The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-06-29
ROMANTIC TALE
OF LOVE AND WAR
Escaped Cuban Murderer Tells His
Strange Story.
RESCUED BY BLOCKADE SHIP
Had Been Assisting in Strengthening
Sand Batteries at Havana.
He WILL NOW FIGHT FOR AMERICA
Had Killed the Rival for the Heart and Hand
of His Sweetheart and Was Sentenced
to Twenty-Four Years in a
Cuban Prison.
He WILL NOW FIGHT FOR AMERICA

On Board The Associated Press Dispatch
Boat Cynthai II, off Havana, June 27, p.
m, via Key West, June 2s.-9:10 a. MI here
is a Cuban passenger on one of the ships
of the blockading squadron to whom the
phrase "Cuba Libre" has taken a new
meaning. He is an escaped murderer and
he tells a strange tale of love of crime and
war.
Late Sunday afternoon one Of the auxil
larry gunboats was cruising slowly about
mile off Point Bacuranao, east of Havana,
when two figures were observed on the
beach signalling with handkerchiefs fast
ened to the end of sticks. A small boat
was sent off to them, but as it approached
the shore one of the figures darted sudden
The other man held his ground and was
taken off to the ship and there told his
story with no show of reluctance.
He is Pablo Santa Anez, SO years old,
native of cadiz del Sur, province of Pinar
del Rio. Five years ago he killed a man..
He told this without the CULVER of an eye
lash.
1T was little dispute No, we had not
been drinking.
a Love Affair
"a love affair, perhaps?"
The words were magical. The merest
tinge of color crept over his cheeks. gaunt
and haggard from seven years confne-
ment in Spanish prison and gimmer of
light came into his duh eyes
Perhaps" was the response. There
were words, and Il he made a gesture
like the plunge of a knife.
The gesture told tale, words being I'M
necessary. of love and tropical skies and
murder done for a pair of soft black eyes.
10 fI'Ht-p MY f-fn
was the sentence. For seven years of these
Renites bay in the Carcel de la Pouta, the
Havana prison. A month and half ago.
he was put in a chain-gang and set to
work on the fortifcations. His duty was
wheeling sand to battery No l east of
MORO. They gave him nothing to eat but
a few beans, he said and he was almost
starved. One day last week while work
ing at the battery he saw among a group
of spectators one who had known him
in past years There was glance OF rec
ognition and a meaning look at the pris-
oner's ankles. A day or two later the
friend reappeared and when he departed
Benites had concealed in his sleeve small
file. The rest was easy. 1t was not long
before the bars had been cut through.
The file was then passed to convict com
rade. and he. too, accomplished the same
task. Their chance of escape came at noon
on Thursday last while the guard was at
lunch. IheY SHOOK their SnaCKleS from
Them ran into the woods, and were soon
safely away.
Reaches the Water Front
For three days they made their way
through thckets and brush, Guiding the SOL
diers until they reached the water front
on Sunday. But at the last moment the
other bacame panic-strcken and ran back
to the woods.
Benltes knew little of the war but when
asked if lie was patriotic, he replied: 81
will fight for America"
There are between 20 and 800 working on
the sand battery from which he escaped,
and big forces are a work on all the forti-
fcations around HAVANA.
Some information had reached him as to
the conditions prevailing in the Cuban capt.
tai.
1.-THE poor are starving in the streets
he asserted. 1.-THE Spanish soldiers are on
half rations. Bread brings GO cents per
pound, beef 40 cents and pork is sold for
so cents per pound
The prisoner will be turned over to Com
modore Watson.
The German warship GER has not yet
come out of Havana harbor.