Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-08-11
WHY | LEFT SANTIAGO DE CUBA.
BY A CAPrn OPERATOR.

formation" Ireplied. Besides, all
these Spanish government messages
are in cipher, which I am not supposed
to know anything about"
| s'Don't let the cipher trouble you, %
he replied, laughing "I have the
key to their cipher all right"
| Gas to who I am,'' he continued,
"my names Macombe am the
correspondent of the ." He
named an American journal. "News
as to the whereabouts of the Spanish
torpedo boats and those cruisers
would be valuable just now, not only
to my paper, but to the American
navy at Key West. Now you are an
American and good patriot, dare
say. Will you not help us out?''
'I'm good patriot" said 7. "And
I am also an honest man, employed
here to do certain duty, which l will
not betray."
.'You will not help me then? Very
we'll, shall examine your tapes by
force"
''It is not my business to fight for
Spain," said I. 81 have no force to
resist you, but Twill not help you.
''Thanks. That's all l ask. Just
you sit quiet"
''Do you think you can read our
tapes?" l asked, incredulously.
''Sure. was cable operator three
years" 4f4 50r-
''But where did you get your cipher
key?"
''That's matter that was arranged
in Havana three months ago. Your
tape bobbins for the current week
are in the table drawer, I presume?"
'Look for yourself,' said. ''But
my felowoperator here is Spaniard.
l do not speak for him."
"Senor Merode," / said in Spanish,
"these gentlemen wish to see the rec
ord tapes"
Merode had stood listening, making
out what we said with difficulty.
"Nunca!' (NeverD he exclaimed, ex-
citedly, and made jump for the big
table d YER, with some notion, 1
think, OF destroying the tapes. He
was plucky fellow, but the Cuban
seized him by the collar before he
could open the drawer, flung him vio-
lently back ward on the floor and drew
his machete.
''Don't hurt him, Luizw shouted
Macomber, and then, after steady
glance at me, he stepped to the drawer
himself and took out the rolls of tape.
''rhis will be a somewhat long and
tedious business" he remarked, be-
ginning to unroll one of them. "You
might help me, if you would; but at
least oblige me by turning up the
lamp little and placing it on the
table here"
Thanks, he went on, when I had
complied and began rapidly unrolling
the tape through his fingers. He
read well and fast, and his running
comment amused me.
''Oh, this is dandy siphon of
yours, isn't itp' ''What ails your
mouse mill?" ''Say, friend, your rec
ord here looks like the teeth Of an old
dull buck-saw. ''Your inks eoagu-
lated"
sat back and quietly looked on.
Merode still lay on the floor. The
Cuban stood watching us both; if
Merode stirred, he shook his machete
at him. Thus, fully an hour passed; !;
it seemed much more than an hour,
indeed, before our American visitor
found what he sought.
"Ah!" he exclaimed at last. 'Here
we are! So the Vizcaya and Oquendo
left Puerto Rico for st. Vincent last
Sunday. Good! Blanco is informed
that the torpedo fotilla is going to
ST. Vincent, too, instead of coming to
Havana"
"That's all wanted to know" he
continued, turning to me. 'Sorry to
leave your tapes in such mess, but
really cannot stop to roll them up
again, for I must be we'll out to sea
before daylight. Oblige us now, both
of you, by remaining quiet here after
We bid you good night.
But Just then there was new noise
outside. The door opening to the
street was flung back, and there stood
Spanish lieutenant from the fort,
with half dozen soldiers at his back !!
For the Spanish sentry-a boy of 1S
whom they had gagged and tied up
outside the house, had proved more
nimble than they had thought him.
He had worked himself loose and had
run to the fort for aid.
The Cuban turned instantly, killed
the lieutenant with swing of his
machete and was at once shot down
by soldier who fred over the shoul-
der of his falling officer.
| Macomb r showed better Judgment,
if less courage; he dashed the lamp
out and grasped me by the arm. ''Help
me out" he said.
1t would be difficult for anyone to
resist the appeal of fellow country
man at such time. While the SOL
diers rushed in, trampling and falling
over the slain men and Merode, /
pulled the American after me through
door. back of the tables, which
opened into our battery room. In
~ 4 = u =