Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-14
SENORITA CISNEROS.
THE BEAJTIFUL YOUNG LADy's
RESCUE FROM IMPRISONMENT.
HER ESCAPE FROM HABANA.
Wine for spanish Detectives ut the
Steamers GnngOay - slender
Young Man Transformed on the
voyage Into the Cuban Heroine.

NEW YORK. Octobr l3.-Miss Clsneros,
who recently escaped from Spanish
prison in Cuba. was a passenger on the
ward Line steamer Seneca. which ar
rived to-day from Habana.
At quarantine Miss Cisneros asked 10
be excused from saying anythinG about
her imprisonment and escare. as abe had
not yet recovered from scs-sickness
on the passenger list she was registered
as Miss Juana sola. She was travelling
under the care OF gentleman who ac-
companied her from Habana.
When the steamer had quarantined. the
tow-boat j. Fred. Lobman. with several
newspaper reporters and four women
went alongside the steamer. and after
the health officers inspection WAS over
they went on board and accompanied
Miss Cisneros to this city.
Miss Cisneros's escape and safe arrival
on the Seneca WAS one Of the most daring
features ever attempted. and successfully
carried out. while she was still in prison
her friends secured a passport for one
Juan Sofa. and State-Ioom No on the
Seneca was held in the same name This
was three days before the boat sailed
On the Saturday that the Seneca Was
TO leave Habana dete ctives watched her
gangways with extra caution. All day
long they remained at their posts, eX-
aiming the passports which AL pas
sengers have TO show before leaving
Habana. Their vigilance woulS prob
ably have prevented the departure OF Miss
CisnerOs from Cuba. had II not been for
faV ~rs,J
10 them by friends OF Miss Cisneros's.
who were aboard the Seneca. The re-
freshment included wine. The Chief OF
Police OF Habana came aboard while the
refreshment part Of the plot was In pro-
gress. and II is alleged that he. 100. tell
a victim TO the -wfes OF the Cisneros
faction.
SLIM YOUNG FELLOW.
A few minutes before the Seneca was
ready 10 pull out from her dock a slim
young fellow came running across the
wharf. He had no baggage, and was
fashionably dressed. He walked quickly
up the gang-plank The detectives stop
ped him my name Is Juan Sofa" he
said. and he showed his passport Every
thing was satisfactory, so the Senior was
allowed 20 so on board 1t Is said hat
II II had not been for the wine, the
strange treble and rather curious figure
Of Senior Sofa might have excited the
Suspicious OF the Spanish detectives. But
the scheme worked well. Miss Cisneros's
friends saw her embark, and watched
the ship pull slowly out from under the
frowning Spanish guns. carrying Miss
Cisneros TO safety under the Stars and
Stripes.
Miss Cisneros did not court danger any
more than was necessary and at once
- AsaN han
Moro Castle had been left far behind,
she appeared on deck transformed into
Senorsta Juana Sofa alias Miss Cisneros,
and dressed in a becoming red gown.
Captain Stevens. commander of the
Seneca. was angry when he discovered
the deception. and to the reporters said:
Since the commencement OF the present
instruction It has been the custom Of
the Spanish authorities 20 post a couple
OF detectives at the head OF the gang
way OF ships lying at Habana. We ar
rived at 6 o'clock on Saturday morning,
and left at p. NJ, during which time
tho detectives did not leave the head OF
the gang-plank. Just before the Seneca
soiled the Chief OF Police, his deputy,
and his secretary came aboard. Senorita
C.sneros had escaped two days previous
ly, and yet they asked no questions and
made no search for her. although on
former occasions they had searched The
Seneca from stem to stern while look
ing for suspects.
THE TRANSPORTATION.
Captain Stevens said that 10 the best
Of his knowledge the only persons who
went aboard at Habana were the Last
family. the Del Rel family. eight China
men, and a man whose name appeared on
the advance passenger list as Juan Sola,
al, ~l,, hazr haH of
wise he could not have gone aboard.
When It was discovered that Juan Sofa
was q girl the Juan was changed TO
Juana. and Miss Cisneros came in under
that name.
Miss Cisneros was given some articles
of feminine wearing apparel on board the
Seneca.
A c. Stewart. an Englishman. who en-
barked at Tampico. and who speaks
Spanish, said that he sat opposite Miss
Clsneros at the table during the voyage,
and that when she saw Cape Hatteras
light she fell upon her knees on the deck
and prayed devoutly.
Mr.. Stewart says he found the rescued
Cuban a most pleasant companion. She
had her hair pinned up in coil worn
under a sombrero when she embarked.
and looked like a wealthy Cuban rancher.
AT the landing. the party took car
riages to the Hotel Waldorf. and we're
assigned to rooms on the second floor.
While Senorita Cisneros was fatgucd.
she was in the very best spirits. and
exultant over her arrival in the United
states. She does not speak English. but
her face Is very expressive, and she
seemed 10 intuitively understand the
questions put to her, and answered in
Spanish.
The senorta retired as soon as she
reached the hotel, and refused to he
seen. Among her party was Mrs J.
ellen Foster, OF Washington. president
OF the National Womans Republican As
ISOLATION.
RECEPTION TO THE SENORITA.
NEW YORK, october 1S.-The Cuban
Jvnta has issued an invitation to the
people Of Greater New York and vicinity
interested I'm Senorita Cossio Cisneros and
the cause OF Cuba, TO attend reception
40 be rendered TO the rescued young wo-
man at DelmOnicos, on Fifth avenue
Saturday night.
The reception will really be a demon
stration Of sympathy with the struggling
fopublic, and speakers Of national reputa-
ton will address the gathering.
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