The herald., 1897-11-23
Once More Breathe the All
of Freedom
THE COMPETITOR FILIBUSTERS
TOO WEAK TO RESPOND TO THE
GREETING GIVEN
General Pando's Overtures to the In.
surgents Do Not Promise to Prove
Particularly Successful
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
NEW YORK, Nov. 22-The steam&S
Saratoga, from Havana, having on board
the released members of the Competitoe
filibustering expedition, has been re-
ported entering the harbor.
The men are: Captain Alfredo YAs
borde, William Gildea. Ona Melton, VIM.
Leavitt and Chas. Bernette, an English
man. The five men were in fairly good
health and excellent spirits on reaching
quarantine. Captain Laborde suffers
somewhat from paralysis, which he con-
tracted during his long confinement in
the Cabannas fortress.
Jos. A. Springer, United States vice.
consul at Havana, was also passenger
on the Saratoga. Mr.. Springer declines
to talk for publication.
The released men wlRe the clothes In
which they were clad at the time of their
capture. on April 25. 1896, at Berracos,
San Cayalano, Cuba.
Another happy passenger on the Sar-
atoga was Julio Arago Queseda, the
young Cuban insurgent who was or
dered to be shot by Weyler, but was
pardoned by Gen. Blanco, friend of the
prisoners father.
The six men who had escaped the fate
of the Virginius captives were greeted
upon their arrival in New York by an
enthusiastic crowd, who gave them.
hearty welcome. The poor wretches
We're too weak to respond to the cheers
which had been given in their honor.-
CQnfoir a hOrdo'c how vryoo ~
those assembled on the dock. The meet
ing between the brothers was touch
ing one. The friends of the others cried
with joy as they grasped the hands of
the released prisoners, whose eyes were
sunken, faces pallid and forms ema-
ciated. Representatives Of the Cuban
junta were also present and theyadded
their greeting to the men.
QUESEDA'S STORY
NEW YORK, Nov. 22.-This is the
story which young Queseda told tonight
concerning his release:
while member of the army corps
in the Pinar del Rio district became
possessed Of information to the knowl-
edge of which think owe the saving
of my life.
Last March I wandered about half
a mile away from our hospital tent in
search of some herbs of which desired
to make medicine, when a detachment
of Spanish infantry captured me. The
noise made by the struggle aroused
my twelve companions, and they rushed
to my assistance. During the fight that
followed my friends were beaten and
one of them was killed. After the con-
flict was over l wasrbound and thrown
on the ground and beaten unniercifully.
1 was told if Would confess where my
comrades had their dynamite stored
they would stop beating me. This
declined to do, and seeing that they could
not force a confession from me they
sent me to Artemisa prison, where was
tried and sentenced to be shot.
1.-TWO prominent Spanish generals,
one Of them a brigadier general, whose
name do not care to mention, and Gen.
Arolas, principally concerned them
selves in my release. They feared me.
They were in constant communica-
tion with the insurgent generals, hav-
ing written letters to them, which saw
while in the Pinar del Rio district in
which they stated that they wanted to
make arrangements by which Spanish
soldiers would not be attacked in the
districts controlled by them. In return
the insurgents were to have free access
to the trocha and be permitted to pass
at will. This proposition was accepted
and in this way we were able to keep In
constant communication withoGomez.
Maceo and Garcia.
1--WE have about 5000 men under com.
mand of Gen.. Nunez, while the Span
iards had between 10000 and $4,000, yet
we were well able to cope with Them"
Captain LabOrde, speaking Of the
prison, says:
1.-The stories Of cruelty in Spanish
prisons are wholly unfounded. I have
been there long enough to know. The
jailers were as kind as could be expected,
and Matteo Fernandez, the warden Of
Cabanas, was especially kind and con-
siderate-so much so that we called him
father" Why. we knew more about
what was going on than you did, How
did we learn? Well, can't tell that, a.
it might hurt those have left behind.
Yes, American gold went great ways.
got little money from time to time
and the guards, who did not receive any
pay while I,was there. were always
grateful for anything 1 gave them, and
AAiPAy PdA0 III WALdt S1Cy 6Ots-
Two members of the Competitor crew,
DR.. E. Bordia and Delgado Masso. both
Spaniards. are still in prison in Cuba.
Their release has, it is said. been prom
ised.
BLANCO'S PLANS
HAVANA, Nov. %. via Key Wests
Fla, Nov. 2c.-General Pando started
from the city by train last Saturday, ace
cording to the official announcement to
take charge Of the campaign against the
insurgents. He was accompanied BY h1ss
full staff and was escorted by = conn 3
pany Of artillery. But 1t ID stated - 4
good authority that General Pando hao
been commissioned BY General HlaAtt
the Captain-G General. to enter 1nt6 ri ~ 4
municati0n With the insur1 q y y I'd "
Nth the view Of aFzanGipG - 3