The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-10-15

Washington, Oct. 14.-"Charles Du-
val, the New York Journal correspond
emit who engineered the escape of Senorita
Evangelina Cossio y Cisneros from the
Spanish prison in Havana, is Karl
Decker, the ellknown newspaper writer
of this city. Mr.. .Decker's friends here
have known ever since he left Washing
ton that he was going to Cuba on an eX-
ceedin9ly hazardous mission, and all will
he glad to know that he is now safe, aud
Will be here soon. Almost every one
knows him simply as "Karl'' Decker. vet
his baptismal cognomen was Charles
Duval Decker" and although he seldom
If ever used it, his intimate friends knew
of it.
MIR. Decker is a Washington boy, hav-
ing been born and reared in GEORGETOWN,
where he went to school. His father is a
well-known resident of the city, and was
for considerable time engaged in the
manufacture of lime. He is at present
living on h street, near Twenty seventh
street northwest. Soon after finishing
his school days he married Miss Effie
Bennett, n daughter of DIR. H. NJ. Ben
nett, of Tacoma Park. Mr.. Decker was
but tw ,nty- one years old at the time of
his marriage, and is now twenty nine.
His wife and daughter, Ruth, aged five,
live Mt 1916 o street northwest. His wife
received n letter from him about ten DAYS
ago. but in it he did not mention that he
had begun his task, as he feared that in
some way the conteuts of his letter might
become known to the Spanish authorities
IN Cuba.
His wife was the only person outside of
the Journal office who knew exactly the
reason he went to the island. When he
received his orders he returned to Wash
ington and told her of what he hoped to
accomplish in the way of obtaining the
freedom of Miss Cisneros, and she brayely
badH him go. Ever since his departure
this stout-hearted little woman has been
racked with anxiety to learn something
about her husband, but even letters which
he wrote had to be In such guarded terms
that 1t was impossible to tell ANYTHING
from them.
When Mrs. Decker read of the liberia
ton of Miss Cisneros last week she knew
that her husband had been successful but
could learn nothing as to whether he had
also escaped With the coming of Sun
day morning she read the dispatch signed
"Char'es DUAL" and then she knew
that her husband was alive and appar-
ently out of danger
Mr.. Decker did his first newspaper
eighteen years old. Later he went to
work in the Washington bureau Of the
Baltimore American and was there for
about six years. During this time he
was also the Washington correspondent
of the Florida Citizen. He entered the
service of the New York Journal in Au-
gust, 1896, and has remained with that
paper ever since. He has made two trips
to Cuba In the interest of that paper,
the first having been in the early part cf
the year. He remained there about three
months, all of which time he .pent with
the insurgents in the field, -subssting.on
whatever he could find.
Gen. Gomez, the commander in chief
of the Cuban army, and Gen. Garcia were
deeply impr ssed with the service Mr..
Decker rendered their cause in riskinp
his life to reach them, and so implicitly
did they trust him that valuable doc
uments were 81 ven him to be delivered to
the Cuban junta in New York. Mr..
Decker male his escape from the island
and delivered his message intact to Tomas
Estrada Palma, the head of the ,junta-in
the United States. During his stay in
Cuba he had several narrow escapes from
capture and took part in battles between
the Spanish soldiers and the insurgents.
After his return to the United'States he
appeared before the Senate foreign rela-
tons committee anc gave his version of
thu war.
Mr.. Decker in appearance is a typical
man for the arduous task which has
lately been imposed upon him. He stands
over six feet tall and is n well trained
athlete. He is a member of the Colum bia
Athletic Club and took a great interest
in all outdoor sports and feats Of
strength.
Several years ago he went down the
river to attend prize fight for the Balti-
more American. The fight did not result
as many of the sports anticipated, and
when they boarded the barge to he towed
back to Washington considerable ill-feel-
ing was manifested. Shortly after the
start was made several toughs from Roa-
noke became involved in fight, and the
officers Of the boat tried in vain to quell
the distur bance. Two Of the men Dire Y
revolvers and attempted to shoot the off
GERS when Decker grabbed. lone in each
hand and holding them over the side of
the boat coolly threatened to drop them
overheard IL they did not throw away
their guns. His request was Immediately
complied with. and on .the return there
We're no quieter people aboard than these
two men Mr. Decker is expected to
come to Washington soon.
We give you good, clean coal.
We give you full weight