord of Bat
ties is prone to favor the fearless and
give victory to the venturesome.
l am a Cuban fighter for freedom.
In New York L Joined an expedition
that took men and arms to Cuba.
How we did it l tell, as it may give
courage to others.
1t is apparent that absolute secrecy
is apparent to success, and that the
spy is more to be dreaded than the
Spanish cruisers, that, shark-like, cir
Gle about the isle of Cuba to keep off
from the patriot army the practical
sympathy of America.
1t was, therefore, not singular that,
when 1 applied for a chance to fight
for Cuba at the Junita, No. 66 Broad
way, 1 was told they wanted arms and
money, not men, and then dismissed.
Now, real spies are persistent. So
are patriots. Ardor is no badge Of
honesty. Absolute certainty of identi-
ication is necessary. 1 received a let
ter of introduction from a prominent
American to a Cuban physician. He
told me to call in two days. These
were. of course, occupied in verifying
my claims to the right to join the In
surgents:
There could be no doubt about my
honesty, and I was told l could join
in the next expedition. My instruct
lions were to take up my residence in
the neighborhood Of Madison Square
and report my address at once. This
gave the Cubans further opportunities
to watch me.
Six days later Capt. Gonzales called.
He told me my chance had come. to
leave all my belongings behind, that
l would be given everything neces-
sary to a soldier at the proper time.
My instructions were to walk to the
corner, where two mel were standing
with their handkerchiefs peeping from
their pockets. We three would see a
third man, having in his hand a red
book.
l followed these, directions, then I
followed the men who followed the
with the red book. We boarded
q railroad train.
Our destination proved to be Bridge
port, Conn. There could have been no
city more appropriate, for it is there
that the machete is made, that marvel
ously simple weapon, symbolic of the
industry of Cuba, the cane knife, that
is carried through the hail Of modern
Quick-fring guns to close quarters,
where Spaniards are slaughtered, I'M
til, sick with fear, they seek safety in
l pass lightly v U embarkation.
We met at Bridgeport more men,
arms, ammunition, a medicine chest
and a steam tug.
That evening we met the Ward line
steamer, Vigilancia, bound from Ha-
vana to New York.
Doubling Cape Sable, speed was
and a boat approached from
the Florida coast. 1t brought us twen-
ty more comrades.
Our commander Il shall not give his
~ op,1\ nnVv01 TIM 0nYnnlnv f0ryyy0 ri
and addressed us briefly. He told us
it was better to die fighting than to be
shot like spies, and said that if we
should meet with a Spaniard which
boat could not outfoot we. must
board her. Several boxes were brought
deck, broken open, and machetes,
rifles and cartridges distributed. Now
that we were armed and racing for
Cuba we no longer felt like stowa-
ways, but bore ourselves proudly as
soldiers. =,
The next night passed without ad-
venture, but the next morning we had
our first look at the faces Of u ene-
mics. We came close to them, too
near for our comfort
Along the southern horizon there was
a wreath Of smoke. To change opr
course would be suicidal. We plunged
along headed directly to what was
soon seen to be a Spanish vessel. Our
captain took a look at her through his
glass and announced without excite
ment: "Infanta Ma Teresa" We all
knew that she was mi Of the most
speedy and efficient Of Spanish men-of-
war.
ordered below, with bated breath we
waited, our hands uncertain in. their
seeking first the handle of the machete
and then the lock Of the rife. II the
worst came to the worst we could at
least die in an attempt to board the
The British flag was hoist
ed, for John Bull is respected.
"Ah, del barco! Que barco es ese?"
came the challenge across the waters.
..British steamer Yorktown, Captain
Burke" "'De donde vieny, a donde
"Bound for Belize, British Hon.
duras. in ballast" Largo" These
were the questions and replies.
We were safe. The bluff of the al
legged Englishmen satisfied the Span
lard. With her long neck cannon
bristling from her sides and machine
guns in the masts ready to wipe away
she let us go on u journey
to Cuba with the dynamite, machetes,
rifles and cartridges, while we bravely
told one another in the regretful voice
of the volunteer how sorry we were
that we had not been forced to fight.
In our imaginative way we speculated
what should have happened a
one Of us succeeded in getting on deck
with dynamite. No one suggested that
the explosive was unthought Of in the
moment Of danger.
That night we were stretched about
the decks too anxious to sleep as In
total darkness the ship hurried to u