Evening star., 1896-04-06

and aching to reach the cane fields that
stood In luxuriant richness for miles to-
ward the province Of Havana. Campos had
determined to stop the advancing rebels at
this point and he hoped for a decisive BAT
tie. AS 1t appeared later, the rebel leaders
had the same desire in mind, for they threw
their several divisions upon Colon. drove
PACK the outer lines. captured several pieces
or artillery and actually broke several Span
Ism squares that We're formed to face them.
Campos fell back with his army, making
stands at Jovellanos, Rogue, Perico and
Limonar. But they were all futile, and the
VICTORIOUS rebels swept the country before
them. On all hands the country was on fire
and thousands Of tons of beautiful cane
went up in smoke. while Spain's army hur-
ried Tor protection behind the guns of Ma
lanZas. 1t was an ignominious rout for the
one, a glorious advance for the other The
people OF the province long waiting the on
portunity, cheered the invaders and enrolled
themselves beneath the banner of liberty.
Well Disciplined and Brave.
At several points 1 had opportunity of
viewing the rebel forces I saw that while
they were not uniformed and carried but
lew flags, they were organized disciplined
and brave almost to the point of madnes-
l saw the white cavalry of Gomez a.d IN.
black infantry Of Maceo charge side Inv
slde against the Spanish lines Of bayonets
and in the face OF a witherinp fra fro,r,
thousands OF Mauser rifles 1 saw them
advance ds men determined upon a mr.
pose and ready to face death for its ful-
nllment.
The story of Colon has not been written
but 1t Is worthy of place among the he
rolc battles of history. 1 can still see be-
fore me the Spanish lines of infantry, COW
ered oy haif-dozen batteries of light ar
tillery, waiting for the assault of the foe
can see the Cubans coming over the
rolilng country In well-ordered lines SLOWLY
at hrst, then faster as they nearer came,
ana hnaliy breaking into wild charge
machetes shining in the sunlight, hats
thrown to the ground, and cheers of Gu
ba" ''Cuba!" ''Cuba!' as the patriots threw
themselves against the Spanish steel and
Sge's IeniS hravs nor ,nss can forget how sui
boys from the vineyards of Spain did not
falter; but they had not the thoughts of
right nor the hopes Of liberty to give them
triotic enemy. Physically weaker, men
tally discouraged, their hearts valor gave
way, and the rout of the best force Spain
mas been able to concentrate outside of
l was among the routed. If my memory
serves me well. 1 reached the city of Ma
tanzas a little ahead of schedule time
There were several reasons why hurried
Some of them can be guessed.
From MatanzaS 1 sent a few brief mes
sages. describing generally the events Of the
week previous. They are probably on the
road yet-at least none Of that batch ever
arrived to tell the tale. Later on, in Ha-
vana, wrote the account again and for
warded 1t to The Star, via Vera Cruz Mex
leo, but some Mexican, perhaps progress
i've fellow studying English, kept it as a
sample Of how poorly scme people could
write.
Just at this point it would be interesting
to many to detail some of the methods em-
ployed by correspondents at Havana in get
ting out true reports. The schemes are
many and unique. but the readers of The
Star must on this occasion think out the
puzzle for themselves-rememberin that
there are still one or two representatives
of the American press in Cuba and whose
trials and trfbulat:ons are already manifold
Meeting the Cuban president. found thai