The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1898-08-09
ESTABLISHED 1879.

do not 'speak for him. Senior Merode, -
said in Spanish, these gentlemen
wish to see the record tapes +"
Merode had stood listening, making
out what we said with difficulty.
"Nuncap' (never) he exclaimed excited
ly and made jump for the big table
drawer with some notion, think, of
destroying the tapes. He was plucky
fellow. But the Cuban seized him by
the collar before he could open the
drawer, flung him violently backward
on the floor and drew his maohete.
Don't hurt him, Luiz, " shouted
Macomber, and then, after a steady
glance at me, he stepped to the drawer
himself and took out the rolls of tape.
This will be a somewhat long and
tedious business, he remarked, begin
ming to unroll one of them. You might
help me if you would, but at least
oblige me by turning up the lamp lit
tie and placing it on the table here. :"
Thanks, F." he went on when l had
complied, and he began rapidly unrolling
the tape through his fingers He read
we'll and fast, and his running comment
amused me.
oh, this is dandy siphon of yours,
ism t itP' ''What aiIs your mouse miIIP''
Say, friend, your record here looks
like the teeth of an old, dull buck saw"
Your inks coagulated
sat back and quietly looked on.
Merode still lay on the floor The Gu
ban stood watching us both. If Merode
stirred, he shook his machete at him.
Thus fully an hour passed 1t seemed
much more than an hour indeed before
our American visitor found what he
sought
"Ahl' he exclaimed at last. Here
we are. So the Yizcaya and Oquendo
left Porto Rico for St. Vincent last
Sunday. Good. Blanoo is informed that
the torpedo hotilla is going to st. Vim
cent too, instead of coming to Havana.
That's all l wanted to know" he
continued, turning to me. Sorry to
leave your tapes in such a mess, but
really cannot stop to roll them up
again, for must be well out to sea be-
fore daylight Oblige us now, both of
you, by remaining quiet here after we
bid you good night.
outside. The door opening to the street
was flung back, and there stood Span
ish lieutenant from the FORT with half
a dozen soldiers at his back, for the
Spanish sentry-a boy of 18-whom
they had gagged and tied up outside of
the house, had proved more nimble
than they had thought him He had
worked himself loose and had run to
the fort for aid
The Cuban turned instantly killed
the lieutenant with swing of his ma
ohete and was at once shot down by
soldier who fired over the shoulder of
his falling officer
Macomber showed better Judgment If
less courage. He dashed the lamp out
and grasped me by the arm. "Help me
out, y he said
1t would be difficult for any one to
resist the appeal of fellow countryman
at such time While the soldiers rushed
in, tramping and falling over the slain
men and Merode, pulled the American
after me through door, back of the
tables, which opened into our battery
room. In this back room was window
lOOkluS OUT on the nafDOr SIDE, from
which Macomber swung in an instant
and decamped without a word had
time to get forward into the cable room
before Merode, who had regained his
feet, struck match and relighted the
lamp. OF the grewsome spectacle which
the light revealed will not speak.
After the manner of Spanish justice,
both Merode and myself were put I'M
der arrest pending an investigation,
which showed that neither of us knew
anything about the affair Yet the COM
mandant at Santiago suspected that
had planned it and sent me under ar
rest to Havana by steamer the following
evening.
Iexpected to remain in Las Cabanas
for the rest of my days, but was dis
Kissed without trial the second day
after arriving there and left Havana
along with $50 other Americans on the
following Sunday. Youths Compan-
ion.