The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-22
HEROIC WOMEN IN CUBA.
eONas MIC STORIES TOLD OF THEIR
CONDUCT IN WAR TIME.

aanu.s B. Ward in the Philadelphia Rec
ord
So much imaginary stuff has been cir
culate about Cuba that one hardly knows
where to draw the line between fact and
fiction. At first nobody really believed
hat there were women in the Cuban
army though the newspapers printed ro-
mantle tales of their exploits. The truth
is that from the outset female soldiers
have played no unimportant part in the
struggle for Independence. Gen. Weyler
admitted their dangerous zeal when he
6rst assumed command in Cuba. In an
snter1iew with an American correspon-
dent he said: ayes. we captured a woman
Yesterday. She was white, too. and good
looking. Most of these Arnazons are col
ored. This one was dressed In males
clothes. rode astride a powerful horse and
WI. ,ded her machete like the devil. These
women soldiers are fiercer than men; they
rid, and fight like furies. Where is she
now. In Moro Castle, of course, What
Will be done with her? Well" and
characteristic shrug, accompanied by
eesm In the cruel eye which BODIED no
gcod to the captive, finished the sentence.
had more than 100 female soldiers (most
" colored) in his company. Gomez also
had a good many, and so has Calixto AL
1arez, the chief from the eastern district
of San Juan de Cuba. The majority
abandoned small farms and plantations
- -, l.
and though all carry maohetes and re-
volvers, their chief duty Is to gather up
and succor the wounded that fall in bat
de Many of them are wives and
mothers-women of dignity and educa-
lion, not coarse and shameless Amazons
such as the Spanish authorities have de-
scribed AS a race the Cuban women
are the most true-hearted, simple and
domestic in the civilized world, devoted
10 their homes and adoring their hus-
bands and children. They are ardent
Datriots. too, and have shown them
selves stronger than their lords in sd
verslty and more serene in martyrdon
But their cheeks grow pale at the
thought of innumerable crimes commit
ted upon their sex in this and other Gu
ban wars The first went to the field
with their husbands and fathers for the
vailed through the island-Spanish SOL
diers and murderous bandith infesting
che highways footing plantations and
perpetrating all manner of atrocities
no woman was safe at home without her
natural protectors. In some cases gem
tie ladies' were transformed into avengiug
furies, seeing their loved ones butchered
Afterward they fought shoulder to Shout
der with the men, led daring raids and
L., Thousand nj
and some of them now sleep in unmark-
ed graves Many women, not trained"
or Red Cross nurses, are caring for the
sick and wounded in insurgent camps
Children have been born upon the bat
tlefield, whose mothers did not fear death
as much as the horrors that might await
them at home.
Mrs. Kate Masterson, who, by the way,
has written some most graphic pictures
of life in Cuba speaks of Cuban Womens
part in this war as follows:
From this beautiful summer land one
cry goes up which is heard over the din of
battle and the clash OF arms. 1t is the
wall of the desolate women. They are
mourning for their loved ones and then
tears are falling upon neW-made graves
all over the island. Their soft eyes have
looked upon CHASTITY bonf1res in which
their babies have been the fuel which fed
the flames. Their cry is more eloquent
than all the ruin and desolation in this
fair land of graves. Like the Easter lilies,
bent and stained with patriotic blood; like
the roses, trampled in the earth and
drenched with mire, are the hearts of
these poor women. Many of them have
lost all they possess through this war
not only husbands, sons and daughters,
relatives and friends, but their plantations
nave been burned and their fortunes swept
away. They are willing to give every
thing to Cuba-glad to see their sugar cane
go up an smoke, since thereby its revenue
wan be lost to Spain. Some of them sold
their jewels when all their money was
gone in order to send medicine and lint
to the rebels. In every Cuban home a sum
Is set aside out of each days household
money to send to the field"
1here nave been traitors in Cuba, but
uIey We're never women. AS a rule they
are better conspirators than their fathers
ana brothers because they know the value
Oh silence. They are tireless and successful
IN thelr efforts to get food and medicine to
,He rebels and word from one scattered
oand to another. Delicate senoritas, reared
IN southern seclusion, dressed In boys
Ciothes, steal out at night to the, nearby
haunts of lovers or brothers in the '1ong
Grass as the insurgent camps are called.
j hey .secrete food in false pockets, hide
i7tters whose envelopes have been dipped
~ INK, In their abundant black hair carry
medicine in their scent bottles and umbrel-
"a handles; cloth for clothes or bandages
IN the lining of their garments. One girl,
'"e only daughter of a once wealthy fam
n.y. mas many times carrieF dynamite to
'ne woods in egg-shells deity put togeth-
e. Disguised as a vender, she has had
many thrilling experiences. Her narrowest
escape was when the Spanish soldier stole
the basket of eggs and prepared to cook
them by the waysde Nothing saved her
tneh but sudden call from headquarters
"nlch the soldier dared not disobey.
mere is no end to the well-authenticated
stories that are told in this line. Here are
q Few of them. The very first insurgent
Dahd of the present war had Its romance.
It started in Matanzas province, and its
cHIeI was Antonio Lopez Coloma. In Feb
ruary Of So, while his party were hiding in
me woods near the Ignacia sugar mill, his
Idncee' Senorita Ampara Obre rain away
from nome and Joined him, determined 20
snare his fortunes, whatever they might
Ue' Inc party were soon captured and the
IOVers shut up In the old San Severino cas-
ue' at Matanzas, but at opposite ends of
tNe fortress. The girl was soon released;
put Coloma remained some months in du-