The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-01-11
rHRr1Irra ExpERIEHCE
otThr.e Americans who Went to Cuba to
Fight with the Insurgents

Fight with the Insurgents
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. lo.-James
Magulre. Of this city. Jeremiah Bonds, OF
New York. and Charles W. Allen, OF
stamford. Conn. have just reached this
clty after thrilling experience in Cuba.
In the course OF which William Barry, OF
New York, who had accompanied them
was shot and killed by Spanlards.
on the 10th OF last September the trio
mentioned. In company with Barry
started FOR Cuba TO join the forces Of the
belllgerents, and arrived at Havana Sep
TENDER q. Here they met with Jose
Relz. a Cuban patriot, who volunteered
10 guide the quartette to the retreat oc-
cupied by the Cuban commanders. They
headed for Pinar del Rio district, and
when near Marlel, in the Guana1az dis
trict, were surprised by a body OF about
fifty Spaniards. They were taken pris-
oners. searched, and findlag papers con-
firmlng suspicious on Ruiz, held con-
sultatlon and decided to kill all the pris-
Oners. The conversation was carried on
In Spanish, but Ruiz Interpreted their
remarks to his American friends. Rec
ognlzlng the desperate situation in
which they had placed themselves, the
quintette decided TO risk their lives In a
vigorous effort to escape, rather than TO
wait and be shot
Mcguire rolled over TO Ruiz and the
young Cuban used his teeth with sueh
success chat he soon had Magulre
hands cut loose. Mcguire then took out
a pen-knife and liberated his compan-
ions. It was dark, but cIe moon shed
light sufficient to illuminate the ground
for some distance. With rush the fiVe
men ran to the spot, where they noticed
some mnchetes and guns. They armed
themselves each with machete, reyol-
yer and belts full OF ammunition. Then
they attempted to get away. but the
Spaniards pursued. firing deadly volley
after their escaping prisoners. Barry
fell, shot through the heart al the tlrst
fire and Bonds right arm was perIor-
ated by bullet.
The surviving four succeeded In out
distauclng their pursuers. They made
every effort to get back and recover Bar
ry'3 body, however, but were unsuccess-
ful and were compelled 10 make their
way further into the mountainous re-
giOns OF Pinar del Rin. and after tor
turous and wearisome journey they ar
rived In the region cf San Cristobal.
A few days afterwards they We're re-
caDturad by a band Of Spanish patrolers.
and they were compelled 70 march FOR a
distance OF over ten miles. when they
were thrown into a prison. The. next
| day they were forced TO march again un-
Ill late in the afternoon, when they Were
| put in another prison, and 50 they were
marched from prison to prison until Ha-
vana was reached Here they were
thrown into a well guarded prison. where
| they were separated.
on December % the three Americans
! were brought before some commanding
officer, whose name they did not learn,
but Il Is presumed by them that i was
General Weyer They were told that
Ruiz. the young Cuban. had committed
suicide by shooting himself with re-
vulver, which he had snatched from one
| OF the guards The three friends sad
nothing. but they discredited the suicide
story and were firmly convinced that the
| yOung Cuban had been murdered.
The trio Of Americans were offered
| their liberty and passage. home II inc!
signed paper swearing allegiance TO the
queen Of Spain. and promising on 3atn
| TO do all they could against the Cuban
cause In the United States. This they
agreed TO, and the three were released