Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-11
CUBA'S JOAN OF ARC.
Senada MOrenn Has Shared Hnrdships
and Peril.

CUBA's JOAN OF ARC.
Senada Morena Has Shared Hardships
and Peril.
From the st. Louis Globe Democrat
Sonora Senada Moreno does not look as if
the warlike spirit of a Maria Teresa or q
Joan of Orleans were concealed behind her
sparkling eyes and radiant smiles. For
more than year she has shared with her
Cuban comrades all the hardships OF camp
life, she has distinguished herself when
bullets and shot and shell rained in more
than dozen hard fought battles.
She was one of the first to appear in the
American camp when the marines landed
near Santiago de Cuba to welcome the allies
of her people. She brought dispatches to
Admiral Sampson from General Gomez.
William Terry, who is a gallant young
marine on board of the battleship Texas,
writes to friend at his old home that he
has just seen the most beautiful girl In
the whole world. She galloped unattended
into the camp of the marines, mounted on
magnificent white horse. She wore the
coat of Cuban lieutenant, and fine hat,
decorated with white olumes and white
roses. We could hardly believe our own
eyes. Viva Americanos: Cuba hbTe" she
cried as she refined up her foaming horse in
front of our lines.
Never had we gazed upon anything more
beautiful. After she had delivered her dis
patches she remained with part of the
evening and helped us to make coffee The
boys all gathered about her, eager to hear
her speak and catch a glance of her spar
king black eyes. She had a kind word for
every one who approached her.
An officer in the Cuban army has made
the Americans familiar with the history
Of this remarkable girl. She is the daugh-
ter of wealthy Cuban who owned palace
in Santiago, and fine plantation not far
from the city. Although it was pretty well
known that the rich old Cuban had at least
one son with the insurgents, he managed to
steer clear of all political troubles until
about year ago. when he was accused OF
harboring ~and giving information to the
rebels A column of Spanish soldiers sud
denly appeared on the plantation and with
out giving the least warning commenced
shooting at every one they saw and plum
dering the outhouSes. In vain the old Gu
ban appealed to the officer in command.
He turned deaf ear to the cries of wound
ed negroes and the screams of the fright
ened women and children. A brutal Span
ish soldier shot the old Cuban dead on the
doorsteps of his own home, and when Sc
nada's mother bent over her husband to
whisper words of consolation another brute
drove bayonet through the woman's body.
A married daughter, with an infant in her
arms, came upon the scene imploring the
vandals to stop their murderous work and
spare the lives of the women and children.
Noticing that soldier was aiming gun at
her she held up the child Another fiend in
human form instantly put q pistol to the
infants head and killed it. Others came up
Senada fled through field of cane into
the forest. She afterward heard that the
officer in command ordered quick lime to be
put on the wounds of her sister AIDED by
one of her fathers old slaves, she reached
a camp of insurgents. Maddened beyond
all endurance and burning to avenge the
death of her people, she rode with col
umn of Cubans in pursuit of the vandals.
Never dreaming of danger, the Spahiards
were leisurely plundering plantations and
numbering women and children. when a
column of insurgents galloped down upon
them led by the beautiful Senada. The
towards turned to fly, but it was too late.
The terrible cry of Cuba hbre' was re-
sounding in their ears, mingled with the
capped, the brutal officer who led the van
dals Senada rode in the thickest of the
battle, where bullets rafned. and cheered on
her brave friends.
A few days after this affair she reached
the main army, where she found her broth
er. After consultation they concluded the
safest place for the young girl was in the
camp
Yes" exclaimed Senada, 81 shall stay
with the army, and l shall rejoice in the
first opportunity to show you that know
how to avenge the death of my father and
mother
She did not have long to wait. When
General Garcia met the enemy at the Pa
checo plantation Senada and her brother
were with his column.
1--WE are about to engage the enemy
said the young man, land it is my desire,
Senada, for you to remain with the re-
serves out of reach of bullets. You can
show your patriotism by helping to care for
the wounded.
The young girl made no reply. When the
battle opened she galloped among the
troops wearing the coat of a lieutenant.
White plumes were streaming from her hat
and she was shouting Cuba Hbre" and
brandishing machete over her head. A
wild cheer went up from the ranks and as
the line plunged forward the beautiful girl
rode with them.
mo wonder we beat them,'' said an old
battle-scarred veteran. Her presence was
worth a regiment.
In the thick of the battle Senada saw tho
officer who had led the vandals against her
father, and she rode at him with her lance,
crying: There is the murderer! A young
dragon saved her from staining her hands
in the brute's blood. She seemed to have
borne charmed life, for. though her horse
fast, not ball touched her. AS the enemy
fed over the hills the Cubans cheered the
brave girl. They called her their Little
General the white rose of the army
and 1.-The good angel of Cuba"
Since then she has been in many battles
and has often ridden unattended as the
bearer of dispatches through sections OF
country that swarmed with Spaniards She
has never afrested any of the airs of the
new woman. She dresses just as she did
when she was receiving guests in her faith
ers parlor, with but one exception. When
there is any hope Of forcing the Spaniards
to give battle she will put on her brothers.
coat and sometimes one of his hats Moth
ing could induce her to part with the side
saddle. The notoTiety she has achieved
and the alteration of the army have not
spoiled her In the least. No young lady in
all Cuba Is more modest and unassuming
than this same beautiful little heroine.
When she rides through the American camp
she is always greeted by perfect thunder
storm of cheers. Our boys now say thar
they feel that there is something in Cuba
worth fighting for, and they are continual
~ expressing the hope that they will find
many-very many-Cuhan girls in Santiago
and Havana as pretty as Senada Morena.
1t matters little what it IS that you want
whether situation or a servaat--a want