The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-01-15
A THRILLING EXPERIENCE.
Hard Time of Americans Who Wanted
to Fight for Cuba.

A0hu AAA0 Oh A "GTlCan9 VINO wanted
to Fight for Cuba.
| Philadelphia Jan. 12.-James Ma
guire, of this city, jeremiah Ponds, of
New York and Charles Wallen, of
Stamford, Conn, have just reached
this city after thrilling experience in
Cuba, in the course of which William
Barry, Of New York, who had accom-
panied them, was shot and killed by
Spaniards. On September 10 the trio
mentioned, in company with Barry,
started for Cuba to join the forces Of
the belligerents and arrived in Havana
September 81. Here they fell in with
Jose Ruiz, a Cuban patriot, who volun-
teered to guide them to a retreat oc-
cupied by the Cuban commanders,
They headed for the Pinar del Rio dis
trict, and when near Mariel were sur
prised by body Of about fifty Span
iards. They were taken prisoners,
bound, searched, and, finding papers
confirming their suspicious on Ruiz,
the Spaniards held a consultation and
decided to kill all the prisoners. The
conversation was carried on in Spanish,
but Ruiz interpreted their remarks for
the Americans. Recognizing the des-
perate situation in which they had
placed themselves, the quintet decided
to risk their lives in an 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 loose. Mcguire then took
knife and liberated his companions
1t was dark, but the moon shed light
sufficient to illuminate the ground for
some distance. With rush the five
men ran to the spot where they noticed
some machetes and guns. They armed
themselves, each with a machete, re-
volver and belts full of ammunition,
AS they attempted to get away the
Spaniards pursued, firing deadly vol
ley after their escaping prisoners.
Barry fell, shot through the heart,
and Bonds right arm was struck by a !
ball. /
The surviving four succeeded in out
their pursuers. They made !
every effort to get back and recover
Barry's body, but were unsuccessful
and were compelled to make their way
further into the mountainous regions
Of Pinar del Rio, and after a wearisome
journey, they arrived in the region of
San Cristobal.
A few days afterward they were re-
by band Of Spanish pa
rollers. Their hands were tied be-
lind their backs and they were COM
oelled to march for a distance of over
en miles, when they were thrown into
!. prison. The next day they were
orced on again, until the afternoon,
when they were put in another prison,
md SO they were marched from prison
o prison until Havana was reached. /
Here they were thrown into we'll
'uarded prison. In a short time they
we're brought before General Weyler
Who offered them their liberty and
'assage home if they signed paper
wearing allegiance to the queen of
pain, and promising on oath to do all !
hey could against the Cuban cause in
he United States. This they agreed
0 do, and the three were liberated.
hey were told that Ruiz, the young
'uban, had committed suicide by shoot
1g himself with revolver, which he !;
ad snatched from one Of the guards.
hey diseredit the suicide story, and ]
re convinced that the Cuban had been {
murdered.