The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-17
FUN THEY HAD WITH MActQ.
AMrsEMExTS OF CUBAN SOLDIERS
BETWEEN FIGHTS.
which Maeeo Enrouraged-Cara
Playing and Fist Fights Carried


gent Veterans" as they are described.
After the spectators have spent their first
bursts Of enthusiasm when these Cubans
appear, some OF them may ask. why.
in the name OF patriotism. aren't they at
home fighting for their country? True. it
Is said that they are away on sick leave
but they look strong enough TO face a
regiment Such spectators needn't worry
aoost such matter. The hearts of these
men are as heavy with inconsistencies as
the giant-yoied announcer would have the
spectators believe their bodies are heavy
with lead. They want TO go back TO their
island. and they want 70 go there TO fight.
II isn't altogether Spanish blood that they
want TO be after. either. They miss the
fun to be had In camp. They think the
Wild West performance a very tame one,
indeed. and say that New York Is too slow
for anything.
When they aren't exciting patriotic feel
fngs by their equestrian antics in the
arena. they sit together below stairs and
talk over the good times they have had
in camp, and wonder If they will ever
come again. A reporter ran upon them
in the horse-lined subterranean side pass
age the other afternoon just in time to
hear them taking about what they'd do
IL the United States should declare war
against Spain. Lieut.. Fontenelii. who
served as a scout under Maceo when
Weyler established the western trocha.
led the conversation. He has spent most
OF his life in Key West, and speaks En-
glish with sweet, soft huency that Ill
matches his pyrotechn.cal choice of words
at times.
''If there should be war; he exclaimed,
with vehemeAce, "all the Cossacks,
Arabs. hucking bronehos. Indians and
white men In this show couldn't hold me
back. Coz OF course I'd go! This is so
nd ffrr IN he In he
field"
Yes" reioined Sergt. Juan valdez,
who tells every one in a tone Of superb
ority that he and Gen. Lee are personal
friends. ''but they no fight. They talk.
talk talk. They talk too much"
"One would think that with all those
bullet marks in your arms and legs and
bodies and those corporal decorations
made by swords. you chaps would have
enough of war;" suggested the reporter.
oh no." said Fontenelli, I'VE haven't
had enough yet. People think the Cuban
soldiers life is all fight and no fun. That
is nat true. We have recreation. Plenty
OF il. In our camp life"
Most people think that the only recrea-
tion you insurgents like is drawing Span
ish blood" remarked the reporter, as Fon-
tenelli hesitated.
THAT Is good fun" he answered and
every man of them grew vivacious at the
thought OF such sport. But we couldn't
always be doing that. you KNOW" he
went on. Wouldn't you like to hear how
We put In our leisure time in camp? Yes?
Nothing about that ever gets into your
papers. We have such joke on Weyler
that you people will laugh over. / guided
Gen. Maceo through the western trocha,
and let me tell you a prank he played
on that brute Maceo was passiona,eiy
fond of dancing. Whenever he could get
up a dance in camp he did, and when We
got about twelve miles froln the trocha
he captured Spanish hacienda, and that
night he gave big dance He sent
scouts and outriders around TO invite al
the ladies in the neighborhood, and they
had 10 come. and then he paroled the
Spaniards and allowed them TO join In the
dance. What a nigh. that was, And
Maceo led the dance himself. Were all
of the soldiers invited to these dances?
God forbid. We drew the social line in
camp just as we did at home. The staff
officers. officers of the line. and privates
OF good social position We're invited. The
morning after that dance Maceo met and
overcame the Alfonso XIII. battalion, the
crack regiment OF Spain. and that was
better fun than the dance. Maceo made
II rule to have a dance whenever and
wherever 1t was practical. This amuse
rnent seemed 10 be just what he needed"
"But how did the chaps who were not
invited 10 the dances amuse themselves
in Campo" asked the reporter.
''Three or four OF Maceo's men and five
or six of Garcia's were professional ath-
letes before the war broke out, and they
instructed the boys In boxing and fenc-
ing Such bouts as We used to havei
Maceo encouraged these sports, but he
made an iron-elad rule that IL "A soldier
lost his temper In these friendly contests,
10 the guardhouse he must go, and If he
was a non-comniseioned ofiicer. az you
call them in the American army, he was
reduced TO the ranks. Hard? Maybe 1t
seems SO. but the men all loved Maceo
There was a queer thing about him.
When we took town he had no mercy
on the men In the town. but my. how the
women and children melted his heart!
He would meet poor woman with her
children and would turn 10 one Of his
staff officers and say: Civ that poor
woman all the money you have. The
officer would have to do 1t. with no hope
OF ever having the money replaced. He
was just az generous with his own money.
though, as he was with that of his OIL
GERS
WAS there much card playing and
gambling In campT"
card playing Maceo ahhorrei." an
/ swerea Lieut.. FonteneE. HE wouldn't
! have 1t In the army-if he knew it. But
: the Cuban soldier Is fond Of his quiet
: game. OF monte. The boys used 10 cut the
/ cards TO see who should play and who
/ should do duty. The lucky ones would
! sit down under some bushes, and the one
{ fated TO watch walked up ard down,
/ smoking his cigarette. II he saw the gen
eral or one OF his stan officers approach
/ ing he would begin 10 whistle over the
! Waters You know that here. You've
waltzed TO Il thousands of times The
players would thrust the money and cards
into their pockets as II Spaniards were
Z after them. ard begin AT once in Loud
/ voices 70 curse Spain and the Spaniards.
! II the officer came near. they would sa-
/ lEte. and 40 en- damuing the Spaniards.
! When the oflieer went away they would
play again and no matter who grabbed
4 u{. the stakes. the money WAS always re-
( turned fairly and ssuarely. When We had
/ no money We used 10 pay for Tatsozas.