The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-11
THRILLING TALE OF ADVENTURE.
HAIR Rafting Story of Three Hhnerican
Who Hare Bern to Cuba.

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HAIR Rafting Story of Three americans
Who Hare BEEN to Cuba.
PHILADELPHIA Pa, Jan. 1O.-James
Mcguire, accompanied by Jeremiah Bonds
of New York and Charles w. Allen of
Stanford, Conn, arrived on the Southern
express from Key West, Fla, on Satur-
day end they tell tale of adventures in
Cuba.
On the 10th of last September the trio,
in company with William Barry, also of
New York, started for Cuba to join the
forces OF the belligerenis, and arrived in
Havana on Septem Der 81.
Here they fell in with josef Ruiz, a
Cuban patriot, who volunteered to guide
the quartet TO the retreat of the Cuban
commanders. They headed for the Pinar
del Rio district, and when near Madrid
were surprised and taken prisoners by
Spaniards, who decided to kill them. Re-
cognizIng the desperate situation they
decided to risk their lives in a vigorous
effort to escape.
After dark they Ioosened the ropes that
bound them, and grabbing rifles and ma
chetes they attempted to get away, but
the Spaniards pursued, firing a double
voley.
Barry fell, shot through the heart, at
the first fire, and Bonds right arm was
srerforated by bullet The surviving
& Hour outdistanced their pursuers. They
made every effort 10 get back and recover
Barry's body, but were unsuccessful.
After a tortuous and wearisome journey,
they arrived in the region of San Cristo-
bal. Here they arranged with an old man
TO stop and rest at his house for a few
days. H s daughter betrayed them, and
on the morning of the second day they
we're awakened by burly Spaniard in a
Spanish uniform.
Allen drew his revolver and fired. The
Spaniard fell, the ball having penetrated
his right eye and passed through his
brain, causing almost instant death.
Tney then took to the 1907, and from
there sought refuge in a she'd which the
SpaDiards tried to burn. Making a great
effort they got through the line of soldiers,
who started in pursuit. For miles the
chase was kept up, but the quartet man
aged to keep ahead.
Weary, hungry and suffering intensely
from their wounds, they made their wa y
farther into the mountains until they
came TO a deserted abin. No sign of life
was within or without. Here the four
recruits made their home for four DAYS,
living only on birds they could shoot and
the hard water found in an old well on the
premises.
On the fourth day they were surprised
by body of Spanish patrollers. Sick and
weary, the men made no resistance and
surrendered. Their hands were tied be-
hind their backs and they were compelled
to march for a distance of over ten miles,
when they were thrown into prison.
The next day they were forced to march
again until late in the afternoon, when
they were put in another prison. and so
they were marched from prison to prison
until Havana was reached.
Here they were again thrown into pris-
on. On December % the three Americans
twere brought before General Weyler.
Ihey were told that Ruiz, the young Gu
ban, had committed suicide by shooting
himself with a revolver which he snatched
from one of the guards.
They discredit the suicide story and are
convinced that the young Cuban was MUIR
dered. They we're offered their liberty if
they would sign paper swearing aIlegi-
ance to the Queen OF Spain and promising
on oatn TO do all they could against the
Cuban cause in the United States. This
they agreed to do and the three we're re-
leased.