The morning times., 1896-05-03
Fighting
o For
BIZ 4 YOUNG INSURE ENT-


1t is not surprising TO read of success
ful fihbusterng expeditions 10 The shores
| of Cuba. The Spanish are savageIy alert,
prowling the seas in search OF Cubans
aflOat, but each boat has a Yankee cap
| tain. That, with the determination OF the
| CUBAN filibuster, means success. Then
there Is The justice OF the cause. The
| Lord of Battle is prone 10 favor the
fearless and give victory 10 The venture
some.
l am a Cuban fighter for freedom. In
New York l joined an expedition that
took arms anu men TO Cuba How we
did it l tell, as ii may give courage 70
others | do not betray my IOlntrymen
i'll talking, for though the plans OF The va
riOus expeditions are the same, yet the
success of future rinbustering parties Will
be i'll changing tactics.
After euhsting with other men, I was
sent aboard Il tug. We bOarCed her, and
We're Immediately slowed below. For
some time others came Until we were
huddled together, about sixty men. Soon
the vibrations of the machinery were felt,
and we knew that the journey had begun.
Some Cue whispered "Vive Cuba Libre,"
and all answered as the response 10 q
prayer.
We had not gone far wien the engine
| stopped. Those below heard hurried foot
| steps above, and wondered whether they
| had been boarded BY the revenue people.
| They learned aIJeTwdTd that TIE tug had
run alongside the steamer 'Estelle,'''
| hearing a precious burden OF arms and
munitions.
-Four chests of medicine were transferred
| TO the tug. 500 Remington rifles, 500
macnetes. SOC, 900 cartridges. two eating
guns. and 900 pounds OF dynamite.
We were now on deck, for II was night,
and We were fairly at sea. The tug car
I Ticd two green lights IN her bow There
was no other light.
In the dark. just before dawn. We saw
| two green lights shining across The waters
| and turned towards them. We came along
| side the black hull of an ocean steamer. 10
| perfect order the arms were transferred TO
| her.
| our commander. 7 shall not give lis name,
| callei the company forward and addressed
Us briefly. lie told US that u v.l> better 20
| die fighting than 10 be shot liHe SPIES and
| said that if we should meet with a Span
| lard which our boat could not oUt-fOot we
| must bDardher. SevpraIbCXes were brought
| on deck, broken open, and Elaehetes, rifles
| and cartridges distributed Now that we
were armed and racing for Cuba we no
| longer felt like stowaways- but bore our
| selves proudly as soldiers.
The night passed without adventure, but
the next morning we had our first look ao
| the faces of our enemies. We came close
| to them. too near for our comfort.
| Along The southern horizon there was a
| wreath of smoke To change our course
| would ne suicidal. We plunged long. head
| ed directly TO what was soon seen TO be
\ a Spanish vessel. Our captain took a look
/ at her through his glass and announced
| without excitement. ''InfaCta Ma Teresa
/ We all knew that she was oGe OF the most
| speedy and efficient of Spanish men-o-war.
/ Ordered below, with hated breath we
| waited, our hands uncertain 10 their seek
| Ing first the handle OF the nIaChette and
/ then the lock Of the rifle. If the worst
| came to the worst, we could al least die
/ in an attempt to board the SpJniari- The
| British flag was hOisted, for John Bull is
| respected.
/ All, del barcOl Que barco es ese?'' came
| the challenge across the waters.
| British steamer Yorktown, Capt. Burke. y
| '.De dOnde vieney, a dOnda va?' Bound
for Belize. British Honduras. in ballast"
Largo These were the questions and re-
plies.
We were safe. The bluff Of the alleged
| Englishmen satisfied the SpaEiaTd.
A few hours later and we were approach
ing the coast at point called Punta Ber.
| rsCos. Two bright fires hlazed on the shore
| in glad welcome. In the distance faint
streaks played like summer lightning or a
| pale Aurora Burealis, lost in strange lat
| itude.
The hostile flare was seen Oh shore and
the beacon fires extinguished-
The anchor dropped with roar Of its
| chains, alarming tOour over wFOGEhtner
The boats were 10 wered. Ninety-two men,
| counting officers and soldiers, were first
| taken ashore. Each one carried his ma
| chete, two rifles, knapSackand belt with 100
| cartridges, and a package of 500 rounds,
| tied with twine. In this way at least 40 900
| cartridges were safely landed, and with
| them were the priceless medicine chests
| The boats returned To- bring 10 US all the am.
munition, guns aud dynamite.
We were welcomed by Col. vasques
and his troops with wild cries OF Cuba
| Libre'' They threw their arms about US
sauting Us with southern manifestations
of affection.