The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-05-24

Harold Remmgard a young man VINO
has spent some time in Cuba, mas just
returned to Salt Lake from the island,
and relates some interesting history in
connection with Evangeline Cassione
Cisneros, the young woman who has
received so much attention at the
hands Of the press reporters of late
by reason of her part in the rebellion
and her capture. Cisneros is the name
of her mother and Cassione that of her
father she taking both as is a custom
there. It signifies she is the daughter
of Senior Cassione and Sonora Cisneros-
She is IS years of age and was born in
the province of Puerto Principe, near
the city of the same name. When she
was but three years OF age her mother
died and she and her three sisters,
two older and enc younger, were LETT
to the care of servants. They We're
sent TO school very early and While
there she become a deep student OF
books which treated of politictl liberty
and earlv became a disciple OF the
teachings of self-government, or re-
publicanism.
After the marriage Of her two older
sisters she and the younger went to
live with their father and to cheer him
for the absence of those who We're
away. They were very happy until the
opening of the last instruction. When
the mutterings of the distant thunder
of war began to be heard, Senior Cas-
stone, who had been an officer in the
ten years war, became restless and
soon organized company to fight for
free Cuba The girl was her fathers
confidant and knew all his plans.
In the meantime the younger sister
became enamored of a young Spaniard,
and while the father would have pre-
40 CHI inn
to the wedding and the pair departed
with the parental blessing.
But some time after this event Cas-
stone had stored under the floor of his
house some arms and ammunition for
the equipment of the Cubans. Now
among those who worshipped at the
shrine of Evangeline was a Cuban,
named Miguel, who was not appreci-
ated by the lovely woman, but he
hoped on just the same, but was finally
repulSed. He determined upon revenge
and despite the girls warning to her
father he continued to trust him and
was by him betrayed to the SpaniardS,
who surrounded the house and cap
tured her father and his lieutenants,
together with the arms which he had
concealed.
The house was fired and everything
consumed.
1t so happened that on that particu-
sent with q. girl friend in the city. She
did not dare go to see her father, as he
lay in Jail, because she had been in
formed she was suspect, which meant
imprisonment for herself, but that
night she made her escape in charge of
two trusted Cubans, followers of her
father. She went to- the still smolder-
ing ruins and sent messengers to the
band of men her father led 20 meet at
once in response to the call of their
chief. In a short time she had 20 men
there There is yet" she said safely
hidden in a place I know well. arms
and ammunition. They are at the dis
posal of those who viii carry out the
work my father has begun. Your
names are al in possession of the
Spanish authorities and to be captured
means death or captivity. If you desire
to go to Gomez 1 will give you arms
But who will be our leader?" asked
the men.
rs there not one of your number who
will lead you to Gomez?" she replied.
None, like Cassione,' was the
answer.
hear me-" Springing upon box which
lay beside the place she shouted:
Men of Cuba, I will be your leader. I
will lead you to Gomez. Your fortune
and mine shall be the same; your fate
1 will share as YOU share mine"
Cheer after cheer went up for the
brave little woman She then led the
hand to the cache where the arms were
distributed. Cuba had enrolled among
her long list of patriot heroes the name
of Captain Evangeline. Cassione Cis-
neros.
Her band had a fight the second day
out They had just emerged from a
swamp when they were confronted by
a large force of SDaniards.
From arnrv side pquoe I-OllauS- q
cowardly SDaniards having ambushed
the little band with more than five
times their number. "El machete" COM
manded the brave little captain and
a desperate charge was made in which
many a Spanish soldier went down. Oh
it was a gallant sight TO see that wom-
an heading the stubborn line which
barred their brown breasts TO Mauser
bullets, while they swung the glitter
ing weapons which deal wounds which
no surgeon is needed TO heal. The
white arm of the Cuban girl was barred
to the elbow and the cleaning blade
she carried drank deep draughts of
Castillian blood each time it descended.
It was in vain the Spanish colonel she
was fighting cried 'maledicto," and
swore large oafhs in the language of
Seville; the powerful strokes of the Gu
bans were not to be withheld until the
life which gave them energy was spent
and the eyes closed forever
Faster and more furious came the
rafting shots. The Cubans were slowly
falling. One by one they dropped and
fell TO rise no more. And amid all the
smoke of the rifles and the CLEAN and
the clangor of steel on steel that young
Joan Of Arc stood urging on her men
with voice and hand till finally, when
z3 of her command were dead on the |
field and IS were wounded, she was
taken captive, but not a willing one.
The next day the United States was
informed that the Spaniaris had fought /
an army of rebels and had put them !
to fight with a small force of men, the !
insurgent forces being nearly annihi- |
lated.
She was taken to a dungeon, and |
there confined, like a felson. Into a |
loathsoTne cell, where vermin creep and |
the damp mould gathers on the cold |
stones, this heroine was incarcerated, |
laden with chains, to be held until such |
time as a military trial should deter |
mine her fate.
No witness could go in and testify in |
her favor; no story Of her bravery in |
acton would be permitted in that court. |
The butchers who fired from behind the |
ambuscade could not listen to one who |
would tell of her daring in the face of |
death. Why, in this country such brav- |
cry would be considered ample for her |
to have been set at liberty almost. The |
regiment which captured her would |
have presented arms when she passed |
it and the colors would have been |
dipped to the brave little woman can !
tain who had made such a gallant |
q