The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-30
ESCAPED FROM
HAVANA PRISON.
A Cuban Serving a Sentence for Muir
der Reaches American Lines
WOULD FIGHT FOR AMERICA"
He Knew Little About the War, But
Hated spain-He Says the Spanish
soldiers are on Half Rations
and Food is High.

Copyright. 1898 by the Associated Press.
ON BOAD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DISPATCH BOAT CYNTHIA H., OFF
HAVANA. June Via Key West, Fla.'
June &.-There Is Cuban passenger on
one of the ships OF the blockading squad
ron 10 whom the phrase. Cuba Li0re,
has taken new meaning. He is an es-
caped murderer. and he tells strange
tale OF "love, crime ann war
Between and ) o'clock on Sunday after
noon one OF the auxiliary gunooats was
CRUISING slowly about a mile or Point
Bacuranao. east OF Havana, when TWO
figures were observed on the beach sig
mailing with handkerchiefs fastened TO
the ends OF sticks. a small boat was sent
OFF to them bu;, as IT approached tne
shore. one Of the figures suddenly darted
off into the brush and was seen no more.
The other man held his ground and was
taken off 10 the ship. and there told MS
story with no show Of reluctance. lie Is
Pablo Santana Benites, thirty yeads DID,
a native Of Consolation del sur, FRO
vince Of Pinar del Rio. Seven years ago
he killed d. man. Bentes told OF the
affair in the most mattef-of-fact way I'M
aginable. without the culver OF an eye
lash.
1T was a little dispute. No, We had
not been drinking"
"A love affair. perhaps
The words were magical. The merest
tinge OF color crept over his cheeks gauht
and haggard from seven years connne-
ment IN a Spanish prison. and GUNNER
OF hght came into his dull eyes.
perhaps" was the response. Inere
we're words. and - lie maze seS-
# lrFrff
The gesture told A tale. words being
UNNECESSARY. OF love under tropical skies
and murder done for q pair or son'
HACK ewes. He would say no more.
Twenty-four years was the sentence.
For seven OF these Benites lay In the
Carcel de La Pauta. the Havana prison
A month and half ago he was put IN
a chaIn-gang and SCI TO work on the
fortlAcatlons. His duty was wheeling
Sand at sand battery No. !, east on
MORO. They gave him nothing 70 ear
but a few beans. he said. and he was
almost starved. One day last week
vhua working at the battery. he saw
among a group OF spectators one VINO
had known him in past years. There
was glance OF recognition ana then
a meaning look at the prisoners man.
acles.
A day or two later the friend reap
reared. and when he departed Benites
had concealed in his sleeve snail nie.
The rest was easy II was not long
before the irons had been cut through.
The file was then passed 10 convict
comrade. and he, too, accomplished the
same task. Their chance Of escape came
al noon on Thursday last, while tne
guard was at lunch. They shook their
shackles from them, ran into the "oous
and were soon safely away.
For three days they made their way
through thicket and brush, eluding the
Spanish soldiers until they reached the
water front on Sunday. But az the last
moment the other man became panic
stricken and ran back TO the woods. Be-
mites knew little of the war but Wheh
asked If he vas patriot. he replied:
"TU fight for America.
There are between three ana four
hundred men working on che sand bat
terry from which he escaped. he said. ana
bfe forces are at work on all the toIu-
ncations around Havana.
some information has reached him as
10 the conditions prevailing IN the cuban
conital "The poor are starving In the
streets" he asserted. THE Spanish SOL
diers are on half rations. Bread brings
sixtv cents per pound. beef costs forty
cents and pork is sold for fifty cents
pound r.,,,s
OF Maiorca. The prisoner VIII De tuI"-
ed over 10 Commodore watson
The German warship Geier mas NOT
vet come out OF Havana harDor.