The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-05
MISS CISNERoSS STORY.
TOLL TO a SUN CORRESPOND EMIT
IN THE H4VAH4 JAN.

nhsektnG Persecutions That We're the Penalty
or Repuisina tho Advances or Ono or WeJ-
ier's Ltoutennnts-The Charges or Conspir-
aoS Denied-Her beauty ana Her Courage.
Although much has been written about Miss
Evangelinh Cosslo Cisnoros. | think 1t will still
be Of interest to know tho story Of her wrongs
as taken from her own lips when ] met her In
the Havana jail, where l was imprisoned. She
ca. Q TO that prison on May %, 1897. with thir-
tecn companions, suffering imprisonment on
different charges in the Casa de Recogidas, and
had como to the Court House in the jail to tes-
tify before their respective Judges.
The latter had met that morning TO review
tho pending cases. 1t Is the rule in tho Span
fab procedure, either civil or military, that
every three months there shall DO a general re-
view Of prisoners. as II Is styled, In which all
the prisoners are made to appear before n
special tribunal, formed. II military, of all the
Judge-Advocates, under the Presidency Of the
General commanding the district, Before that
special tribunal tho prisoner is asked IL he has
any complaints to make against the Judges for
delays or breaches Of formalities In tho pro-
ceedings. II any complaint Is made and 1t is
found reasonable. tho Judge is admonished by
the President and urged to attend to the mat
ter ct onco. Miss Cisneros thus camo to mako
her complaint of negligence against her Judge,
who had had her case in hand for eleven
months and had not come to a decision. l
saw hor whom abe appeared before the tribunal.
and could not help admiring tho courage and
hrmness with which she protested her limo.
cenco and requested q prompt examination Of
her case. in order to put a stop to her sufferings
in the awful situation in which she was placed.
Her pleadings were OF no avail then, and no at
tonuon was paid to them, as Is proved by the
fact that sho remained three months moro In
the wretched place before her condition was
ameliorated, thanks to the noble and generous
efforts Of American women in their stirring APP
peal to the Queen Regent OF Spain.
I was presented to Miss Cisneros by ono Of
my companions, for i had no acquaintance
with her previous to my incarceration, and was
very anxious to know her. having heard 30
much about her. Miss Cisneros and her friends
had arrived earlyin the morning in q closed van.
escorted by tho police. Inside the building they
wore not allowed to mingle with the rest Of the
prisoners, but were placed In a sort Of vestibulo,
close to the door. fenced on all sides with heavy
iron bars, which gave It the appearance OF q
cage. AS she was not permitted to receive her
friends, / had to speak to her through the bars
during the time che remained in the Jail, which
was about q couple OF hours.
My first Impressions Of Miss Cisneros were Of
wonder and admiration at her delicate beauty.
No words can fifty describe her. Her large
eyes, yelled with long. soft lashes, and her
dropping gaze give to her whole face an express
sion Of great candor and innocence. She has a
mass Of long, wavy, black hair. a small and per-
feet oval face. dazzling white teeth, a small
Roman nose Of tho purest type. a dimpled chin
Of great beauty, and a white. fair complexion.
She is small Of stature, rather below the medium
height, and slim In proportion. Her voice has
. soft musical ringing tone delightful to hear.
She was neatly dressed in black, and for orna-
fmauta had onlv "a Dair NJ cheaD earrippa md
her gold engagement ring.
She told me her tale In q plain and modest
manner. And when / heard from her, in tinnd
phrases. the ttory of her woes and sufferings 1
felt an intense sensation Of pity and sorrow for
the frail and lovely creature l was looking at
through tho iron bars, still suffering the hard.
ships Of her terrible ordeal. II l did not have
tho absolute evidence of the facts before me 1
would never have believed hat any of nv coun.
trymen could ever have so far forgotten tho
traditional chivalrous spirit of our ancestors
and the high respect and devotion we have al
ways felt for women In general as to treat an
Innocent girl In such q way and persecute her SO
relentlessly.
Although I was well acquainted with all the
facts in connection with her case, / did not let
tho occasion pass without asking her, for my
own satisfaction. If there was any truth In the
story, which everybody knew In Havana. She
ohhEm ~ v uo IN 6VoTy E6Sp0CU-
when my father was arrested In the month
Of May. 1895. on the charge of aiding and abet-
ting In tho rebellion. and without any trial or
hearing was sent exiled to the penal settlement
Of the Isle Of Pines" she said. II thought 1t but
natural. a. . faithful, dutiful, and loving daugh-
tor to follow his footsteps, and accompany him
In hin hours OF bereavement. Consequently, I
requested permission from the Civil Governor,
Behor Porrua, who after many pleadings and
with great reluctance granted me the favor.
Once on the island, through the mediation of
somo good friends 1 found there, l succeeded
In obtaining from Senior Menendez, who was
then Governor Of the place, permission to with
draw my father from the rest Of the prisoners
suffering sentences for all sorts of common
crtmea. and have him to live with me-. With our
little savings We took a mail but decentlook-
ing house In the main street of the town of NJ.
eva Corona. which Is tho scat Of government
of tho island, and there peacefully lived until
the arrival Of tho notorious Lieut.. Col. Berriz.
from tho outset I noticed with q certain
alarm that Berriz was trying by every conceiva-
BILE means to attract my attention by parading In
the front Of our home In his full regimentals
with his breast covered with flashing dec.
oradons. and Q big sword dangling at his side.
At nrst ho was only courteous and polite, but
IL seams that vexed by the indifference with
which ! received his compliments-for l had
been informed Of his treacherous wiles and bad
1oputaton-he adopted holder tactics, and ad.
dressed mo Q passionate letter. couched In the
most loving terms. with assurances of his pro.
lection to my father and me. finally inviting me
tohiS house. saying l could give as an excuse
that ! had gone to plead for my father. 1t ID
needless to describe the indignation / felt when
reading tho offensive missive, and l spurned 1t
with contempt. This made him desperate. so
he rcsorted to tho base and cowardly means
Of wreaking his vengeance on my Door father,
Q helpless and innocent victim of his wrath.
He nrst had him arrested and locked up In the
calGboose. Moved with compassion at the con-
diion OF my aged father, his fellow prisoners
pleaded with Berriz for him, but no would not
listen to them. and told them that l must make
him . personal request l took courage and
went to him. After saying that he could 70.
fuse me nothing. Berriz ordered my father 70.
leased at once.
'Things went smoothly for some time until
j received another OF his insinuating letters In
which this time he limited that my father would
be exilSd to Chafarinas. the penal colonv In