The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-12
FOUGHT o MEN FOR CIGARETTES.
Cuban Omcer went to - Town Filled with
spanIsh soldiers to Oct n Now supply.

Cuban Omcer wont to n Town Filled with
Spanish Soldiers to Get n New supply.
During the carly part of the Cuban rebellion
an officer in the patriot army, who is now in
this city. wanted a few packages of cigarettes.
and to obtain them went openly into a town
held by the Spanish soldiers. purchased what
he desired and safely retreated. holding at bay.
single.handed, 200 Spanish soldiers who at
tempted to capture him.
This officer is Major Horny E. Brooks. who re-
Gently came to New York from Jamaica, where
he went to recover from wounds received in
battle. Major Brooks will soon return to Cuba,
either in the service of the United States as a
scout or once more to Join tho Cuban army.
Major Brooks. who was born in the Province
of Santiago de Cuba of English parents. was
among the first to engage in the instruction
against Spain. When in command of the Cuban
forces around Guantanamo, which is about fifty
miles eaet of Santiago de Cuba. ne ran out of
cigarettes, so he left his command in charge of
the next officer in rank and started for Guanta.
namo to get them. He crossed the long bridge
leading into the city and proceeded 10 a cigar
store, which he knew. He had with him his re-
peating rife. his revolver and the always present
machete. There were several hundred Spanish
soldiers quartered in the town. and they had
often attempted to capture Brooks. but had
always failed. In telling of his adventure in
Guantanamo, Major Brooks, when seen at the
offices of the Cuban Delegation, said:
Yes, l did have q little fun there. You see
wanted some cigarettes and decided to go aftel
them. l got into tho town all right and entered
the cigar store. Iplaced my rifle on the counter
where it was handy and bought what ! wanted
just after l had placed the cigarettes in my
pocket | happened to look toward the door. ant
there i saw u party Of Spanish soldiers drawn
up in line. They had their guns pointed at me
and their, officer said in Spanish the word
doing that | grabbed my rife and let go a sho
at the crowd. Ono OF the soldiers dropped. an,
/ rushed out of the door during the excitemen
and got into the street. The soldiers ran afte
me, shooting all the time.
81 Iran up the long street toward tho bridg
which leads across the river into the country
The soldiers followed me, shooting as they ran
Their bullets flew wild and did not strike me
but one poor old woman was killed by q sho
which was intended for me. The soldiers VIII
had first attempted to capture me were Joined b
endorsements until there were at least 90
after me. When | got to the bridge l turne
and sent "A couple of shots at the crowd, an
then started across the bridge, which is lon
and fired at the soldiers. who had tempted I
follow me across the bridge. and l rather thin
/ killed n few of them, for l saw some drop.
finally got up into the hills. where | hid benin
iards. Then they gave up the chase, and l wen
back to my men. / got my cigarettes all RICH
woman was killed"
Among the official Spanish reports at Madri
this adventure Of the man who wanted som,
thing to smoke Is chronicled as a great event
the early part of the war. According to tn
Spanish historians, n large body Of insurgent
fierce fight with 200 Spanish soldiers, WEI
driven back into the hills,