Evening star., 1896-02-29
CUBA'SGREAT SWAMP
The Star Correspondent Penetrates
the Dense Jungle.
RETREAT OF MsuRGENq WOUNDED
ToiIsome March Through Mire Up
to the Waist.
No FEAR FELT OF ATTACK
From The Stars Special Correspondent.

| ErCm tne stars special correspondent.
IN THE CIENAGA DE ZAPATA,
Cuba, February 49, 1896.
Cuba is filled with interest. To say moth
| ing of the sanguinary struggle now going
On between the enslaved and the enslaver,
| a combat watched with the keenest feeling
| Ey the whole world, the fair "Queen of
l. the Antilles has her castles surrounded
| by the deepest and darkest tragedy her
churches of ancient and sublime story, and
her mountain Businesses where liberty
holds sway.
But to the Cienaga de Zapata is attached
peculiar Interest. Its geographical sur
roundinss, its physical build and it's pres
ent uses combine 20 make 1t well worthy
Of visit. But there are many reasons
why the 'outsider.'' which may include the
Spaniard, has not found it convenient or
desirable to penetrate the Cienaga, the
most dense jungle and least accessible
swamp in America
Spanish map makers have always placed
the name in about its proper place within
the outlines of the Island of Cuba; Spanish
generals have sworn everlasting hatred
against the name and the place; but neith-
ef the drawers OF the maps nor the di-
rectors of the troops know much concern
ing that great patch of water mud and
pitals and principal stores of the Cuban
republican government. Spain has a great
army, In point of number, at present in
Cuba. She has fine lot (well dressed and
with an abundance of gold braid and lung
power) of generals. She has more expert
a1spatch makers than one would dream
existed. But she has not taken Cubitas.
she Is powerless in the Sierra Maestro
mountains and she dares not even look into
the Cienaga.
Spain holds the Island of Cuba by the cit
les. Her Soldiery surround them and have
succeeded thus far in keeping the rebels
Hout, as we'll as themselves in. But her
/ numerous spies are not efficient: if thew
were your correspondent would not be here
Let there be no mistake about this. The
spies above referred to are efficient in GER
tam lines, for they succeed admirably in
'ruihping up charges against innocent peo-
pie ana landing them in dungeons
"A case IN point. A week ago two DOOR
iiHoceht 1eiloWs were arrested and brought
10 havana charged with assisting your
correspondent at Nuevitas and Puerto
Iilncipe on MS trip to Interview President
Cisneros, some five or six weeks since. As
matter of fact, nobody's assistance was
needed or sought at Nuevitas, while the
the country to the seat of the rebel govern
ment. is now in the United States, attend
Ing to matters Of his own.
But the two men confined in the dism.t
Cabanas. across from the city of Havana,
are Suspected. More than that-tbere
are hirelings of the government who will
swear they saw them in the company of
'he American correspondent at the places
aEove mentioned. There can be no aues-
ton as to their fate. They will not be
shot, but Infinitely worse-years of imprs-
oEment in the combination pesthouse and
penal institution at Ceuta, Africa, await
them.
What qualification would it not be to the
spanish government could it, without fear
or international complications, ship the
American correspondent at the same time
10 It's African dungeons! What pride the
American feels for his grand and glorious
Union at all times, and what satisfaction
ne experiences, in times such as this when
ne knows that the stars and stripes COM
mand the fear. il not the regard of an an
tiquated and debauched monarchy.
But what has all this to do with the Ciena-
ga de Zapata? A great deal; inasmuch as the
trip from Havana to Batabano and thence
to the outskirts of the everglades will not
be described. lest more innocent fellows be
doomed to chains on your correspondents $
account. He was given twenty-four hours
to leave the island after the Gomez inter-
view appeared. Then the time was made
three days, and lastly, after much ado
about good DEAL weeks time was al
lowed the obnoxious foreigner in which to
pack his trunk and get from beneath the
golden rays of Spain's benign rule.
Exploring the Cienaga.
Four days of that week were we'll spent
A part of the great Cicnaga was explored
several of the chief rebel hospitals were
seen and the desire of visiting the mysteri-
Gus swamp land was satisfied.
Who ever heard of a hospital in n swamp?
Rather peculiar location, it mus: be con-
fessed; hut the Cuban rebels find 1t very
convenient, have no great objections to il
and are certainly wise in .heir selection
This latter admission must be made when
1t is known that the Cubans, above all
things, must consider the inaccessibility
for the Spaniards of any position they may
take up whether it is for the capital Of
their government, the storing of their sup
plies the atten ding to OF their wounded
In this connection II may be said that had
Maceo been anywhere near the Cienasa ten
days ago the Spanish commander, Luaue
would not now be wearing the cross of San
Fernando for having killed a hundred Gu
bans half of them previously wounded and
in bed, a Paso Real.
1t was only row of about dozen miles
four leagues, the Cuban would say.-from a
point on the southern coast of the Ever
Faithful Isle to another point near Ell Ca
imito, on the outskirts IF the Cenaga
r. The night was charming ami the sea was
| smooth. There was only tie slightest breeze
Stirring and the black boatman was happy
for there would be no danger of his craft
by no means frail-bein. blown out to sea
or upon the beach.
A hale mile to the left was the shore line
of Cuba. 1t was low and uninviting, and
the country back sloped away gently-so
gently in some places tina. you would be-
heve there was nc country there.
whats the use of hurrying," said the
boatman in reply to an insinuation that he
was lazy; "its only six miles now to the
Ell Caimito landing, and if we arrive there
before daylight the rebels will shoot u.s.
Even though the sea and weather be all
that one could desire, few people would
fancy the idea of drifting about in boat
five or six hours, and especially when
Spanish coasters were known to be numer-
Gus all the way from Cape San Antonio to
Manzanilo, and looking for just such
stragglers.
"You can't claim afterwara." said the
darkey, by way cf washing his hands of
the affair. that was to blame for us both
being killed for landing az FL Caimito in
the middle of the night" and then. after
tugging away with renewed strength for
awhile, he asked:
Are you afraid of slaarks?'
''Well, slightly; why?"
"Cause this bay is full of them. and
they get thicker all the way from here to
the coast. And are you afraid of croco-
diles and alligators?"