Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-09
CUBA'S SENSATION.
ESCAPE FROM PRISON OF sEyo-
RITA CIsNERos.
TWO WELL-DUESSED YOUNG MEN.
They Seem In Have Had n Good Deal
TO DO With the Matter-Drugged
Candy for the Hcroine's Fellow
Prisoners.

HABANA, October S.-The escape OF
senorita Evangelina Cossio, otherwise
Cossio Cisneros exclusively reported
in a cablegram TO the Associated Press.
last night. has caused quite a sensa-
ton in Habana. An investigation made
by the authorities has developed num-
Der OF additional facts in the case.
IL Is now asserted that the young wo-
man escaped between ii o'clock and mid
night Of Wednesday, over the roof o. a
neighborlng house, and through it to the
street below. opposite O'Farren Lane,
and not into the street. where the police
found a hand-ladder.
On the roof Of the adjoining house the
authorities found three planks, each
about three feet long and eighteen inches
wide, joined together by strong hinges
so as to serve as a bridge, enabling a
person TO pass from the roof of the
prison to the roof Of the house referred
to. The authorities also found on the
roof a Smith & Wesson revolver of large
calibre, having its six Chambers loaded,
and a new knotted rope, which had evil
IDENTIFY been used as lifeline, or guiding
rope. 20 enable the escaping prisoner 10
cross the plank bridge which had been
extended by her accomplices from the
house near the Casa de Recojidas to the
roof of that prison. The revolver, the
knettod rope, and the portable bridge,
as well as other discoveries made by the
police show that the escape of Senorita
Cossio was long and carefully planned.
She must have been in constant commu-
nication with those who enabled her TO
escape from the Casa de Recojidas
where she was imprisoned with eleven
other women.
ROMANTIC DETAILS.
Some OF the details Of the young
Cuban's escape are quite romantic. 1t
appears that real estate agent, named
Mariana Fernandez. who was in charge
of the house. No. 1 O'Farrell lane. de-
clares that he recently rented that build
ing TO two well-dressed young men. The
latter seemed TO be highly respectable,
hired the house for two months, and
paid the rent in advance.
The building was poorly furnished, the
principal room In II containing oniy an
old table. a washstand, a wardrobe, an
antique sideboard, six old chairs, six
plates. and two cats But the young
men seemed TO be perfectly satisfied
with their surroundings. and little or no
notice OF them was taken by the nelgh-
bors. or by anybody else, in spite of the
fact that the house was situated close
TO the prison in which the young Cuban
girl. whose story caused such sensa-
tion I'm the United States. was confined.
When the rooms of No. l OFarreH
lane were searched, the police, in addi-
tlon to the articles already described,
found a bag Of lime. can OF paint. ana
n large brush, which might be USED for
tho application OF either lime or paint. |
Inside the window through which
Senorita Cossio escaped, the police dis
covered a bedsheet. and as this apart |
ment was her sleep;ng-room. the authori- |
ties are inclined to believe the sheet was |
used by the escaping prisoner to envelope |
herself, with the object of deceiving her |
room-mates. If she was unlucky enough |
10 awaken them. into the belief that she |
was moving about in her night-clothes.
The quarter Of the prison which was |
occupied by Senorita Cossio is known |
"a the New Hall, for the reason that 1T |
was constructed only seven months ago. |
il was set apart for the use of political
prisoners. and was quite comfortable, |
COMPARED with other Spanish prisons.
DRUGGED CANDY.
The companions of the young Cuban |
woman whom she left behind say that |
the day before Senorita Cossio escaped |
she received a package. believed to have |
drugged candies. In any case,
the Senorita, contrary TO her usual
custom. did not at once distribute |
the candles to her prison companions,
but waited until Wednesday night. when
she urged each of them to partake Of the
The prisoners did so, and
they express the conviction that the
sweets were drugged, for they soon af-
terwards fell into a deep sleep, and did
not awaken throughout the night, al
though the filing Of the iron bar Of the
senorita's bedroom window must have
caused enough noise to have awakened
he prisoners under ordinary circum-
stances.
People living I'm the vicinity OF the
Casa de Recojdas have informed the
authorities that they heard the noise
Of carriage-wheels shortly before mid
night on Wednesday night, and this fact
IS supposed 10 have "A connection with
the prisoners escape.
There is a division Of opinion as 10
whether the escape of the Senorita was
effected by Americans or by Cuban in
SuTEtMlS. nc iiDaANt aIt Htiu at NOfk |
the escape. and all the
Spanish authorities along the coast have
been communicated with in the belief
that an attempt may be made to en-
ark the Senorita upon some vessel
leaving Cuba for the United States, or
Fernandez the jailer in charge of the
casa de Recoiidas, and four employees
Of the government who were on duty
there. have been arrested, and are con-
fined. 'incommunicado," pending the re-
suit Of the inquiry being made into the
escape.
4 WOMAN ARRESTED.
Macama Ana Milan de Bendou, who
,as been I'm charge Of the new hall al
he Casa de Recogidas. where Senorita
svargelina COssio was confined. and in
whose house In San Rafael street the
,olicc several months ago found dyna
mite and cartridges, is one Of the four
Employees, who with the jailer, have
ieen arrested and confined, "incommu-
icado." pending the result OF the inquiry
eing made into the circumstances Of
he escape OF ScnOrta COssio.