Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-10

Leaving the prefecto and Colmenas behind,
a path crossing the plains and hills was
followed. The little hamlets of Vega, Potosi
and Iona Alta were passed. At each SUBJ
prefectos were seen and talked with. They
seemed to be legally conscious Of the i'm
portance of their Office, and regarded the
republican government as the only one Of
their section. To hear them talk one would
think the struggle now going on in Havana
and Pnar del Rio was simply to decide who
was uppermost In those provinces. The
question had been settled SO far as the CEN
trail and eastern portions of the island was
concerned. 1t certainly looked that way.
A short distance beyond Iona Alta the
guide pointed to high hill, and explained
that there two rivers had their source They
were the Jobabo and the Salado, the former
towing south and the latter north, and both
forming the natural border between the
provinces OF Santiago de Cuba and Puerto
Principe.
A Difficult Crossing.
Shortly afterward the Jobabo river came
into view. 1t was not wide, but rushed
madly along. and when the guide proposed
that 1t be crossed there was a demur.
Further down, though, he said, it was much
wider and just as rapid, and it must be
crossed anyway, unless circuit was made
to the north of distance of five miles or
thereabouts. So there was nothing to do
but make the attempt, the guide leading
Your correspondent had the better horse
but his forte was not crossing swift streams,
ana 1t appeared for few moments that sew
eral miles further down would be quickly
reached without making much effort on
land. But the nervy little animal evidently
possessed the spirit of the revolution, and
was not to be downed. He scrambled and
paved the stony bottom, once or twice fell
but eventually reached the opposite bank
pulling thoroughly drenched and not over
composed scribe with him. 1t was all very
amusing to the guide. Perhaps, however
the influence Of the press would be sufficient
with the Cuban executive to have him sum
marily punished for his hilarItyi
At little place called Romero the nre
fecto supplied dinner (the evening meal in
Cuba Is called dinner), and extended an in
vitation to remain through the night at his
mouse. ne said the Presidents party.whlch, las
was here learned, consisted Of four hundred
men, all mounted, had dined at Jobabo. and
was to spend the night at Guanaro. still
three leagues distant. He proposed that an
early start be made on the following morn
Ing, and Mr.. Cisneros be found before he
left Guanaro. This plan was agreed to- and
the weary travellers, who had come a dis
lance OF about sixty miles, shared wifi the
kind-hearted prefecto the comforts of his
humble home.
Morning Ride to Guanaro.
1t was a nice ride in the cool morning to
Guanaro. The sun was just arising over the
peaks of the Sierra Maestro in the far east.
Around and about the country presented a
cheerful appearance. There was no indica
ton of war-nothing but peace and happi
ness.
The little village, strewn along the noun
tain side. was awake early, for in Its midst
the president of the republic had spent the
night. 1t was feast day for Guanaro
There were no soldiers on duty any
where. The horses Of the cavalry were
grazing in the yards Of the villagers and
in the open fields across the stream Many
OF the cavairymen were still sleeping in