Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-09-29
CUBA'SGREAT SMUGGLER
WHY THERE ARE TWO HOUSES IN
HAVANA WITHOUT A PARALLEL.

Il6re are TWO structures IN the city
Of Havana said to be without paral-
lei in all the world. These are the
NIarti Fish Market and the Tacon
Theatre.
The former is building between
one hundred and fifty and two hundred
feet long. The roof is supported by
huge arches which rest on marble pill
lars. Through the entire length of the
centre extends a broad counter OF
white marble. One side of the struc.
ture is open to the street and the OPP
posite side to the harbor. The history
of its origin is not the least interest
ing incident connected with it.
Early in the thirties of the present
century, the greatly commended and
severely criticised Tacon welded the
Spanish power in the island of Cuba.
With great energy he attempted to
correct abuses from which the island
suffered. One of the most fragrant
which met his notice was the whole
sale smuggling carried on in the port
of Havana under the very nose of the
port officials. There was q duty of ten
dollars o barrel on flour brought into
the island. and many other articles
were highly taxed, SO that a very COM
Portable living offered itself to any one
daring and cunning enough to run the
risk of smuggling. The numerous
bays and finely protected harbors of
the West Indies afforded shelter for
the swift craft Of the smugglers.
Tacon determined that stopped it
should be, and that at once. So, COM
manding the presence of the officers of
the feet, he gave orders that the long,
lazy corvettes in the harbor should
hoist sail and proceed at once upon
search among the bays and straits
surrounding the island for the haunts
of the outlaws.
Four months passed, and in spite
of his vigorous efforts there was not
the least abatement of the evil.
Cargoes of smuggled goods were
landed in broad daylight under the
very guns Of Moro Castle. Tacon
was only wiser to the extent that he
had learned the smugglers were led
by bold, daring fellow called Marti.
All Indications pointed to tho fact
that Marti was an unusual man, pos
sessing marked executive ability, great
power over his associates and wonder
full cleverness in personal adventure.
A high reward had been offered to the
person who would deliver him, dead or
alive, at the Governors palace.
BY occupation he was supposed to
be fisherman, and might often have
been seen on one of the million smacks
that piled between Yucatan, Florida
aud Havana. His ability to adapt
himself to masquerade permitted his
frequent undetected visits among the
Government officials, by which means
he kept himself informed of every de-
tail in their plans against him and his
followers.
One cloudy evening near midnight,
a tall, commanding figure, wrapped in
q military cloak, lurked in the shadow
of the gate post at the Governors
palace. Carefully and deftly stealing
his way, aided by the shadow of the
wall, he reached the marble steps.
Ascending the broad marble stairway,
he entered the apartment of the Cover
nor, whom he found writing at q
table.
Looking up with contracted brows,
Tacon demanded:
"Who enters here unannounced and
at this hour?"
Giving the military salute, the
stranger replied:
"Excellency, L am here on business
of great import to the Government. I"
"How came you past the guard?"
"Never mind that, Excellency,
II
''But I do mind" interrupted the
Governor, growing impatient for an
explanation of this extraordinary visit
But the willy visitor made judi
cious, calm reply that warded off fur
ther explanation, and proceeding eau
tiously, succeeded in gaining con-
firmation from the Governors own lips
that he had not only offered free par
don to anyone who would turn States
evidence and reveal the haunts and
doings of the contrabandists, but that
he had offered a large reward for any
information whatever concerning them
a double reward to anyone who
would deliver up their leader. He so
guardedly and skilfully conducted the
conversation that he gave no clew to
his own identity until, having bound
the Governor by his honor as a
knight, he told him that he knew his
character we'll, and that he would full
fill his promises. He then announced
himself as Captain Marti, saying he
was ready to fulfil to the letter his
part of the contract.
Unconsciously he reached for his
pistol. Marti, noticing this, took his
own from his belt, and laying them on
the table, said:
"Henceforce L have no use for these.
Hereafter my weapon is to be diplo-
macy"
Tacon found himself in the ridicu-
lous position of having granted free
pardon to the man upon whose head
he himself had set goodly price. He
could not but admire the shreWdness