Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-01-12
GLAD THEY'RE LIVING.
Three Americans Who Went 10 Cuba Narrowly
Escape Death.

Philadelphia, Jan. Thames Mcguire
of this city. Jeremiah Bonds Of New Yori
| and Charles w. Allen of Stamford. Conn.
have just reached this city after a
| thrilling experience In Cuba, in the
course OF which William Barry Of New
| York, who had accompanied them. was
shot and killed by Sp2niards.
On Sept. 10 last the trio mentioned, In
company Of Barry, started for Cuba To
join the forces of the belligerents. and
arrived in Havana Sept. 81 Here they
| fell in with Josef Ruiz. Cuban patriot
who volunteered to guide the quartet to
| the retreat occupied by the Cuban com
manders. They headed Tor the Pinar
Del Rio district, and when near Mariel,
in the Guanajaz district. were surprised
by body OF about so Spaniards. They
were taken prisoners, searched, and
finding papers confirming suspicious on
Ruiz held consultation and decided to
kill all the prisoners. The conversation
was carried on in Spanish. but Ruiz in
terpreted their remarks for his Ameri-
can friends. Recognizing the desperate
situation in which they had placed them
selves the quartet decided to risk their
lives in vigorous effort to escape, rather
to wait and be shot.
Mcguire rolled over to Ruiz, and the
young Cuban used his teeth with such
skill that he soon had Maguire's bonds
cut through. Mcguire then took pen
knife and liberated his companions. 1t
was dark, but the moon shed light suf-
ficient TO illuminate the ground for some
distance. With q rush the five men ran
to the spot where they noticed some
machetes and guns. They armed them
selves each with a machete and revolver
and belts full Of ammunition. Then they
attempted to get away. but the Span
Gli Us pursued, firing deadly volley after
them. Barry fell shot through the heart
a the first fire. and Bends right arm was
perforated by a bullet. The surviving
four succeeded in understanding their
Dursuers. They made every effort to
set back and recover Barry's body, how
ever, but were unsuccessful, and were
compelled 20 make their way further
into the mountainous regions of Pinar
Del Rio. ard after tortuous and weari-
some Journey they arrived in the region
OF san Cristobal. \ few days aftepward
they were recaptured by a band OF
Spanish patrolers.
Their hands were tied behind their
backs, and they We're compelled to march
for q distance of over 10 miles. when
they were thrown into prison The
next day they were forced to march
again unit! late in the afternoon. when
they Were put into another prison. and
50 they were marc red from prison to
prison until Havana was reached. Here
they were THROWN into Z well-guarded
prison, where they We're separated.
On Dec. % the three Americans were
bought before SS.s2c commanding .ffi
Ger, whose name they did not learn, but
il is presumed by them that it was Gen
9rai Weyle-. They were told that Ruiz,
n. yong CIban. had committed sui
lice by shooting himself with "a revolver
which he had sn2tched from one of the
,uards. The three friends said nothing.
nut they discreGited the suicide story.
and were SrTnly convinced that the
young Cuban had been murdered.
The trio of Americans We're offered
.heir liberty and passage home if they
would sign = paper swearing allegiance
20 the Queen of Spain. and promising on
oath to do all they could against the
Cuban cause in the United States. This
they agreed to- and the three were re-