Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-11-23
CREW
Freed from Havana's Foul
Prison Lands at New York.
Greeted by Loving Friends ard Scores
Of Cuban Sympathizcrs.
Story Of Quesada. Who Left Home 10 Fight
for Cuba.

New York, Nov. 2A-Alfrado Id
horde of New Orleans, Ona Melton of
Kansas. VIM. Leavitt of Bangor. Me-,
VIM. Gildea, native OF England. but a
naturalized citizen Of the United
States. and Charles Barnett. Brit
ish subject. the master and members
of tine crew of the schooner Competitor.
who were released, last week. from
prison in Cuba. arrived here, this
evening, on the steamer Saratoga from
Havana.
Although in a deplccable condition,
on account of their confinement in d
filthy and unhealthy Spanish dungeon
for IS months. and expecting daily,
during the whole Of that time. to be be-
taken out and SHOT as filibusters, the
five men were very happy when they
clothes which they had on at the time
of their capture, April 25, 1896, at Ber-
races.
Another equally happy passenger
was Julio ArtegO v Quesada, the young
Cuban insurgent. who was ordered to
be SHOT by Weyler. but was pardOned
by Gen. Blanco, friend of the pris-
oner's father. who before the latter's
death in Mexico, had for years been
professor in the Harvard college.
The six were greeted upon their ar
rival by an enthusiastic crowd, who
gave them a hearty welcome. The
poor wretohes were too weak to re-
spond to the cheers given in their hon
or. Captain Loborde's brother was one
of those assembled ON the dock. The
meeting between the brothers was a
touching one. The friends of the 9TH
ers cried with joy as they grasped the
hands of the released prisoners whose
eyes were sunken. their faces pallid
and their forms emaciated.
Representatives of the Cuban Junta
We're also present and they added their
greeting to the men who risked their
lives for the cause of Cuba's liberty.
Young Quesada is nephew of Con-
zales De Quesada, secretary of the
Cuban Junta in this city. The youth,
who had abandoned his studies in
Columbia college to fight in the ranks
of the Cuban army, was captured in
the sacking of an insurgent hospital
by the Spaniards and was sentenced to
be shot by Weyler. Nov. 4.
The story of the capture of the men
of the Competitor their sentence to
death. court martial and the efforts
made by this government in their be-
half are too well known. All would
doubtless have been shot had not the
Spanish government not feared that
such action would have brought on a
conflict with the United States. Their
release was practically demanded by
this country and at the last moment
the Spaniards yielded to the demand.
This is the story which young
Quesada told. tonight. concerning his
release. 1t will not please his Cuban
friends who considered him to be a
martyr for freedom:
while member of the army corps
in the Pinar del Rio district 1 became
possessed Of information. to the knowl-
edge of which l think I owe the saw
ing of my life. Last March, I
wandered about half a mile away from
our hospital tent when detachment Of
the infantry battalion captured me.
The noise made by my struggle to free
myself aroused my II companions and
they rushed to my assistance. During
the fight that followed my friends were
beaten and one Of them was killed.