The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-09
In CISNEROy CAMP.
Twelve Year Old Boy Takes the Place
of His Father.

10 lie III One ntfflfuOck unu Wdbtn tno
moon rise through tho palms, TO see the
great 20 foot plumelike leaves lazily way-
ing I'm the soft night breeze, to listen to
the melody OF some overjoyed mocking
bird singing lullaby to its little ones will
fully compensate a man for all the hard
ships and dangers encountered I'm reaching
the interior Of Cuba We're it not for the
distant roar of muskctry which floats to
US from tho northeast one could hardly
believe that Cuba was In the throes Of q
cruel, bitter, relentless war.
Supper has been cleared away more than
On hour ago; the presidents camp of
weary souls is at rest Nearly every man
has sought his hammock and is thinking
of mother, sister, wife or sweetheart far
away. Believe me, men may fight like
hardened devils through tho day, but
when the air grows still and the great,
bright tropical moon comes up, shedding
her SOFT peaceful light over the camp, all
of us seem inclined TO grow sentimental.
Some write love letters, which will be
stained with blood before they reach their
destination. Some indulge IN efforts at
rhyme, with which they hope TO capture
fair senorita's heart
The marquis "a title which still olings to
President Clsneros) Is writing by candle
light at one end of the only table in the
government camp. Hss private secre-
tary, Manola Bettancourt, the best natured
man In Cuba is copying into ledger the
official dispatches which have arrived dur
ing the day. will wager that the mar
quis Is not indicting an official document
at present When he puts his pen TO paper
for aught but a signature, il Is usually to
send some pleasant word TO fair lady In
the city OF New York. am going TO tell
you her name, because all Cubans love
Carridad Aguerro, and surely President
Cisneros may do the same
She Is the woman who at great personal
risk carried In her trunk from Havana to
Puerto Principe the ammunition with
which this revolution began. She Is one
of tho bravest, noblest women ever met
She will come to Cuba as soon as our base
hospital has been established at Najassa,
and will assist in nursing the wounded.
The two other occupants Of the presi-
dents tent are in the "land of nod" Vice
PresidSnt Masso snooZes I'm his hammock
on the right, and little Veronita lies
stretched on sarone nc the marquis feet
Veronita is q very important and privileged
parsonage in this camp because he has been
adopted and is dearly loved by the presi-
dent Of the republic. He is Crescencio
Verona, u rosy checked, bright eyed boy Of
IL years, who at the beginning of the revo-
lisetn left his home in Puerto Principe,
and, marching alone across the country,
presented himself at headquarters with
the following words PLEASE, Mr.. Presi-
dent, my father has boen killed by the
Spaniards while flghting for Cuba If you
will give me rifle, III try 70 take his
,o1a 10 txHt kn ri m lrh for
which the whole province was secured, and
with it he got the everlasting love of
great and good old man, the Marquis dc
Santa Lucia.
In the next tent, quietly swinging In
his hammock, lies Colonel Mandulay. the
acting secretary Of war, a well dressed,
well educnted and most courteous gentle
man. Colonel Mandulay, in General Ro-
loft s absence, is very hard worked man.
Couriers with messages which require Inn
mediate attention nro coming and going
from early dawn till after dark. At pres
ent he is indulging in his only vice. He is
finishing the last of "a dozen packages OF
cigarettes and propounding charades with
which he besieges his companion, Colonel
Carlos Aguirre. II the latter succumbs to
the density OF the problem, its difficulties
are transferred 20 your correspondence
tired brain, whore it is quickly given up,
and then we get the answer. With the
answer comes the explanation, which Is
the secretarys delight. Long after Isl.
lencia' has been sounded you may hear
from his lips My first is common ex-
clamation, my second Is note of music,
my third is where the Spaniards find us
when they come with too large force, and
my all is one of tho states Of that glorious
republic Wa hope to initats.' -
The sound of Spanish volley firing TO
the northeast Of us is growing heavier. A
detachment Of Colonel Pona's forces ID
worrying the forts of Cascorro, ten miles
away The half starved troops of that
town will waste much ammunition and
get no sleep tonight
Now comes that abominnble African
wall or chant of our camp servants and
cooks wish they would cease, for it is u
most distressing sound, as devoid of melody
as this camp Is OF religion. They call it
singing, but 20 my cars it suggests voodoo-
ism, cannibalism and every other disagree
able Africanism. Some are keeping time
beating with their hands on rude wooden
drums.
Now above that not distant dismal din
comes music--rual music, oh, so sweet--a
strain from tho opera Faust" that greets
US from the ether side of the presidents
tent. 1t Is Mazorra, one of the sweetest
tenors / ever heard; a trained voice that
almost seems out of place at the foot Of the
Sierra de Najassa And poor Mazorra is
out Of place, although we are most glad to
have him here, his singing Is such treat.
L will never forget the night he Joined
the presidents escort, some two months
ago. 1t was moment of comparative
quiet, just before the bugle warns us that
"Silencia" viii follow aud all sound of
voices cease From distant part of the
camp came floating on the still air the
sound Of music 80 sweet that 1t might
have come from heaven.
1t was La Miserere," from "n Tro-
vatore, " but from what source, from whose
lipsg The voice was not only sweet, but
most excellcntly trained and cultivated.
Such music had never before been heard In
an insurgent camp.
rose bolt upright in my hammock, and
so, think, did the owner of every ear
which had auv annrQciation NJ mugio Ey.