The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-08-24

The common people Of Santiago are
very superstitious. They believe in the
malign influence of HoodOos, which
they call neques, sort of people, they
say, who bring misfortune to everybody
near them. The neque is what the Ital-
ials call jettatore. II man, accord
ing to the Santiago folks, meets neque
on his way, some serious misfortune is
sure to happen to him before the day is
over. His only salvation is to take
couple of seeds of a tree called cayaja-
bos and rub them in his hands. As
one Of the most valuable presents that
could be given to any one in this time
of war, Santiago countryman gave
the writer two seeds of the cayajabos to
guard himself against the baneful in
fiuence of the neques, says the New
York Sun.
On the morning Of July l, when the
bombardment of Santiago by the Am
erican army began, the writer was seat
ed at the door of house in FL Pozo,
right behind the battery that was she'll
ing the fort of San Juan. The whole
city of Santiago was there before our
eyes, and the Spaniards did not seem
to heed the deadly fire Of our guns
Twenty-seven shells had already been
fired at them without an answer from
the enemy. Just then 3 Cuban mount
ed upon a mule appeared from behind
the bushes upon the scene Of action.
Some fifty Cubans were around the
house, and as soon as their countryman
was seen, one Of them exclaimed:
''There is a neque, gentlemen; we
are lost!
These words were scarcely uttered be-
fore the cayajabos seeds were being in
dustriousIy rubbed by many Cuban fin
gers.
The first Spanish shell from the bat
terry OF San Juan came whistling over
our heads and struck the roof Of the
house. Three Cubans fell wounded
around US. Then.six more shells fell at
the door and on the roof and the pla-
teau in front of the house, infieting
loss of thirteen Cubans and fifteen Am
orleans. While our battery was an
swering the Spanish fire, and it was
not silenced for nearly an hour, the
house was evacusted by the nou-cOm-
batants who occupied it. There was a
fine run to the woods Of newspaper re-
porters and hospital attendants. The
writer was thrown fiat on the ground
and trampled on by the fugitives, while
Spanish shells were bursting near him.
IL was a scene to laugh at now, but
there could be nothing more serious
then. 1t was a specially solemn mo-
ment for the writer, for he fell behind
mule that WAS tied TO tree at the
right side of the house and began kick
ing vigorously at the terrified crowd
that had disturbed him.
When the tremendous fight was over
the writer made a thorough investiga-
ton OF the whole surroundings. The
mule was peacefully eating grass around
the tree absolutely unhurt. Over thirty
Spanish shells had fallen around him.
''This is a wonder indeed" exclaimed
some one. a negro, who understood
the cause of our establishment, and APP
peared to be the owner Of the mule,
showed us with a triumphant air two
seeds Of caysjabOs tied TO the tail of
this animal.
Another incident in which a neque
played a role happened two days ago
at a camp fifty yards from the hospital
OF the First division, and some humid
red yards from General Shafter's head
quarters. After ride Of thirteen miles
on horseback, under a burning sun, the
writer stopped there and was eourte-
ously invited to dinner by a friend.
While he was seated on the ground en-
joying his meal the negro servant came
trembling forward and said:
General, We are going to be killed if
we don't move from here"
"Why ?r we all asked at once.
because Don Miguel, the neque, is
encamped near US, on the other side of
the hospital"
We laughed at the news, to the great
discontinue of the negro, and after our
meal we began comfortable siesta in
the hammocks. We were sound asleep
when two detonations awOke US. A
Mauser bullet went through our tents,
opening two holes in the direction of
the hospital. We jumped to our guns,
and at the same time American sol
diers poured from General Skaters
camp firing at the trees and bushes at
the general shout Of Spanish sharp
shooters nearr' The negro, trembling
behind the tent, was rubbing his caya-
jabos seeds. In less than minute over
a hundred shots were sent among the
cocoanut trees, but as no fire was re-
turned, an officer ordered our soldiers
to cease firing. A doctor came then
from the hospital announcing that two
of his nurses were wounded by the two
first shots supposed to be from the
Spanish.
Next morning the negro asked per-
mission to go to the front and join the
Cuban army. "I would rather be fight
ing the Spaniards, he said, ethan liv-
ing here near the neque."
1t is bad thing for man to be con-
sidered neque in Santiago. Nearly
everybody shuns him, and only enlight-
ened people, who do not heed the pop
ular superstition, address word to
him. In war, among the troops, his
position is unpleasant. 1t is better to
be Spaniard than a neque around
Santiago.
Bucklen's Arnca Salve.