The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-06
A Prince Among Smugglers.

/ LAiS kOOA 7dPpOA ~ ~ HA5O 81 1919 @SS-
| ing on marble pillars and with broad
| counter of white marble extending the
| entire length OF the structure, One side
! is open 70 the street, the other 20 the haT-
! Dor. The history of these Two buildings
! Is strangely connected.
| Early in the thirties the gIeatly-com-
mended and severely criticized Taeon
! welded the Spanish power on the island
! Of Cuba With great energy and sense
| of honor unusual with the incumbents Of
! that position, he started eat to correct
| abuses from which the island suffered
J one of the most fragrant Of which was the
! wholesale smuggling carried on IN the port
! of Havana under the very nose Of the
| naval port officials, The numerous bays
| ard finely protected harbors of tina West
Indies afforded shelter Tor the swift craft
| OF the smugglers. The officers OF the
| Spanish feet lying lazily IN the harbor
! were by day too sleepy and by night TOO
| busy enjoying their banquetiug and balls
20 be useful il stopping this law-break-
| ing.
Tacon determined that stopped It should
be- and that al once. So he gave orders
that the corvettes hoist sail and proceed
at once upon a search among the bays
and straits surrounding the island for
the haunts of the outlaws. Meantime a
strong secret detective force was orga-
nized on shore.
-Four months had passed, and in spite
Of these vigorous efforts not the least
abatement Of the evil could be detected.
Tacon was only wiser 10 the extent of
having learned that the smugglers were
led by bold, daring fell gw called Marti.
high reward was offered TO the person
who would deliver Marti, dead or alive,
at the Governors palace. And atiIl the
Spanish feet searched the coast day and
night, and the secret detective t>rce pa
rolled the land without ceasing. No snug
gler had been detected in the act and
not vessel could be caught in hiding.
The King of the Isle of Pines, keenly
watchful as ever, knew every move made
by the Spanish Governor, yet lived on Sc
cure in bis retreat in his smuggler's par
adise, when me cared TO stay there, and
no less secure in threading his winding
way through the thousands of little pas
sages OF the Antilles, even extending his
voyages to Florida and South Carolina
BY trade he was supposed to BIZ fisher
man, and might often have been seen
on one Of the million little smacks that
piled between Yucatan, Florida and Ha-
Vana. His ability to adapt himself to any
character in which he wished TO masque-
rade permitted his frequent undecided
visits among the government officials
by which means he kept himself Informed
Of every detail in their plans agains. him
self and his followers.
one cloudy evening, near midnight,
tall figure, wrapped in a military cloak,
lurked in the shaved of the gate-post at
the Governors palace. Two sentries paced
to and fro, starting from either side and
meeting face TO face some rods back of
the center of the entry, hten turning and
retracing their steps. For a single instant
as they met their eyes left the gate I'M
guarded. The silent observer behind the
post waited for that moment, then slip
ped noiselessly inside the gate and hid
in the shadow there. Carefully and deity
stealing his way. he reached the marble
steps. Here, emerging, he assumed the
carriage of military man in author
ity. and was saluted in proper form by
the sentinels, whom he passed unsuspeet-
ed. Ascending the broad, marble stairway
he entered the apartments of the Cover
nor whom he found writing at a table.
Looking up with contracted brows, Ia
con demanded: Who enters here unan-
nounced and at this hour?"
Giving the military salute, the stranger
replied: 'Excellency, 1 am here on bust
ness of great import to the government"
How came you past the guard?' de-
manded the Governor.
Never mind that, Excellency. L"
But do mind very much,'' interrupt-
ed the Governor, growing impatient. But
the willy visitor made such judicious, calm
reply as to ward off further explanation.
and TO excite the Governors greater de-
sire TO know his real business. He recall
ed to the Governors mind, and succeeded
IN gaining confirmation from his own lips
then and there that he had not only Of
fered free pardon to any one who would
turn states evidence and reveal the
haunts and dOings of the contra ba ndists.
put that he had offered q large reward for
any information whatever concerning
them, and had set a double on the head
OF their leader, dead CT alive, and, fur
Their, that TO this strange person he would
fulfllI all these promises if he furnished
the information and person desired
The stranger conducted the CONVERSE
ton so guardedly that he gave no clue
TO his own identity until having bound the
Governor tight on his honor as a knight,
ne announced himself as Captain Marti,"
ready to fulfill to the letter his part OF
the contract
The Governor, having suspected that he
was dealing with a member of the band.
was more or less startled at this anaz-
ing announcements Unconsciousiy he
reached for his pistols Marti, noticing
this took his own from his clothing and,
laying them on-the table said: Hence
forth have no use for these Hereafter
II is 70 be diplomacy"
Iacon found himself in the ridiculous
position Of having granted a free pardon
70 the man upon whose head he himself
had set goOdly price.
Inc exchange of a few more words
brought about the understanding be-
tween the two that Marti should be pIaced
IN confinement over night, his name con-
ceaied, and that in the morning he should
start as pilot on a vessel that should be
guided TO the rendezvous of the snug
giers. One prominent feature was COM
mon 10 all the secret haunts visited by the
search party. No human being was found
anywhere while unmistakable signs %
very recent habitation by the outlaws were
manifest everywhere. y few small ships
ana their c2rgoes. amounting 10 very lit
tie, were captured. That was all The
Governor was satisfied that the haunts
were made known, and no one else in
quired very closely into the matter.
On the return OF the expedition the
Governor was about TO pay 10 Captain
Maru the promised reward, when the lat
ter interrupted with q curious PROPOSE
ton. He said he was immensely wealthy
ana cared not for the money. while the
treasury OF Cuba was impoverished He
proposed that instead of the reward he
should be granted a monopoly OF the fish
trade of Havana. and permitted 10 employ
MS cohtrdb2ndlsts as fishermen. In the
event Of such a grant he promised 10 build
Ia Havana the finest fish market in the
world, and a. the end OF twenty-five years
To return his privilege Of monopoly and
the market building over 20 the govern
meut.
Iacon accepted the proposition. seeing
IN Il his opportunity TO hold control over
MaTti And for quarter % a century
the Havana market was supplied with the
nEest % Esh cauEAt b. smrsElers ahso-