The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-14
Walked Aboard the Steamer Seneca,
Disguised In Male Attire, and
TricIxed the Spanish Detectives.
STORY OF THE GIRLS ESCAPE
PASSED AS SENIOR JUAN sOLA UNTIL
OUT OF CUBAN WATERS,
When She Changed Her Clothes and
She Was Rescued from Prison.

NEW YORK, Oct. 13.-Evangelina Cossio
y Cisneros. who recently escaped from a
Spanish prison in Cuba. was passenger
on the Ward line steamer Seneca, which ar
rived to-day from Havana. At quarantine
Miss Cisneros asked to be excused from
saying anything about her Imprisonment
and escape, as she was not yet recovered
from sea sickness, from which she had suf-
fered during the entire passage, and which
kept her ir her state room during the whole
voyage. On the passenger list she was reg
istered as Miss Juana Sola. She was travel
ing under the care of gentleman who ac-
companed her from Havana When the
Seneca reached quarantine the towboat j.
Fred Lohman, with several newspaper rep
resentatives and four women went along
side the steamer, and after the health off,
GERS inspection was over they went on
board and accompanied Miss Cisneros to
this city.
Immediately on landing the party took
carriages to the Hotel Waldorf and were
assigned to rooms on the second floor.
While Senorita Cisneros was fatigued, she
appeared in the very best of spirits and
exultant over her arrival in America. She
does not speak English, but her face is
very expressive, and she seemed to in
her and answered in Spanish. The senorita
retired as soon as she reached the hotel and
refused to be seen. Among her party was
Mrs. ]. Ellen Foster of Washington, pres
ident of the National Women's Republican
Association.
Miss Cisneros's escape from prison, as
has been detailed in previous dispatches,
was one of the most daring feats ever at
tempted and successfully carried out 1t was
less sensational, however, than her escape
from Havana. While she was still in prison
her friends secured passport for one Juan
Sola and stateroom No. on the Seneca was
held in the same name. This was three
days before the boat sailed. On the Satur-
day, when the Seneca was to leave Havana,
detectives watched her gangways with ex-
ira caution. All day long they remained at
their post, examining the passports which
all passengers have to show before leaving
Havana. Their vigilance would probably
have prevented the departure of Miss CiS-
neros from Cuba, had it not been for a lit
tie refreshment which was served to them
by friends Of Miss Gisneros, who We're
cluded wine. The chief of police Of Havana
came aboard while the refreshment part of
the plot was in progress and il is alleged
that he too, fell a victim to the wiles Of
the Cisneros party.
A few minutes before the Seneca was
ready to pull out from her dock a slim
young fellow came running across the
wharf He had no baggage and was fash
ionably dressed. He walked quickly up the
gang plank. The detectives stopped him.
My name is Juan Sola,' he said, and
showed his passports. Everything was sat
isfactory, so the senor was allowed to go
aboard. 1T is said that il it had not been
for the Wine the strange treble and rather
curious figure of Senior Sola might have
excited the suspicious of the Spanish de-
tectiVeS but the scheme worked success
fully. Miss Cisneross friends, when they
saw that everything was satisfactory. dis
embarked and watched the ship pull slowly
out under the frowning Spanish guns, car
rying the fugitive to safety under the stars
and stripes Miss Cisneros did not court
danger any more than was necessary, and
at once went to her cabin. The next day,
however, when MORO Castle was left far
behind, she appeared on deck, transformed
from Senor Juan Sola into Senorita Juana
Sola, alias Cossio y Cisneros and dressed
in a becoming red gown.
Captain Stevens, commander of the Sene-
ca, was angry when he discussed the CiS-
neros incident with the reporters. Said he:
Since the commencement of the present
insurrection it has been customary for the
Spanish authorities to post a couple of
Spanish detectives at the head of the gang
way of ships lying at Havana. We arrived
at a m. and left at D. m, during which
time the detectives did not leave the head
of the gang plank. Just before the Seneca
sailed, the chief Of police, his deputy and
his secretary came aboard. Senorita Cis-
neros had escaped two days previously and
yet they asked no questions and made no
search for her, although on three former
occasions they had searched the Seneca
from stem to stern and keel to promenade
deck, while looking for suspects.
Captain Stevens said that, to the best of
his knowledge, the only persons who went
aboard at havana were the Lastie family.
the Del Real family, eight Cinnamon and
a man whose name appeared on the advance
passenger list as Juan Sola, and who must
have had passport otherwise he could not
have gone aboard. When it was discovered
that Juan Sola' was girl the Juan" was
changed to "Juana," and Miss Cisneros
came in under that name Miss Cisneros
was given some articles of feminine wear
ing apparel by the stewardess of the Sem
eca.
A. c. Stewart, an Englishman, who en-
barked at TampicO, and who speaks Span
ish said that he sat opposite to Miss Cis-
neros at the table during the voyage and
that when she saw the 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 had her hair pinned up
in a coil, worn under a sombrero when she
embarked, disguised as a ranchman.