The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-10-15
ESCAPE OF MISS. CISNEROS
SHE REACHES NEW YORK DIRECT
FROM HAVANA BY STEAMER

She Takes Passage on tho Seneca. Dressed
in Mans Clothing Under the Name Of
Juan Sola, Her Friends Having Secured q
Passport in that Name Detectives
Watching the Steamer at Havana Treated
to Wine by Friends of the Lady
New York October 13.-Evangelina
Cosio Cisneros. who recently escaped
from a Spanish prison in Cuba, was
passenger on the Ward Line steamer
Seneca which arrived today from Ha-
vana. AT quarantine Miss Cisneros ask
ed to be excused from saying anything
about her Imprisonment and escape,
she had not yet recovered from sea sick
ness On the passenger list she was reg
istered as Miss Juana Sola. She was
travelling under the care of a gentleman
who accompanied her from Havana.
When the Seneca reached quarantine the
towboat, ]. Fred Lohman with several
newspaper representatives and four wo-
men, went along side the steamer and
after the official inspection was over they
went on board and accompanied Miss
Cisneros to the city.
Miss Cisneros' escape and safe arrival
on the Seneca was one Of the most daring
feats ever attempted and successfully
carried out. While she was still in prison
her friends secured passport for one
Juan SOla, and state room No. on the
Seneca was held in the same name. This
was three days before the boat sailed.
On the Saturday, when the Seneca was
to leave Havana, detectives watched her
gangwayS with extra caution. All day
long they remained at their post, examin-
ing the passports which all passengers
have to show before leaving Havana.
Their vigilance would probably have
prevented the departure Of Miss CisnerOs
from Cuba, had it not been for a little
refreshment which was served to them
by friends of Miss Cisneros, who were
aboard the Seneca. The refreshnent in
cluded wine. The chief Of police of Ha-
vana came aboard while the refreshment
part of the plot was in progress, and it
the wiles of the Cisneros faction. few
minutes before the Seneca was ready to
pull out from her dock, a slim young fell
low came running across the wharf. He
dressed. He walked directly up the gang
plank. The detectives stopped him. My
name is Juan Sola,'' he said, and he
showed his passport: everything was
to go on board. 1t is said that if it had
not been for the wine the strange treble
and rather curious figure of Senor Sola
might have excited the suspicious of the
worked successfully. Miss Cisneros'
friends. when they saw that everything
was satisfactory, disembarked and
watched the ship pull slowly out under
the frowning Spanish guns, carrying the
fugitive to safety under the stars and
stripes.
more then was necessary and at once
went to her cabin. Next day, however,
when Moro Castle was left far behind,
She on deck into
neros, and dressed in becoming red
gown.
Captain Stevens, commander Of the
Seneca was angry when he discussed the
Cisneros incident with the reporters, said
he: "Since the commencement of the
present insurrection it has been the GUS
couple of detectives at the head Of the
gangway Of ships lying at Havana. We
arrived at clock a. M, on Saturday
an! and LETT ! at O'clock P. m, during which
of the gang plank. Just before the
Seneca sailed the chief of police, his
deputy and his secretary came aboard.
Senorita Cisneros disappeared two days
previously, and yet they asked no ques-
tions and made no search for her. al
though upon three former occasions
they had searched the Seneca from
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 China
men and man whose name appeared
upon the advance passenger list as Juan
SOla, and who must have had a passport,
When it was discovered that Juan Sola
was a girl the Juan was changed to
Juana. andsMiss Cisneros came in under
that name..
of femme wearing apparel by the stew
ardess of the Seneca.
A. c. Stewart, an Englishman who en-
barked at Tampico, and who speaks
20 TO fiSc
Cisneros at the table during the voyage,
and that when she saw the cape Hat
teras light, she fell upon her knees on
the deck and prayed devoutly Mr..
Stewart says he found the rescued Cuban
most pleasant companion. She had her
hair pinned up in a coil, worn under
sombrero, when she embarked, disguised
as a ranchman.
Immediately upon landing here today
the party took carriages to the Wildorf
and were assigned to rooms on the sec
ond floor While Senorita Cisneros was
fatigued, she appeared to be in the very
best of spirits and eXhultant over her
arrival in America. She does not speak
English, but her face is very expressive
and she seemed to instinctly understand
questions put to 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; j.
Of the National Womens Republican AS
ISOLATION
The Cuban junta has issued an invita-
ton to the people of Greater New York
and vicinity, interested in Senorita Ces-
neros and the cause of Cuba, to attend
reception to be rendered to the rescued
young woman at Delmonco's On Fifth
avenue Saturday night The reception
will really be a demonstration of SYM
pathy with the struggling republic and
speakers of national reputat alton will ad-
dress the gathering
Attempt to Burn q House and Supposed