The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-06
M|RAB[l, A CUBAN BANDIT.
A MAN THE sPANIARDs FEAR AND
HATE MORE THAN ANY OTHER.
for the Insurgents by Levying
On the wealthy SpaniarAs N He
Rides Around Country an Outlaw.

Amid the gloom and horror of war that
lie over the beautiful and fertile Island
OF Cuba there are some CLEANS OF ro-
nance that when written as they are
found, sound ike the imaginingS OF q
fantastic brain. That of Mirabel, the
bandit, Is one Of the most interesting.
He u one of Gomez most gallant and
trusted officers. and a price is set on his
head. for he Is the one man In all Cuba
whom the Spaniards hate and fear more
than any other. not excepting the Cuban
generals themselves.
My first meeting with Airabel was near
the Jucaro trocha. and We were dining in
the camp-iike way peculiar to the life OF
the snsurrectoS. Our table cloth was the
great palm leaves that grow in abundance,
octagon-shaped pieces of majagua from
the large, thin, fiat leaf stock of the palmo
real; the napkins were stripped from an
other variety of low palm and looked like
p-eces Of soft, pliabie brown Goth.
On the green cloth were spread ba-
nanas, raw and fried: some fried sweet
potatoes, a small jug Of milk. and, what
Ls a luxury in Cuba, a loaf of white bread,
nesting on one of the green leaves. This
latter had just been sent Mirabel by a
Cuban woman living near. We dined
sumptuousiy and as we sat and chatted
comfortably / observed this man. who y
a
island than Francis Marion was to the
British during the revolution.
A born fighter he Is both with hand and
brain. / have seen him go into action.
mounted on his big bay charger, with an
expressive smile which would suggest an
absolute liking for danger, but when he IL
once In the thick of the fight he Is like .
demon let loose and sweeps ahead of the
charge, brandishing his machete and
shouting in thrilling tones that rouse his
men to pitch Of heroism that would lead
them straight into the jaws of hell if he
led them there.
1.-THE battlefield is good place to get
rid of the blues" he once remarked to
me. rent in his shirt or trousers is far
more serious to him than a bullet wound
would be. He is that combination Of fiery
courage and gentle qualities that sometimes
appears in great natures. He is by far
the best dressed officer in the insurgent
army; the only one have met who wears
small diamond in the front of his negli-
gee shirt. found him. on first acqua.nt-
ance, quite indisposed to discuss his past
life or himself In any way. But from 9TH
ers and from more extended personal
knowledge OF the man I learned his Pc
culiar history. Only on one occasion did
he refer to his record in connection with
Cuban liberty, and then he sad:
II am an outlaw because I have fought
tinue to do so as long as there is breath
in my body unless Cuba should become
free first. They call me a bandit, too
Perhaps l am that also. It's true that I
have robbed Spanlards of their ill-gotten
gains for the benefit Of the Cuban cause
but they dare not say that / ever took
a cent OF ii for myself. They know that,
also. and hate me the more for ii, for
they would not care SO much for my per-
sonal gain, much as they hate me, as
they do for the fact that have diverted
the very money took from them into
channels where the insurgents turned
against them. the weapons and ammuni-
tons of war that they purchased with
this money. Gen. r. Estrada Palma, OF
the Cuban junta in New York, will tell
you that have sent not less than $4,000
10 the treasurer to purchase arms and am
munition. / never stole any OF this
money
II have simply LEVIED on the wealthy
Spanish residents to aid the revolutionary
fund. In the beginning of the war I ap-
propriated a few hundred rifles from the
enemy's arsenal, and ever since then 1
have appropriated rifles. money food
stock and such other trifies a. came my
way and donated them to the Cuban
cause. Three years OF this have put a
good deal OF valuable material into my
hands Ask my countrymen what have
done with it,
HIS eyes flashed. He threw himself back
at full length on the grass and looked up
ward. lost in a deep reverie. His manner
not less than his words thrilled me. I
spoke to him. but obtained no answer.
He had relapsed into his customary re-
serve concerning himself. nor did he ever
again break it.
From one OF his staff I learned MUCH of
his early life. He was born in Santa Cara
province. the son of wealthy planter.
about forty-five years ago. He was a
grea. favorite in society and was always
noted for his exquisite taste In dress and
his courteous and chivaric manner. His
favorite brother. a quick-tempered and
somewhat reckless young fellow. became
involved In quarrel and shot and killed
his opponent. There were no witnesses
TO the deed, and the victim lived just long
enough 10 proclaim Mirabel his siayse.
but did not say which one of the brothers
Mirabel IL was. Nicass.o hurried to his
brothers house and offered to take his
place.
"You have a wife and children" he said
You must not reap the consequence Of
this. Therc Is no one who Is dependent on
me. Erred the shot, you understand |
viii fly You remain here, and say moth
ing. Adios. God bless YOU" And OF he
rode.
His fight proved his guilt satisfactorily
Santa Clara were sent in pursuit OF him.
with a reward of 5000 pesetes for his
head as a spur.
ThenceTorth an Outlaw.
From that hour 10 this Nieassic Mlrabel
has been exc0mmunIcated from his fell
lows. a bandit and an outlaw, hunted and
pursued. yet never captured. while many
OF those VINO went after him bit the dust
and fell stark on the earth with fast
glazing eyes turned up to the sky, while
their prey rods of whistling into the for
est and cut another notch in the stick
His life is one long record Of diriug and
adventure. l have heard stories Of his
proves all over the ISLAND ard Have
yols- met aiirahei?'' is the question I find
everywhere have heard enough anec-
dofes about h NJ TO FIJI book
One morning found him near the city OF
Sancil Espirisa. with two companions. All
we're mounted ard hungry. Riding up 10
the gateway Of an humble little house,
Mirahei disnoontrd and asked the old
man who stood in the doorway IL it would
re convenient for him 10 let himself and
his companions have a little breakfast.