The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-06-29
ESCAPED FROM HAVANA
A CUBAN TO WHOM THE WAR
BROUGHT LIBERTY
Taken From a Prison Where He Had
Reen Confined for killing "a Com
paniOn During a Quarrel to Work
In ShackIes on Havana Fortifica-
lions, He Escaped and Was
Picked Up by Americana.
Copyrighted by the Associated Press.

Copyrighted by the Associated Press
OFF HAVANA, June q. Via Key West
Fla, June 2S.-There is a Cuban passenger
on one of the ships of the blockading squad
ron to whom the phrase Cuba Libre'' has
taken new meaning. He is an escaped muir
derer, and he tells a strange tale of love,
crime and war.
Between and o'clock on Sunday After
noon one of the auxiliary gunboats was cruis-
ing slowly about mile off Point Bacuranano
east Of Havana, when two figures were OBJ
served on the beach signalling with handker-
chiefs fastened to the end Of sticks. A small
boat sent off to them, but as it approach
ed the shore one OF the figures Garted sudden
ly off into the brush and was seen no more.
The other man held his ground ard taken
no show OF reluctance He is Pablo Santana
Benites thirty years old. a native of Conso-
| lac.on del Sur Province of Pnar Gel r o. Sew
en- years ago he killed man. He told of the
affair in the most matter-of-fact way imag-
Unable without the culver of an eye lash.
ut was a little dispute. No. we had not
been drinking
"a love affair. perhaps?"
The words were magical The moist tinge
of color crept over hs cheek, gaunt and bag-
gard from seven years confinement in a Span
ltsh prison. and 81 miner of light came into
his dull eyes.
Perhaps" was the response. "There were
words and" and he made ges ure Ike the
plunge of knife.
The gesture told tale, words being I'M
necessary. he would say no more. twenty
four years was the sentence. For seven Of
these Benites lay in the Carcel de La Pauta
the Havana prison; month and half ago
he was put in chain gang and set to work
on the Notifications. His duty was wheeling
sand at Battery No. l. east of Havana.
They gave I'm nothing to cat but a few
BEANS he said, and he was almost starved
One day last week. while working on the
battery. he saw among group of spectators
one, who had known him in past years. There
was a glance of recognition and thea a mean
ing look at the prisoners manacles
LIBERTY GAINED.
| day CT two lat the friend reappeared
| and wher he departed Be~'t"s had concealed
| in ks sleeve a small file.
| The rest was easy IL not long belcrs
the bars had been cut through. The file
! then passed to convict conlrade ard he, too
accomplished the same task h ir chance Ct
| escape came at room on Thursday last while
! the guard was at lunch. They shook their
| shackles from them, ran into the woods and
were soon safely away. For three days they
GLIDING Spanish soldiers until they, reached
the water from. on Sunday But at the last
/ moment the other man became panic-stricken
| ana ran back to the woods.
/ Benites knew little about the war. but when
asked If he was patriot replied:
I'm fight for America
! There were about 200 or 400 men working
on the sand battery from which he escap d.
he said, ard big forces ara at work on all
the fortihcaticns around Havana. Some in
formation had reached him to the condi-
/ tons prevailing If the Cuban capital.
THE poor are starving in the Streets" he
:. asserted. 1.-The Spanish soldiers are ON half
rsitions Bread brings 60 cents per pound
beef costs 40 cents, and pork Is sold for 81
cents pound"
Benites has a brother at Palma, islard Of
Majorca.
The prisoner Will be turned over to M
i ,ncdore Watson.