The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-07-06
CUBAN SPY SYSTEM.
INSuRGENT ARMY ALWAYS INFORMED
OF PROJECTED SPANISH MOVES

Afc Saukht-how the CuDans Received
Valuable Information From an Onicer
In the Volunteer Army-His Escape.
There is one branch of the insurgent
army" said Cuban who is vi listing in
New York, "of whose accomplishments
the Cuban nation has every reason to
feel proud. refer to the spy system,
which is so thoroughly established
throughout the island that it is impos-
sible for the Spanish to make move Of
even minor importance without the fact
becoming known Immediately to the va
rious insurgent bands near the scene of
the proposed operation.
General Garcia is kept constantly
informed of the movements within the
palace of the captain general in Havana.
and he is frequently aware of the pro-
posed movements of Spanish troops be-
fore any but the highest and most trust
ed officers of General Blanco's staff
have been informed of his intentions.
at is also surprising that considering
the boldness with which the Cuban
spies proceed with their Investigations
so few of them are caught. When was
with the Cuban army, about year and
a half ago, much of our most valuable
information came from an officer in the
volunteer army who, though of Span
ish family, was an ardent sympathizer
with the Cuban cause. This officer was
stationed in the palace in Havana, and
he was so skillful in transmitting his
reports to the Cuban headquarters that
he retained his place for six or eight
months. He would have been there now
but for the cowardice of brother Gu
ban, who betrayed the volunteer in or
der to save his own life. AS it was, the
informer, whom we will call Miguel,
although that is not his name, received
warning in time and escaped to our
army, where he now holds an important
place.
miguel at first sent his information
to us by means of trusted servant
who took the dispatches at night to a
point outside the city limits, where his
messages were concealed in box un-
derneath fat rock until member OF
our army could get them. The Span
iards became aware after time that
important information was being fur
nished to the insurgents by some one in
authority in the Spanish ranks and be-
gan an investigation. Miguel was con-
suited among others as to whether it
could possibly be any one connected
with the volunteer army.
Zone of the Spanish sentries OH the
city wall reported that they had on sew
eral occasions seen what they thought
at the time might possibly have been a
man creeping through a hole in the
wall few hundred feet beyond his reg
ular beat Instructions were issued to
the guards to keep vigilant watch on
the spot and arrest the first suspicious
person seen in the vicinity Of the out
posts after dark. The very next morn
ing after the PRONUNCIATION OF the order
a lieutenant, with a score OF soldiers,
appeared in the office of the comman
dant, bringing, securely bound. an un-
fortunate American newspaper CORE
spondent, who, unaware OF the new
edict calling ON the guards for extra
vigilance, had taken this means Of elud
ing the sentries.
"The reporters release was obtained
soon afterward, as he was able to prove
to the satisfaction of the Spaniards that
his mission had nothing whatever TO do
with either the Spanish or Cuban cause,
but was. eminently peaceful. The fact
that the suspicious of the Spanlards had
been aroused, however, caused Miguel
TO look about for safer means of COM
municating with our forces. He finally
enlisted the services of daughter OF
produce merchant who had stall III
the market at Havana
"The old merchant was paclfico,
and it was therefore not at all difficult
for young Cuban, also supposed to be
a pacifico, to gain access to his house III
the country To make love to the old
mans daughter was harder task. but
it was finally accomplished, and she
agreed to receive letters for him from
friend in Havana, which were to be
sent to her for convenience sake through
her brother, who drove the supply wagon
which made frequent trips between the
merchants place Of business and his
house in the country. Miguel bought
his supplies of this same merchant, ano
the scheme worked successfully for
long time, or up to the time the volun
teer was forced to flee from Havana.
IAN officer in Blanco's bodyguaro
was informed by some one of the means
that Miguel had taken to send his in
formation, and the boy who drove the
mule team was intercepted on his way
from the city by Spanish soldiers. By 9
fortunate chance Miguel had not sem
any word to the Cubans that day, bu
under the fear of the punishment threat
ened by the Spaniards the boy confessed
that he had been in the habit OF receiv
ing letters from some one in Havana
| The boy himself did not know from
whom they came, as Miguel sent then
by the same trusted servant whom hi
had employed on former occasions, ant
he represented himself to be merely
| poor pacifico who took this means o.
communicating with his friend in the