Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1898-12-08
x >sESs


horse, from which I had several kicks
during this journey Of some miles. On
arriving at the fortress my feet were
chained together and locked, I was
led to an inner room which had the
appearance Of q dungeon, and was
made to sit on wooden bench that
was placed against the wall. Another
chain, which was fastened to staple
in the wall, was passed round my chest
and locked to q staple on the other
side. Thus my hands, feet and body
were all securely chained. was kept
in this position, without relaxation
night or day. AS soon as my capture
was known at headquarters, day was
promptly named for me to be taken
out and shot.
was informed that my execution
was to take place in few days. There
seemed to be no hope. A few more
miserable days Of existence awaited
me, and then death. What could L
do? No one that knew me had heard
OF my capture, and it might result in
the imprisonment or death Of anyone
who was known to make an effort to
rescue me. Even in case I could com
municate with someone who favored
the revolution, what could it result in {?
The military authorities had me fast
in their clutches, and were determined
to hold me securely until they put an
end to me.
But drowning man catches at q
straw. The wife Of one of the soldiers
used to come daily to the fortress to
bring him his meals. wrote a note
to an Englishman that might be in
Havana, and asked her to do me the
kindness to deliver it. After two days
she said she could not find the person
at the address given, or by inquiry. I
then asked her to give it to any Eng
lishman she might be able to find, and
in the case of not finding one, to give
it to anyone who spoke English. By
good fortune the letter was received
by one Of my partisans. He took it
to the right parties, and as soon as it
became known to some influential per-
sons that 1 was taken prisoner and to
be executed in few days, fund was
raised whereby to make an effort in
some way to rescue me. The sum Of
$4,000 was promised to man who
was selected as being the most suit
able to undertake the matter.
I was informed at first that my case
had excited much interest, and that
oil that was possible would be done to
save me. But no active steps could
be taken until the evening of the day
preceding that of the intended execu-
ton.
But who can tell the agony Of the
suspense of those days? What was in
tended to be done, I knew not. Ihad
no choice but to wait day by day in
dread and fear, which was mingled
with only one ray of hope. [ was GER
tain that every sunset brought me
twenty-four hours nearer to the time
set for my being taken out to be shot
| Chained as 1 was hand and foot, while
third chain secured me to the wall,
under the constant guard Of soldiers,
confined in the innermost precincts OF
my enemy's stronghold-of an enemy,
moreover, that had completely van
ouished the cause which had es
poused-why did I cherish hope of
escape? Was it not better for me to
make UP my mind to accept my sad
fate quietly and meet death as calmly
as I could? One thing ] should gain
thereby, which was thatmy mind would
be rid of the terrible alternatives of
hope and despair. The suspense that
the uncertainty kept me in was worse
than the certainty Of my impending
fate.
While being thus keptin the balance
between life and death, | received
letter which unfolded to me the plan
which had been formed for an attempt
to rescue me. 80,
Ittold me that on the evening OF the
dav before that on which I was to be
shot the messenger would bring me
two cakes in no way differing in ap-
nearanee from those which could be
+ purchased at pastry cooks shop. Ia
one of these should find small dag
DER and in the other a silk cord which
| was strong enough to bear my wel8n1;
: Accompanying the cakes there wouia
be also two bottles of wine, one OF
: wbiph would be heavily drugged, ,while
q tho other would contain only pure
= vine { should recognize the drugsea.
a bottle by o suitable mark. was y