Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-11
BARELY ESCAPE WITH LIFE
Thrilling Experience of Americans Who Go
to Join Belligerents.
FALL INTO HANDS OF SPANlARDS
Cnptors Decide to XIII Their Pris-
oners, but the Latter Manage TO
Free Themselves from bonds
and Get Away.

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 10.-James Ma
guire Of this city, Jeremiah Bond of New
York 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 Spaniards.
On the 10th Of last September the trio
mentioned, in company with Barry, started
for Cuba to join the forces of the belliger-
ents, and arrived In Havana September 2l
Here they fell in with Josef Ruiz, a Cuban
patriot who volunteered to guide the quar-
tet to the retreat occupied by the Cuban
commanders They headed for the Pinar
del Rio district and when near Mariel, in
the Guanajay district were surprised by
n body of about fifty Spaniards. They were
taken prisoners, searched and their captors,
on finding papers confirming suspicious on
Ruiz, held a consultation and decided to
kill all the prisoners. The conversation
was carried on In Spanish, but Ruiz inter
preted their remarks for his American
friends Recognizing the desperate situa-
tion in which they had placed themselves.
the quintet decided to risk their lives in
a vigorous effort to escape rather than to
wait and be shot.
Mcguire rolled over to Ruiz and the young
Cuban used his teeth with such success
that he soon had Maguire's hands cut
through. Mcguire then took a penknife
and liberated his companions. 1t was dark,
but the moon shed light sufficient to IL
illuminate the ground for some distance.
with a rush the five men ran to the spot
where they knew were some machetes and
guns. They armed themselves, each with
n Tnachete, revolver and belts full of am
munition. AS they attempted to get away,
4 ltn,
after their escaping prisoners. Barry fell,
shot through the heart, at the first fire
and Bonds right arm was perforated by a
ball. The surviving four succeeded in out
distancng their pursuers. They made
every effort to get back and recover Barry S
body however but were unsuccessful and
were compelled to make their way further
into the mountainous regions of Pnar del
Rio, and after tortuous and wearsome
journey, they arrived In the region of San
Christobal
a few DAYS afterwards they were recap.
turcd by n band OF Spanish patrollers. Their
hands were tied behind their backs and
they were compelled 10 march for disanc7 2
Of over ton mics, when they were thrown
into prison. The next day they were forced
to march again until late in the afternoon,
when they were put into another prison, and
SO they were marched from prison to prison
until Havana was reached. Here they were
thrown into a well guarded prison, where
they were separated.
on December 20 the three Americans were
brought before some commanding officer,
whose name they did not learn. but 1t is
presumed by them that 1t was General Wey-
Ter. They were told that Ruiz, the young
Cuban. had committed suicide by shooting
himself with revolver. which he had
snatchad from one Of the guards. The three
friends said nothing. but they di5credited
the suicide story and were firmly convinced
the Young Cuban had been murdered.
The trio OF Americans were offered their
liberty and passage home If they signed c
paper swearing allegiance to 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
,rora raIaasnJ